by Alan Trubow AMERICAN-STATESMAN Staff , Austin American-Statesman

TV cameras. Tape recorders. Writers. Photographers. Columnists.

They had seen Texas player after Texas player get in trouble, arrested for various issues.

None of them really knew Houston that September day in 2008.

All they knew was he was a Texas defensive lineman who had played a lot throughout his career but wasn't really talked about. And at that moment, they knew he had been arrested for a driving while intoxicated a couple days earlier.

In an age where college football players tend to hide behind sports information departments and vague statements in press releases, Houston made a different request. He wanted to face everybody. To apologize.

He looked them in the eye as he said he was sorry. He looked them in the eye after the tough questions started. He even tried to look them in the eye when the tears started rolling down his face.

By the end, everybody in the room knew two things: Lamarr Houston had made a mistake, and he was as authentic and honest a man as they come.

What they didn't know was that a year later Houston would be one of the biggest keys to the Texas defense.

Now in his senior year, though just his second year since moving from defensive end to defensive tackle, Houston has become a speedy, aggressive plug in the middle of the defensive line.

Saturday, the defensive line gets its biggest test to date when the third-ranked Longhorns take on No. 20 Oklahoma at The Cotton Bowl.

"This is what you work for," the soft-spoken Houston said. "We know Oklahoma is going to try and run the ball. My job is to keep the offensive linemen off our linebackers. It's not a glory position, and you're not going to get a lot of praise. But that's my job."

Houston has been doing it well.

He has made 17 tackles this season, including five behind the line of scrimmage. And while he only has one sack, he's had 14 quarterback hurries, the second-most on the team behind defensive end Sergio Kindle.

"There are times when I look at Lamarr and am just amazed at what he's been able to do," Kindle said. "He's a different player than he's been. He's so strong and fast. The whole defensive line is playing that way."

The defensive ends were supposed to be one of the Longhorns' strengths.

The defensive tackles? They came into the season as the biggest question. But that's been forgotten.

Houston has been so dominant, he's overshadowed the fact that senior Ben Alexander (14 tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage) and sophomore Kheeston Randle (eight tackles, four quarterback hurries) have played well above expectations.

"It's important because defense starts up front," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "If you can't stop the run, teams are just going to pound the ball on you all day.

"If you can't get pressure on the quarterback, teams are going to be able to throw. I don't care how good your cornerbacks are. If the quarterback has all day, somebody is going to get open."

Houston, along with safety Earl Thomas and Kindle, has been the most consistent and disruptive force on opponents.

Maybe it shouldn't have been a surprise. Houston can bench-press more than 500 pounds, the most on the team. He used to be a defensive end and has kept the speed.

The one thing he isn't is a chatterbox.

"I'm shy to speak up," Houston said. "But sometimes it needs to be done. You can never replace someone like Roy (Miller) or Brian Orakpo. You try to emulate the things they did because it make the team successful."

Kindle says Houston is being effective.

"When he talks, people listen. He's going to tell you what we need to do and how we're going to do it."

When it comes to that, you can't find a better example than Houston.

He messed up.

He stepped up.

He owned up.

Now he's being recognized for the right reasons.

Everybody who knows him expects that to continue.

atrubow@statesman.com; 445-3959

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