Houston’s fall camp is moving into the stretch where every rep starts to matter a little more, with the regular season now less than two weeks away and opening kickoff set for Sept. 5.
That urgency showed up across a busy week of work for the Cougars, who are still sorting through a few important spots as they get ready for what’s being billed as one of the program’s most anticipated seasons in years. The kicking game remains one of the biggest battles on the roster right now, and Willie Fritz offered a useful update Monday.
According to Fritz, redshirt sophomore Jonathan Dimas has been working with the first team, while senior Zac Yoakum has been on the second team. Redshirt freshman Evan Noel still has time to make a push before the end of August, so that competition is far from settled.
Fritz also pointed to a handful of freshmen who could end up playing meaningful roles this season. On defense and special teams, that group includes Paris Melvin Jr.
At running back, John Hebert is in that mix too. And on the offensive line, two more freshmen could be in the picture at right guard and center: Noah Abebe and Aaron Wolford.
Houston’s second-string offensive line took a small hit as well. Fritz said sophomore left tackle RJ Lee got a little banged up this past week. He also noted that sophomore wide receiver Muizz Tounkara and senior tight end Luke McGary should be back around week 2-3.
Fritz’s approach to camp keeps the physicality high, but there’s one area where he draws a hard line.
"We're gonna stay off the quarterback, plain and simple. I tell the guys in the first meeting.
I can play a left tackle at right guard, but I can't play the right guard at quarterback. So we're limited.
So do not touch them. And if they do, I make a big deal out of them," Fritz said.
Friday’s walk-through at the indoor practice facility gave Houston a chance to work through a wide range of plays in all three phases, with special teams getting plenty of attention. That part of the game matters to Fritz, who coached special teams at Sam Houston State in 1991-92 and knows exactly how much value it can bring.
Saturday brought another notable moment when men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson visited practice at TDECU Stadium, addressed the team, and shared some advice. His presence underscored how much he supports the football program.
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For Houston, the timing matters as much as the rsum. Rowser is joining the roster ahead of the 2026 season and will enter a competition for a starting job, giving the Cougars another veteran option to sort through as they continue shaping the back end of the defense. It is the kind of late move that can quietly matter if the fit is right. [Read more 🡒]