The Houston Texans announced today that they have signed their two third-round draft picks CB Antwaun Molden and RB Steve Slaton and fifth-round pick DT Frank Okam. 

Molden (6-1, 198) was the 79th selection in the 2008 NFL Draft from Eastern Kentucky.

Molden was the fifth non-Division 1A player drafted by the Texans and the second in as many years.  Houston picked WR Jacoby Jones out of Division II Lane College in the third round in 2007.

Molden started his college career at Toledo before transferring to Eastern Kentucky in 2005.  He totaled 155 tackles (94 solos) and 4.5 stops for losses of eight yards.  He intercepted three passes and recovered three fumbles.  As a senior in 2007, Molden finished fifth on the team with a career-high 72 tackles (43 solos), 2.5 tackles for loss, nine passes defensed, a fumble recovery and two interceptions.

Slaton (5-9, 197) was the 89th selection in the 2008 NFL Draft from West Virginia.  Slaton was the second-highest drafted running back in Texans draft history.  The only back Houston drafted higher than Slaton was Vernand Morency, who was the 73rd overall pick in 2005.

Slaton left West Virginia after his junior season, but still ranks third in West Virginia history with 3,923 rushing yards.  He holds the Mountaineer record for career rushing touchdowns with 50, and he set the school single-season rushing record with 1,774 yards in 2006.

Slaton was the second of two players selected by the Texans in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft joining Molden.  It marked the 12th time in team draft history that the Texans used multiple picks in a round and the third consecutive year in which it happened.

Okam (6-5, 320) was selected 151^st in the 2008 NFL Draft from the University of Texas.  Okam was the third Longhorn the Texans have taken in the draft.  He joins G Kasey Studdard who was taken in the sixth-round of the 2007 draft and WR Sloan Thomas in 2004.

Okam started 39 games while in Austin.  He made 160 tackles (81 solos), 10 sacks and 28 stops for losses of 109 yards.  He posted 46 quarterback pressures and gained 13 yards with a touchdown on five fumble recoveries.

As a senior, Okam was selected as first-team All-Big 12 by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and garnered second-team honors from the Associated Press, Austin American-Statesman and Big 12 coaches.  He started all 13 games at defensive tackle, helping the team rank sixth in the nation in rush defense (93.38 ypg).  He recorded a career-high 52 tackles (25 solos) with five sacks for minus-50 yards

To make room on the roster, the Texans have released FB Jon Abbate, DT Eric Powell, G/T Charles Spencer and G Dan Stevenson.

Spencer was a highly touted lineman who was projected to be the "left tackle of the future." But a broken leg sidelined his career. Spencer was selected in the third round of the 2006 NFL draft.