As an honor roll college graduate, Max Scharping became accustomed to absorbing knowledge and applying it in the classroom.
As a rookie for the Texans last season, Scharping emerged as a student of the game and a reliable NFL starter.
The Texans’ left offensive guard and second-round draft pick from Northern Illinois started 14 of 16 games last season for the AFC South champions. Once Scharping entered the starting lineup against the Los Angeles Chargers, he performed capably.
Scharping (6-6, 327 pounds) draws high marks for his work ethic, intellect, versatility and power. During the season, he grew more comfortable each week and allowed just three sacks and was penalized six times while lining up next to Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and veteran center Nick Martin.
“I think anytime you’re getting more experience, it helps you confidence-wise,” said Scharping, the 55th overall pick of the draft last year and a former finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy for his academic and football accomplishments. “Anytime you’re playing next to good guys like Nick and Laremy, it helps you mentally. You’re going to get a little bit better.”
A native of Green Bay, Wis., who graduated college with a 3.99 grade-point average, Scharping is a natural tackle who has to work to keep his shoulder pads low enough to create leverage as a taller lineman.
The former All-Mid-American Conference selection’s highest blocking grade of the season was a 77.6 overall mark with a 77.9 pass-blocking grade and a 73.9 run-blocking grade in a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“I think he’s definitely one of those guys that’s a five-tool player,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said last season. “I think guard is his best spot, but, I think in a pinch, he can play tackle for us and he can play center. I think he’s got a skillset based on his size and his athletic ability and his strength that he can play different positions.
“Max works very hard in the weight room, works hard to improve, very coachable. You’re really looking for coachable guys. He takes the coaching to heart. I don’t think it’s easy to play left guard as a rookie when you’re blocking grown men. It’s a little bit different than Northern Illinois, and I love Northern Illinois, but slightly different.”
Signed to a $5.068 million contract that includes a $1.705 million signing bonus, Scharping led the AFC South champions with a $257,393 performance-based pay bonus.
Instead of resting on his laurels, Scharping is eager to improve. He’s been diligently studying film of last season and working to make strides in the weight room and in his technique.
“You keep trying to learn now after the fact,” Scharping said. “You watch film on the season and see what you can improve on and work on to help you. You always want to get stronger.
"That’s key, especially for an interior lineman. You keep working every day trying to lose a little bit of body fat and get a little bit stronger.”
Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson was sacked a league-high 62 times and hit 133 times overall two seasons ago. Last season, Watson was only sacked 44 times as the offensive line allowed 50 sacks overall and 92 quarterback hits as the Texans won the AFC South division for the second year in a row.
Scharping was part of an overhauled line that included the arrival of three new starters in Tunsil, who’s now the highest paid offensive tackle in the league, first-round right tackle Tytus Howard and himself. Howard was an all-rookie selection who is making a sound recovery from offseason knee surgery.
“Obviously with Tytus coming off an injury, we get to have everyone back healthy,” Scharping said. “With all of us healthy, I think we can be really great. With Deshaun back there, good things are going to happen.”
As a rookie, Scharping asked a lot of questions and learned a lot while building camaraderie with his teammates. Especially during lineman dinners consisting of plentiful amounts of food and laughter.
“Those are good times,” Scharping said. “It’s definitely a lot of food and the table is laidback. We have a lot of fun together.”
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Texans' Max Scharping built confidence, smarts as rookie starter - Houston Chronicle
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