Houston’s preseason recognition keeps piling up, and the latest round of honors says plenty about how far the Cougars have come.
After winning 10 games last season and taking the 2025 Texas Bowl, Houston has seen its roster talent get a major boost over the past year. That surge has shown up again as the program continues to place players on preseason watchlists, a sign that expectations are climbing along with the profile of the team.
On Monday, the Shriners Children’s East-West Bowl released its 2026 watchlist, and nine Cougars were included. That matches the number Houston had on last year’s list, giving the program consecutive seasons with nine selections.
The watchlist features 1000 of the top all-star game-eligible players for the 2027 East-West Bowl, and more Houston names could still emerge after this season. Last year, Dean Connors became UH’s 32nd player to participate in the Bowl.
The headliners on the list start with senior quarterback Conner Weigman, who is coming off a highly successful 2025 campaign but still hasn’t gotten as much preseason recognition as his production suggests. He enters the season with a chance to be one of the Big 12’s best quarterbacks.
Houston’s offensive line also drew plenty of attention. Shadre Hurst, already carrying multiple All-American and preseason honors, added another watchlist nod. He was joined by Drew Terrill, who arrives after three seasons at Miami (OH) and was one of the MAC’s top linemen.
The backfield got a boost too, with senior transfer running back Makhi Hughes making the cut. Hughes is trying to recapture the form he showed early in his career at Tulane, where he earned freshman All-American honors.
Three more offensive players landed on the watchlist, all of them pass catchers. Senior wide receiver Amare Thomas earned yet another preseason honor after serving as Houston’s No. 1 receiver.
Senior transfer wide receiver Trent Walker, who comes over from Oregon State, also made the list and is expected to be a major piece of Houston’s revamped receiver room. Junior tight end Patrick Overmyer, a former UTSA player, was included as well and is set to take on a significant role.
Houston’s defense had representation too. Veteran defensive lineman Brandon Mack II, who finished last season with five sacks, was named to the watchlist and could be in line for a big final college season. Defensive back Jalen Mayo also earned a spot as a top-10 transfer portal corner after arriving from SFA and reuniting with secondary coach Marcus Trice in the Third Ward.
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Houston Offense Faces One Massive 2026 Ceiling Question
Houstons offense heads into 2026 with a different kind of optimism than it had a year ago, because the pieces now look far more settled around Conner Weigman, Makhi Hughes and Amare Thomas. Weigman gives the Cougars a quarterback with room to grow in Willie Fritzs system, Hughes arrives with a track record that suggests better days ahead, and Thomas already showed he can be a reliable target in the passing game. After a 2025 season that offered a clearer picture of what this offense is and what it still lacks, Houston can at least point to a core that should make the unit more stable.
The bigger question is how high that stability can actually lift the Cougars. Fritzs offense is built to be efficient and disciplined, and if Houston trims down the mistakes that have held it back, the ceiling starts to look much more interesting. Weigmans development, Hughes ability to give the run game a real foundation and Thomas role as a top receiver all point toward improvement, but the real test is whether those individual gains can turn into a complete offense that finally matches the talent on hand. [Read more 🡒]