MURRIETA – Big news came out of Murrieta Valley High School last week as former graduate Dean Connors is officially heading to the NFL. The Los Angeles Rams signed the speedy running back as an undrafted free agent after the 2026 NFL Draft wrapped up on April 25.

Connors took a dynamic path to professional football. Before dazzling fans in Southern California, he played for Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy. He then transferred to Murrieta Valley, where his elite speed made him a constant offensive threat. From there, he built an impressive college resume. He started at Riverside City College, spent three seasons at Rice University, and finally finished his collegiate career at the University of Houston.

Former Murrieta Valley High School standout Dean Connors carries the ball during his senior season at the University of Houston, where he rushed for 977 yards. Valley News/Courtesy photo

At Houston, Connors truly made his mark. During the 2025 season, he racked up 977 rushing yards and scored six touchdowns. This rushing total was the highest by a Houston Cougar back since 2014 and earned him All-Big 12 Fourth Team honors. NFL scouts view Connors as a versatile weapon. He brings strong receiving skills out of the backfield. Coaches also regard him as a smart player with high-level technical ability in pass protection and blocking assignments.

The Rams clearly like adding local talent from the Temecula Valley area to their roster. We see a clear pattern of the franchise bringing in local athletes who prove their value on the field. In recent years, the organization drafted linebacker Brennan Jackson out of Great Oak High School in the fifth round of the 2024 draft. Jackson now plays for the Las Vegas Raiders. The Rams also signed offensive lineman Justin Dedich from Chaparral High School as an undrafted free agent that same year.

The Los Angeles Rams signed former Nighthawk running back, Dean Connors, as an undrafted free agent shortly after the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft. Valley News/Courtesy photo

Connors enters the league following a highly active 2026 NFL Draft. Across seven rounds, NFL teams selected 256 players from 75 different colleges. The SEC dominated the event, setting a new record with 87 draft picks. The Big 12, where Connors competed, produced 38 total picks. While Houston had one player officially drafted, Connors quickly found his NFL home as one of several key undrafted free agents signed by Los Angeles to strengthen their offensive roster.

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JP Raineri

JP is an award-winning multimedia journalist and head of the sports department at the Valley News. A former Southwestern League head baseball coach and former President of the Temecula Youth Baseball League, he has also worked as a local radio personality for All Pro Broadcasting and as a television host for the Outdoor Channel. When he’s not covering sports, JP works in the Media Technology Department for Major League Baseball.

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