AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -Lamarr Houston had to get out of Colorado.

For the son of ministers, life in the Rocky Mountains just didn't offer much to do. How about skiing or snowboarding?

``I never did those things,'' Houston said. ``Do you know how expensive that is?''

So when Texas came calling, it was an easy choice for Houston to leave Colorado Springs for Austin, where he has evolved from a high school running back and linebacker into a 300-pound anchor at defensive tackle for the No. 2 Longhorns.

It's been a long process for the quiet-mannered Houston, who patiently bided his time first as a defensive end, then was moved into the middle of the line. What began as moves to shore up depth proved to be perfect for both the player and a team that led the nation in sacks last season and is currently ranked No. 2 against the rush.

Houston has blossomed into a hulking tackle with a 500-pound bench press and still has the quickness to get to the quarterback. He leads the Longhorns with five tackles for losses and ranks second in quarterback pressures with 11.

Houston learned his trade from former All-American end Brian Orakpo and former tackle Roy Miller, last season's vocal leader of the defense.

``I'm shy to speak up, but sometimes it needs to be done,'' Houston said.

Shy? Fat chance, said senior defensive end Sergio Kindle.

``I don't know where he gets the 'I'm not comfortable' part. If I said it, I don't think it would be as powerful as when he does. The louder I scream, the higher my voice gets,'' Kindle said. ``When he talks, people listen.''

Maybe that's because Houston often speaks so softly it can be hard to hear him. Unlike Orakpo, whose deep voice boomed throughout whatever room he occupied, Houston is much more low key in public.

``When he's relaxed, of course he's very soft spoken,'' Kindle said. ``He doesn't want to intimidate people on a regular basis. Put that helmet on and it's a different mentality.''

And in his most public appearance, Houston cried.

That came after his 2008 arrest on a DUI charge. He was suspended for a game, but instead of going into hiding, Houston ignored his attorney's advice to keep quiet and insisted on making a tearful public apology in front of television cameras.

``It's not the way I was raised,'' Houston said that day. ``I want to be a good role model for other kids, and I don't want them to see me in this light.''

With Texas (4-0) preparing for Saturday's game against Colorado (1-3), Houston has been asked to talk about his Colorado roots.

They aren't deep.

Born in California, he moved to Colorado when he was about 9 years old and his parents have since moved away. Even when he was there, he was a fan of Texas and the Dallas Cowboys, not Colorado and the Denver Broncos. A high school All-American, he didn't even bother to visit the home-state school.

``I wanted to leave Colorado as quick as I could,'' Houston said. ``It's not a place for a teenager or young adult. It's a nice retirement place.''

Houston became the latest to jump in a small but significant talent pipeline to Austin.

Texas coach Mack Brown has always made recruiting Texas athletes a priority and turned the Lone Star State into his personal fiefdom to mine talent. The Longhorns have only four scholarship players from outside of Texas.

Brown has struck gold with a few Colorado athletes. In previous years, Brown plucked tight end Bo Scaife and offensive lineman Kasey Studdard from the Denver area and both are now playing in the NFL.

``Colorado kids are usually interested in Texas if we go looking,'' Brown said. ``There's been some good ones.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.