Vince Wilfork's son chooses UH football

FRIENDSWOOD (FOX 26) - Vince Wilfork's son, D'Aundre Holmes-Wilfork, has chosen to join the "H-town Takeover" at the University of Houston.

Holmes-Wilfork played linebacker and safety at Friendswood this past season. He'll look to focus more on the defensive backfield at the next level.

Holmes-Wilfork said playing in the same city as his father was a big factor in him choosing UH.

"My dad's always been super supportive of everything I do," Holmes-Wilfork said. "Even if I would've told him I didn't want to play football, he'd still always be behind me 100 percent.

"He's always there to help me," he continued. "Having him there is definitely a good resource, whether it's watching film or learning new techniques. It always helps and he's always there to have my back."

His father was appreciative his son chose to stay in Houston.

"That's awesome," Wilfork told FOX 26. "All parents always want to keep their kids close to home and don't want them to go too far and all that, but I always told my wife, 'It's going to be his decision.'

"So it came down to his decision. That was where he wanted to go."

The elder Wilfork was especially impressed with University of Houston head coach Tom Herman during a visit.

"The things that (Herman) was teaching them, it's more than football," Wilfork said. "It's about respect in society. I think that was a good message for my son to be able to hear him talk about that to his team that day.

"Just the words that he said that came out of his mouth, it was everything a parent would love to hear," Wilfork added. "It wasn't even about football. It was about being a young man, being a young student-athlete, and what it's going to take to be great at life, not just football."

The University of Houston also passed the mom-test with flying colors when the Wilfork family was on campus on Tuesday.

"I think the visit was amazing," Bianca Wilfork said, "I think the facility is great. I think the coaching staff is amazing.

"I appreciate and like the fact they think like me They don't just want to create football players. They want to create successful men on and off the field and in life, which is very, very important."

Herman's success in his first year at UH, a year in which the Cougars won the Peach Bowl over Florida State, definitely grabbed the attention of Holmes-Wilfork.

"You can watch them on the field, even talking with coaches on the field, they just have a different attitude about them," Holmes-Wilfork said. "Coaches get just as hyped as the players do."

Right now, Holmes-Wilfork's in the process of finalizing his college entrance to join Herman and the Cougars.

"We're still waiting for the application process," his deservedly-proud father said. "We're just sitting and waiting and hoping that, when it does go through, everything works out fine for him and that he gets an opportunity to play at a level that I played at and beyond that - we're talking about the NFL.

"He's getting closer to his dream and that's what it's all about with these kids. I'm very happy and proud of his accomplishments and how he grew into the young man that he is now."

Holmes-Wilfork is also looking forward to the application process being completed, when he can officially say that he's a member of the "H-town Takeover" football Cougars.

"I just can't wait to try to earn a spot on the team and be a part of that."