(Photo Credit: Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB Mark Thompson, WR Tyler Palka, WR/KR Anthony Ratliff-Williams, WR Teo Redding, OC Braylon Jones, OG Tyler Higby, OG Jasir Joseph, OT Brandon Hitner, OT Jordan Steckler, DS Manny Bunch, DS Jeremiah Johnson, PK Nick Vogel and PT Andrew Galitz.
Key Players Departing:
QB Clayton Thorson (UFA), WR/KR Isaiah Zuber (Raiders), DE Amhad Gooden (UFA), DE Chris Odom (Browns), DT Dominique Davis (BC Lions), DT Tomasi Laulile (Renegades), DT Cory Thomas (UFA), LB Reggie Northrup (Defenders), LB Donald Payne (Renegades), CB/PR Will Likely (Roughnecks), CB Jamar Summers (Vipers), DS Micah Abernathy (Falcons), KR JoJo Ward (UFA),
Key Additions:
DE Tim Bonner (UFA), DE Isaiah Chambers (UFA), DE Eli Howard (UFA), DT Chigozie Nnoruka (UFA), DT Ikenna Onwuasoanya (UFA), LB Ronheen Bingham (Tiger-Cats), LB Isaiah Pryor (Saints), LB Marcel Spears Jr. (UFA), LB Khalan Tolson (Panthers), LB Jeremiah Tyler (UFA), CB Nick Grant (UFA) and CB Bydarrius Knighten (Gamblers).
Draft Picks:
Round 01: Pick 03 – QB Chase Brice (Appalachian State)
Round 02: Pick 10 – DB Justin Ford (Montana)
Round 03: Pick 18 – OL Joseph Fisher (Shepherd)
Round 04: Pick 26 – DT Scott Matlock (Boise State)
Round 05: Pick 34 – DT Jeffery Johnson (Oklahoma)
Round 06: Pick 42 – DB Keenan Isaac (Alabama State)
Round 07: Pick 50 – OT Alex Jensen (South Dakota)
Round 08: Pick 58 – TE Brady Russell (Colorado)
Round 09: Pick 66 – DB Jason Taylor (Oklahoma State)
Round 10: Pick 74 – DE Colby Reeder (Iowa State)
2022 Results
W01: @ Michigan Panthers W 17-12
W02: BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS L 28-33
W03: TAMPA BAY BANDITS L 26-27
W04: @ New Orleans Breakers L 16-23
W05: PITTSBURGH MAULERS L 20-21
W06: @ New Jersey Generals L 25-26
W07: PHILADELPHIA STARS L 24-35
W08: @ Tampa Bay Bandits L 3-13
W09: @ Birmingham Stallions W 17-15
W10: NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS W 20-3
Misc. Info:
2022 Record: 3-7 (4th in USFL South)
Home: 2-3
Away: 2-3
South: 2-4
North: 1-3
Head Coach: Curtis Johnson
Houston: 0-0
Career: 15-34
Postseason: 0-1
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Kenji Bahar (61-100, 541 yards, 61.0%, 5.4 avg., 2 TD, 2 TD)
Rushing: Mark Thompson (114 car., 463 yards, 4.1 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Anthony Ratliff-Williams (28 rec., 243 yards, 8.7 avg., 1 TD)
TDs Scored: Mark Thompson (4)
Sacks: None
Tackles: Manny Bunch (36)
Interceptions: Jeremiah Johnson (1)
Pass Deflections: Jeremiah Johnson (3)
Tackles For Loss: Jeremiah Johnson (1)
Forced Fumbles: None
Kick Returners: Anthony Ratliff-Williams (1 ret., 15 yards, 15.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Nick Vogel (18-23 fg/fga.,78%, 12-15 xp/xpa., 66 pts.)
Punting: Andrew Galitz (47 punts, 2092 yards, 44.5 avg., 20 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 11 Kenji Bahar
RB: 7 Mark Thompson
WR: 1 Anthony Ratliff-Williams
WR: 16 Tyler Palka
WR: 9 Teo Redding
TE: 8 Brandon Barnes
LT: 78 Brandon Hitner
LG: 65 Jair Joseph
OC: 52 Braylon Jones
RG: 77 Tyler Higby
RT: 72 Jordan Steckler
KR: 1 Anthony Ratliff-Williams
PK: 18 Nick Vogel
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 40 Isaiah Chambers
DT: 93 Chigozie Nnoruka
DT: 92 Ikenna Onwuasoanya
DE: 95 Eli Howard
LB: 30 Isaiah Pryor
LB: 27 Marcel Spears Jr.
CB: 20 Nick Grant
CB: 5 Bydarrius Knighten
DS: 2 Jeremiah Johnson
DS: 22 Manny Bunch
DS: 25 Dayan Lake
PR: 1 Anthony Ratliff-Williams
PT: 13 Andrew Galitz
Team Grades:
OffenseQuarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: A
Schedule:
4/16 MICHIGAN PANTHERS | Last season’s 12-17 loss was the first meeting between teams since the relaunch.
4/22 at New Orleans Breakers | Houston trails the series 0-2. Last season’s 16-23 loss was the first series road loss since the relaunch.
4/29 MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS | First home meeting between teams since the relaunch.
5/06 at Philadelphia Stars | Last season’s 35-24 loss was their first meeting between teams since the relaunch.
5/13 at Birmingham Stallions | The series is tied 1-1. Last season’s 17-15 win was their first series road win since the relaunch.
5/21 NEW JERSEY GENERALS | Last season’s 25-26 loss was the first series meeting between teams since the relaunch.
5/28 at Memphis Showboats | First road meeting between teams since the relaunch.
6/03 at Pittsburgh Maulers | Last season’s 20-21 loss was the first meeting between teams since the relaunch.
6/11 BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS | Houston lost (28-33) last season’s home meeting between teams.
6/18 NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS | Houston lost (3-20) last season’s home meeting between teams.
Predictions:
Home: 1-4
Road: 0-5
South: 1-5
North: 0-4
Overall: 1-9 (4th in USFL South)
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