Houston got a jolt of good news on Monday, and it came in the form of a familiar face back on the practice field. Wide receiver Stephon Johnson rejoined the Cougars and is now expected to be eligible for his fifth season of college football, according to coach Willie Fritz.
Johnson took part in his first practice with the team on Monday, and Fritz said the program finally feels comfortable moving ahead with him in the mix.
"Really excited about it and we feel about as good as we can feel that he'll be eligible and be able to play for us this fall," Fritz said.
For a while, it looked like Johnson’s run at Houston might be finished. His medical redshirt was denied by the NCAA earlier in the offseason after a Lisfranc injury in his right foot cost him most of his senior season. Johnson appeared in five games, which left him short of redshirt eligibility.
Then the legal landscape changed. A federal court injunction on July 31 opened the door for players in the high school class of 2022 to gain a fifth season under the NCAA’s new five-year eligibility rule. That ruling gave Johnson another year, and Houston appears to be benefiting from it.
Fritz said the uncertainty kept the staff from making any move until things felt settled, especially with the 10th Circuit’s stay order on Friday adding another layer to a situation that has looked different from player to player.
"I didn't want to do anything until I was certain. In this day and age, I'm not sure what certain is, but we feel pretty good about it.
He knows how we run a program, how we do things, and we're excited about having him back," Fritz said. "I wanted to wait until we had some finality."
Johnson’s return matters because he has already been one of Houston’s most productive pass-catchers. Since arriving in 2023 after transferring from Oklahoma State, he has collected 69 receptions for 954 yards and seven touchdowns. Last season, he averaged more than 21 yards per catch.
Fritz said the team let the news breathe during the Monday morning meeting, and the reaction around the room was immediate.
Johnson will still need some time before he can fully ramp things up. Fritz said he has to get through a couple of helmet days first, a lighter practice stage where players wear only helmets and no other pads.
The injury itself can vary in recovery time, but Fritz said Johnson is in good shape now. The bigger task is catching up after being away from the system.
The Houston native has to get back into the offense quickly, learn the terminology and adjust to different personnel groupings, but Fritz sounded confident the transition will go smoothly.
"The great thing about it is we're running the same offense. Basically, he's got the same coaches. So, it's not going to be easy for him because he's nine months behind, but he's a hard-working guy, and he'll do a great job," Fritz said.
His return deepens a Houston receiver group that already includes preseason All-Big 12 member Amare Thomas, senior transfer Trent Walker, and fall camp standout redshirt sophomore Koby Young.
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