(Photo Credit: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB Stacy Sneed, WR Sam Brown, WR Matthew Golden, OC Jack Freeman, OG Tyler Johnson, OT Patrick Paul, DE Nelson Ceaser, DT Sedrick Williams, NT Chidozie Nwankwo, LB Jamal Morris, LB Malik Robinson, CB Jalen Emery, NB Alex Hogan and PT Laine Wilkins.
Key Players Departing:
QB Clayton Tune, RB Brandon Campbell, WR KeSean Carter, WR/PR Nathaniel Dell, TE Christian Trahan, OG Cam’Ron Johnson, OT Lance Robinson, DE D’Anthony Jones, DE Derek Parish, LB Atlias Bell, LB Donovan Mutin, LB Mannie Nunnery, CB Art Green, CB/KR Jayce Rogers, FS Thabo Mwaniki, FS Gervarrius Owens, BS Hasaan Hypolite, PK Bubba Baxa and PK Kyle Ramsey.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: ATH Mikal Harrison-Pilot (Temple, Texas), WR Jonah Wilson (Houston, Texas) and RB Parker Jenkins (Houston, Texas).
3 Star Recruits: LB Ish Harris (Texas A&M transfer), CB Malik Fleming (East Carolina transfer), WR Stephon Johnson (Oklahoma State transfer), LB David Ugwoegbu (Oklahoma transfer), DS Adari Haulcy (New Mexico transfer), DL Justin Benton (Covington, Georgia) and WR Ja’koby Banks (Missouri City, Texas).
2022 Results:
G01 @ UTSA W | 3OT 37-35
G02 @ Texas Tech L | 2OT 30-33
G03 KANSAS L 30-48
G04 RICE W 34-27
G05 TULANE L | OT 24-27
G06 @ Memphis W 33-32
G07 @ Navy W 38-20
G08 SOUTH FLORIDA W 42-27
G09 @ SMU L 63-77
G10 TEMPLE W 43-36
G11 @ East Carolina W 42-3
G12 TULSA L 30-37
BOWL vs. Louisiana W 23-16
Misc. Team Information:
2022 Record: 8-5 (2nd in AAC)
Home: 3-3
Away: 4-2
Neutral: 1-0
AAC: 5-3
Non-AAC: 3-2
Head Coach: Dana Holgorsen
Houston: 27-20
Career: 88-61
Bowls: 4-6
Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: Lucas Coley (3-3, 8 yards, 100%., 2.7 avg., 0 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing: Stacy Sneed (76 car., 501 yards, 6.6 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving: Sam Brown (41 rec., 471 yards, 11.5 avg., 4 TD)
TDs Scored: Matthew Golden (7)
Sacks: Nelson Ceaser (4)
Tackles: Jamal Morris (42)
Tackles For Loss: Nelson Ceaser (10)
Interceptions: Nelson Ceasar (1)
Pass Deflections: Jalen Emery (7)
Forced Fumbles: Nelson Ceaser/Jamal Morris/Sedrick Williams (1)
Kick Returns: Peyton Sawyer (13 ret., 291 yards, 22.4 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Peyton Sawyer (2 ret., 27 yards, 13.5 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Kyle Ramsey (5-6 fg/fga., 83%, 38-39 xp/xpa., 53 pts.)
Punting: Laine Wilkins (40 punts, 1749 yards, 43.7 avg., 10 in20)
Projected Offense Starters:
QB: 1 Donovan Smith (RS JR/TR)
RB: 24 Tony Mathis Jr. (RS JR/TR)
WR: 2 Matthew Golden (SO)
WR: 4 Sam Brown (RS SO/TR)
WR: 00 Joseph Manjack IV (SR/TR)
TE: 17 Mike O’Laughlin (RS SR/TR)
LT: 76 Patrick Paul (RS JR)
LG: 50 Tyler Johnson (RS SR/TR)
OC: 75 Jack Freeman (RS SR)
RG: 72 Tank Jenkins (RS SR/TR)
RT: 74 Reuben Unije (RS SR/TR)
KR: 2 Matthew Golden (SO)
PK: 41 Jack Martin (RS SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 12 David Ugwoegbu (SR RS/TR)
NT: 10 Chidozie Nwankwo (JR)
DT: 00 Sedrick Williams (ES SR/TR)
DE: 9 Nelson Ceaser (RS JR)
LB: 30 Trimarcus Cheeks (SR/TR)
LB: 8 Malik Robinson (RS SR/TR)
NB: 1 Alex Hogan (RS SR/TR)
CB: 15 Malik Fleming (SR/TR)
CB: 3 Jalen Emery (RS SO)
FS: 24 Adari Haulcy (SO/TR)
SS: 20 Antonio Brooks (SR/TR)
PR: 15 Malik Fleming (SR/TR)
PT: 22 Laine Wilkins (SR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: A
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punting: B
Schedule:
09/02 UTSA ROADRUNNERS | Houston leads the series 2-1. Last season’s 37-35 OT win was the first meeting between schools since 2014.
09/09 @ Rice Owls | Houston leads the series 33-11. The Cougars are 5-0 since 2013 and their last series loss (31-34) dates back to 2010.
09/16 TCU HORNED FROGS | Houston leads the series 13-12. Houston lost (13-20) the last meeting between schools at the 2007 Texas Bowl.
09/23 SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS | Houston leads the series 4-2. Houston won (31-10) the last meeting between schools in 2005.
09/30 @ Texas Tech Red Raiders | Houston leads the series 18-15-1. The Cougars are 0-4 since renewing the series in 2017 and their last series win (29-28) dates back to 2009.
10/12 WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS | First meeting between schools.
10/21 TEXAS LONGHORNS | Houston trails the series 7-16-2. Houston lost (11-41) the last meeting between schools in 2002.
10/28 @ Kansas State Wildcats | First meeting between schools.
11/04 @ Baylor Bears | Houston trails the series 13-14-1. Houston lost (7-47) the last meeting between schools in 1995.
11/11 CINCINNATI BEARCATS | Houston leads the series 15-13. The Cougars are 2-5 since 2013 and they lost (20-35) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/18 OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS | Houston leads the series 10-9-1. Houston won (45-35) the last meeting between schools in 2009.
11/25 @ UCF Knights | Houston trails the series 3-7. The Cougars are 2-4 since 2013 and they lost (21-44) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
Predictions:
Home: 6-1
Road: 0-5
Neutral: 0-0
B12: 5-4
Non-B12: 1-2
Overall: 6-6 (10th in Big XII)
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