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 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and listed at 190 lb (86 kg), he wears jersey number 89 and is currently listed as active on the Buccaneers roster. He played college football for the Houston Baptist Huskies, the Fullerton Hornets, and the Western Illinois Leathernecks before entering the professional ranks as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
Across his professional career, Houston has spent time with three NFL organizations, working primarily through practice squad and reserve/futures contracts. He is recognized as a hard-working developmental wide receiver whose path to the league has included stints on multiple practice rosters before earning an active spot in Tampa Bay.
Early Life and Background
Dennis Houston was born on April 24, 1999, at Fort Hood, Texas, in the United States. He grew up in San Antonio, Texas, where he attended Earl Warren High School. The San Antonio area provided a strong football environment that helped shape his early development as a wide receiver, and his time at Earl Warren laid the foundation for his future collegiate career.
Coming out of high school, Houston drew attention as a college prospect and received an opportunity to play at the next level. His early athletic path would eventually take him through three different college programs as he searched for the right fit and the chance to showcase his skills on a larger stage.
Path to Professional Football
Houston began his college football career at Houston Baptist University during the 2017 season. As a freshman, he caught 33 passes for 362 yards, giving an early sign of his potential as a reliable pass catcher. After that initial season, he made the decision to transfer in search of a new opportunity.
Houston then spent a year at Fullerton College, where he recorded 360 receiving yards and three touchdowns, continuing to build his résumé. He later transferred to Western Illinois University, joining the Leathernecks for his remaining collegiate eligibility. At Western Illinois, he developed into one of the top receivers in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), earning All-Conference honors and finishing his career as a recognized FCS standout.
Dennis Houston Career
College Career (2017–2021)
Houston opened his collegiate career at Houston Baptist in 2017 before moving to Fullerton College in 2018. He then joined the Western Illinois Leathernecks from 2019 through 2021, where he became a featured target in the passing game. As a junior, he led the team with 539 receiving yards on 36 catches and added three touchdowns, establishing himself as a primary offensive weapon.
During his senior season, a spring 2021 campaign that was delayed from the fall because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston led Western Illinois with 43 receptions and 477 receiving yards along with two touchdowns, earning First-team All-MVFC recognition. He returned for a fifth-year senior season and posted his most productive year, catching 90 passes for 1,015 yards and six touchdowns, once again being named First-team All-MVFC. He was also recognized as a Third-team FCS All-American in 2021.
Dallas Cowboys (2022)
After going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, Dennis Houston signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2022. He made a strong early impression during training camp, taking advantage of injuries to wide receivers Michael Gallup and James Washington to move past third-round draft choice Jalen Tolbert on the depth chart.
The Cowboys gave him a chance to grow into a role during the first two games of the 2022 season, and he recorded 2 receptions for 16 receiving yards. On September 20, 2022, he was waived and re-signed to the team’s practice squad. He signed a reserve/futures contract with Dallas on January 25, 2023, but was waived on August 29, 2023, ending his time with the Cowboys.
New York Giants (2023–2024)
On August 31, 2023, Houston was signed to the New York Giants practice squad, giving him a new opportunity within the NFC East. He spent the remainder of the 2023 regular season on the practice squad, continuing his development as a depth receiver and special teams contributor in waiting.
Following the end of the regular season, the Giants signed him to a reserve/futures contract on January 8, 2024, signaling their intent to keep him in the organization. Houston was waived with an injury settlement by the Giants on August 20, 2024, closing his stint in New York.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2024–Present)
On October 23, 2024, Dennis Houston signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad, beginning his tenure with the third NFL franchise of his career. He continued to develop within the Buccaneers system and signed a reserve/futures contract with the team on January 14, 2025.
On August 26, 2025, Houston was waived by the Buccaneers as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. On January 8, 2026, he signed a reserve/futures contract with Tampa Bay, positioning himself to compete for an active roster spot in the seasons ahead.
Driving Style and Strengths
Dennis Houston Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Dennis Houston grew up in San Antonio, Texas, after being born at Fort Hood, Texas. His path from a San Antonio upbringing through Earl Warren High School shaped his football identity and helped drive his commitment to the sport. Public details about his immediate family have not been widely documented in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a transitional year for Dennis Houston with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He entered the year on a reserve/futures contract signed in January 2025 and took part in the Buccaneers’ offseason program and training camp, working to earn a role within a competitive wide receiver group.
As part of the Buccaneers’ final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, Houston was waived and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. That move allowed him to remain within the organization and continue his development while staying available for elevation to the active roster. Looking ahead, his January 2026 reserve/futures contract positions him to compete for a larger role with the Buccaneers as the team builds its 2026 roster.