(Photo Credit: Tim Warner – Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Clayton Tune, WR/KR Nathaniel Dell, TE Christian Trahan, OC Jack Freeman, OG Max Banes, OT Dennis Bardwell, OT Patrick Paul, DE David Anenih, DE Derek Parish, LB Deontay Anderson, LB JoVanni Stewart, CB/PR Marcus Jones, CB Damarion Williams, FS Thabo Mwaniki, FS Gervarrius Owens, BS Hasaan Hypolite, PK Dalton Witherspoon, and PT Laine Wilkins.
Key Players Departing:
RB Kyle Porter, WR Tre’Von Bradley, WR Keith Corbin, WR/KR Marquez Stevenson, OG Braylon Jones, OT Gio Pancotti, DE Payton Turner, and LB Grant Stuard.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: RB Alton McCaskill (Conroe, Texas), WR Seth Green (Minnesota transfer), S Mark Wilson (Houston, Texas), QB Maddox Kopp (Houston, Texas), DL Garfield Lawrence (Tyler, Texas), CB Alex Hogan (Texas tech transfer), WR KeSean Carter (Texas Tech transfer), WR Carlton Guidry (Pearland, Texas), OG Carson Walker (Midlothian, Texas), and LB Jalen Garner (Norcross, Georgia).
2020 Results:
G01 TULANE W 49-31
G02 #15 BYU L 26-43
G03 at Navy W 37-21
G04 UCF L 21-44
G05 at #6 Cincinnati L 10-38
G06 USF W 56-21
G07 at Memphis L 27-30
BOWL vs. Hawaii L 14-28
Misc. Team Information:
2020 Record: 3-5 (6th in American)
Home: 2-2
Away: 1-2
Neutral: 0-1
AAC: 3-3
Non-AAC: 0-2
Head Coach: Dana Holgorsen
Houston: 7-13
|Career: 68-54
Bowls: 2-6
Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: Clayton Tune (170-285, 2048 yards, 59.6 avg., 6.7 avg., 15 TD, 10 INT)
Rushing: Clayton Tune (72 car., 253 yards, 3.5 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving: Nathaniel Dell (29 rec., 428 yards, 14.8 avg., 3 TD)
TDs Scored: Clayton Tune (5)
Sacks: David Anenih (4.5)
Tackles: Thabo Mwaniki (33)
Tackles For Loss: David Anenih (6.5)
Interceptions: Hassan Hypolite/Marcus Jones/Thabo Mwaniki (1)
Pass Deflections: Damarion Williams (7)
Forced Fumbles: David Anenih/Malik Robinson (1)
Kick Returns: Nathaniel Dell (5 ret.,129 yards, 25.8 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Marcus Jones (17 ret., 337 yards, 19.8 avg., 1 TD)
Kicking: Dalton Witherspoon (8-10 fg/fga., 80%, 20-20 xp/xpa., 100 pts.)
Punting: Laine Wilkins (38 punts, 1583 yards, 41.7 avg., 18 in20).
Projected Offense Starters:
QB: 3 Clayton Tune (JR)
RB: 34 Mulbah Car (RS SR)
WR: 13 Jeremy Singleton (RS JR)
WR: 12 Ke’Andre Street (RS FR)
WR: 4 Nathaniel Dell (RS SO/TR)
TE: 85 Christian Trahan (JR)
LT: 76 Patrick Paul (RS FR)
LG: 73 Cam’Ron Johnson (RS FR)
OC: 65 Kody Russey (GR/TR)
RG: 79 Tank Jenkins (RS SO/TR)
RT: 64 Dennis Bardwell (SR)
KR: 8 Marcus Jones (RS JR/TR)
PK: 47 Dalton Witherspoon (RS SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 12 David Anenih (SR)
NT: 99 Oliver Charles-Pierre (SR/TR)
DT: 92 Logan Hall (JR)
DE: 31 Derek Parish (RS JR)
LB: 2 Deontay Anderson (RS SR/TR)
LB: 3 Donavan Mutin (SR)
LB: 9 JoVanni Stewart (GR/TR)
CB: 8 Marcus Jones (RS SR/TR)
CB: 6 Damarion Williams (SR/TR)
FS: 28 Thabo Mwaniki (RS SR/TR)
SS: 17 Hasaan Hypolite (RS JR/TR)
PR: 8 Marcus Jones (RS SR/TR)
PT: 22 Laine Wilkins (SO)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: B
Punting: C
Schedule:
09/04 vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders | Houston leads the series 18-13-1. The Cougars lost (49-63) the last meeting between schools in 2018, and their last series win (29-28) was in 2009.
09/11 at Rice Owls | Houston leads the series 31-11. The Cougars won (45-27) the last meeting between schools in 2018, and their last series loss (31-34) was in 2010.
09/18 GRAMBLING STATE TIGERS | Houston leads the series 2-0. The Cougars won (47-0) the last meeting between schools in 2014.
09/25 NAVY MIDSHIPMEN | Houston leads the series 5-2. The Cougars are 4-2 since renewing the series in 2015, and their last series loss (41-56) was in 2019.
10/01 at Tulsa Golden Hurricane | Houston leads the series 25-19. The Cougars are 6-2 since 2011, and their last series loss (17-45) was in 2017.
10/07 at Tulane Green Wave | Houston leads the series 18-7. The Cougars are 6-3 since 2011, and their last series loss (31-38) was in 2019.
10/23 EAST CAROLINA PIRATES | The series is tied 7-7. The Cougars won (42-20) the last meeting between schools in 2018, and their last series loss (28-48) was in 2012.
10/30 SMU MUSTANGS | Houston leads the series 21-13-1. The Cougars are 5-4 since 2011, and their last series win (35-22) was in 2017.
11/06 at USF Bulls | Houston leads the series 5-2. The Cougars are 5-0 since renewing the series in 2013, and their last series loss (14-32) was in 2002.
11/13 at TEMPLE OWLS | Houston leads the series 6-1. The Cougars lost (49-59) the last meeting between schools in 2018, and their last series win (20-13) was in 2017.
11/19 MEMPHIS TIGERS | Houston leads the series 15-14. The Cougars are 3-5 since renewing the series in 2013, and their last series win (35-34) was in 2015.
11/27 at Connecticut Huskies | Houston leads the series 2-1. The Cougars won (24-17) the last meeting between teams in 2019, and their only series loss was at the inaugural meeting between schools in 2015.
Predictions:
Home: 5-0
Road: 2-2
Neutral: 0-1
AAC: 6-2
Non-AAC: 3-1
Overall: 9-3 (5th in AAC)
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