ARLINGTON, Texas – Two-time team captain Peter Kalambayi was selected by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. Kalambayi was the 40th pick of the sixth round and 214th overall.
Kalambayi is the second Cardinal drafted by the Texans, joining third-round choice Justin Reid.
With the 214th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the @HoustonTexans have selected OLB Peter Kalambayi. pic.twitter.com/vtsNrjtn5w
— Texans PR (@TexansPR) April 28, 2018
Kalambayi totaled 61 tackles as a fifth-year senior in 2017, bringing his career total 190. Kalambayi accounted for 18.5 sacks and seven passes defended throughout his career.
Peter Kalambayi on conference call w/Houston media.
— Drew Dougherty (@DoughertyDrew) April 28, 2018
Said "it's an honor to get drafted" and he's excited to get working.
Kalambayi earned a starting role for 13 games in 2016, posting 45 stops, six for loss, and 3.5 sacks.
Kalambayi did not play in 2013, but took an important role as a pass rusher the following year (32 tackles, 9.5 for loss, 6.5 sacks in 13 games). He was again a key reserve in 2015, compiling 52 tackles, 5.5 for loss, 4.5 sacks, and three pass breakups.
Stanford linebacker Peter Kalambayi's dad is Congolese, his mother is Trinidadian and he grew up in America. "I'm in tune with three different worldviews." @ConorOrr on the immigrant stories in the 2018 draft. https://t.co/EafWil0MnR pic.twitter.com/07CHUJslm0
— The MMQB (@theMMQB) April 24, 2018
Kalambayi, a communication major from Matthews, North Carolina, was a two-time Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention.