Jawanza Starling Signs With Houston Texans

Former USC safety Jawanza Starling was signed by the Houston Texans from their practice squad on Wednesday.

The official announcement came a day after the Texans cut future Hall of Famer and former Baltimore Raven Ed Reed. (Reed was signed Thursday by Rex Ryan and the New York Jets.)

Starling, a three-year starter from Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Fla., finished his USC career with 128 tackles and four interceptions, but his most memorable play came at Notre Dame in 2011.

With USC leading 17-10 late in the third quarter, the Irish were driving in for a score. On third-and-goal inside the 5-yard line, Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist fumbled the snap and after players attempted to dive on the ball, it squirted out past the 15-yard line. Starling scooped the ball up and raced the other way, turning the tide of the game and putting the game out of reach for Notre Dame:

Starling signed with the Texans as an undrafted free agent in the offseason, but was cut by the team and signed to Houston's practice squad in August.