Dennis Houston Bio
Dennis Houston (born April 24, 1999) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 185 cm and weighing 86 kg, Houston has built his career as an undrafted prospect who moved between practice squads before finding a home in Tampa Bay. He played college football for the Houston Baptist Huskies, the Fullerton Hornets, and the Western Illinois Leathernecks.
Houston is a wide receiver who began his NFL journey in 2022 after going undrafted. Known for his ability to step into larger roles when injuries created opportunities, he has spent his professional career working through reserve and practice squad contracts while competing for active roster spots.
Early Life and Background
Dennis Houston was born on April 24, 1999, in Fort Hood, Texas. He grew up in San Antonio, Texas, where he attended Earl Warren High School. The city of San Antonio has long produced skilled football players, and Houston developed his early athletic foundation in that environment before moving on to the college ranks.
Coming out of high school, Houston drew attention as a receiver prospect and went on to play at the collegiate level, eventually representing three different programs. His path through the college ranks helped him grow as a player and prepared him for the transition to professional football.
Path to Professional Football
Houston began his college football career at Houston Baptist, where as a freshman he caught 33 passes for 362 yards. After that season, he transferred to Fullerton College, where he added 360 receiving yards and three touchdowns during his time with the Hornets. He then moved to Western Illinois University to use his remaining collegiate eligibility at the NCAA Division I FCS level.
At Western Illinois, Houston emerged as one of the top receivers in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. As a junior, he led the team with 539 receiving yards on 36 catches and scored three touchdowns. He was later named first-team All-MVFC after leading the team with 43 receptions and 477 receiving yards with two touchdowns during the spring 2021 season, which had been delayed from the fall because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his fifth-year senior season, he caught 90 passes for 1,015 yards and six touchdowns, earning first-team All-MVFC honors for a second time and third-team FCS All-American recognition in 2021.
Dennis Houston Career
Dallas Cowboys Era (2022)
Houston signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2022, after the 2022 NFL draft. During training camp, he took advantage of injuries to wide receivers Michael Gallup and James Washington and passed third-round draft choice Jalen Tolbert on the depth chart. The Cowboys gave him a chance to grow his role during the first two games of the season, and he recorded two receptions for 16 yards.
He was waived on September 20, 2022, and re-signed to the practice squad. On January 25, 2023, he signed a reserve/future contract with Dallas. The Cowboys waived him again on August 29, 2023, as part of their roster moves ahead of the regular season.
New York Giants Era (2023-2024)
On August 31, 2023, Houston signed with the New York Giants practice squad. He spent the 2023 regular season with the organization and was signed to a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024, following the end of that campaign. The Giants waived him with an injury settlement on August 20, 2024.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2024-Present)
On October 23, 2024, Houston signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad, beginning his current chapter in the NFL. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Buccaneers on January 14, 2025, signaling the team’s continued interest in his development. On August 26, 2025, Houston was waived by the Buccaneers as part of final roster cuts and was re-signed to the practice squad the next day, keeping him within the organization as he continues to compete for an active roster spot.
Notable Events and Milestones
Houston’s career has been defined by perseverance, including going undrafted in 2022, earning first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors in both 2020 and 2021, and being named a third-team FCS All-American in 2021. His ability to pass a third-round draft pick on a depth chart during his first NFL training camp stands out as a notable early milestone in his professional journey.
Dennis Houston Career Highlights
College Highlights
Across his college stops, Houston built a productive resume. He set the tone at Western Illinois with a junior season of 539 receiving yards and three touchdowns, then posted 477 yards as a senior during the spring 2021 season. His fifth-year senior campaign produced 90 receptions for 1,015 yards and six touchdowns, cementing his status as one of the top receivers in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
Dennis Houston Family
Personal Life
Dennis Houston currently resides in San Antonio, Texas. Public details about his family life and personal relationships are not widely documented, and he keeps much of his private life away from media coverage.
2025 Season Performance
Dennis Houston entered the 2025 NFL calendar as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization following his reserve/future contract signed on January 14, 2025. The Buccaneers waived him on August 26, 2025, as part of their final roster cuts, but re-signed him to the practice squad the next day, keeping him within the team’s developmental pipeline.
Houston’s role in Tampa Bay centers on continuing to develop as a depth receiver while competing for elevation to the active roster. His practice-squad presence gives the Buccaneers a familiar option at wide receiver if injuries create opportunities during the regular season.
Looking ahead through the remainder of 2025, Houston’s outlook depends on staying healthy and making the most of practice-squad reps. With a background that includes stepping into a starting role during his first NFL training camp, he remains a candidate to be called up if Tampa Bay needs additional help at the wide receiver position.