Last April, we Houston Texans fans expected that the defensive rookie of the year would be wearing our uniform. After all, we had just taken Mario Williams with the first pick of the draft. Surely it would be him.

Well, we were half right.

The winner of that honor is a Texan -- but not Williams. It is DeMeco Ryans.

DeMeco Ryans came into the NFL as Houston's second choice to bolster its defense. He leaves his first pro year as The Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The linebacker, chosen at the top of the second round of last April's draft — 32 spots after the Texans made defensive end Mario Williams the first overall selection — was a runaway winner of the award announced Wednesday. Ryans led the league in solo tackles with 126, and his 156 total tackles were 33 more than the next-best rookie, Detroit linebacker Ernie Sims.

In fact, no rookie in the last 20 years had more tackles than Ryans, who was an All-American at Alabama in 2005. And Ryans had more tackles than any of the other five linebackers who won the award this decade, including Brian Urlacher and Shawne Merriman.

"It's always nice to be touted as one of the best and have a big-time stat, but I credit that to the other 10 guys that are around me on defense," Ryans said. "We wouldn't be talking about me without those other 10 guys out there."

This young many has bee absolutely incredible -- and clearly outshined Williams. he's also become a fan favorite, with a winning personality and a genuine warmth shown towards the people of his professional home. And the great thing is that we know there is more to come from this kid, that he has yet to reach his full potential.

So congratulations, DeMeco -- you earned this one.

And I'll keep that autographed football in the place of honor it deserves.