'An outstanding class': Ex-Texans OL Winston among honorees of Midland ISD's Hall of Legends

Former Houston Texans offensive lineman Eric Winston is among the cadre of honorees to be inducted in his hometown Midland Independent School District’s Hall of Legends.

Winston, a graduate of Midland High School, will join the following former student-athletes for enshrinement: the late Cedric Benson, football; Tevis Herd, track; Natalie Hinds, swimming; and Bryce Hoppel, track, a press release issued by the West Texas school district said.

“This is an outstanding class,” Blake Feldt, executive director of Athletics, said in the release. "These athletes' accomplishments are something to be proud of, not only for the school district, but for the entire city of Midland.”

NewsWest9 reported that the class will be recognized at the annual intra-district rivalry game between Midland and newly-christened Legacy next month.

Winston was teammates with Benson on the Bulldogs squads that won a trifecta of state titles in the late ‘90s.

Benson, a running back, took advantage of the holes that Winston, who was then a tight end, and his comrades in the trenches created.

In addition to multiple state championships, Winston earned USA Today High School All-American honors.

He then attended and played for Miami, where he switched from tight end to offensive tackle.

The Texans selected the 6-foot-7-inch, 302-pound Winston in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft.

Pro Football Reference reported that with the exception of his rookie year in 2006 in which he appeared in 12 games, Winston played every game during his time in Houston.

Winston went on to play with the Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks and Cincinnati Bengals before retiring in 2017.

He served as the president of the National Football League Players Association.