Houston’s passing game is drawing real preseason attention, and the Biletnikoff Award watch list is a big reason why. The Cougars landed two receivers on the annual list in Amare Thomas and Oregon State transfer Trent Walker, giving Conner Weigman a pair of proven targets to work with heading into 2026.
That matters because Houston is building its offense around a quarterback who has already shown he can do plenty with his legs. Weigman’s 2025 season gave the Cougars a strong base, but it also came with a heavy workload on the ground: 171 rushing carries, 700 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. The question now is how much of that kind of physical punishment his body can handle again.
The setup around him suggests Houston wants a different version of the offense this time around. With Thomas and Walker on the outside, Weigman should have more help in the passing game than he did last season. Thomas is expected to be the more traditional down-field threat out of the slot, while Walker brings the kind of short-area production that can turn into extra yards after the catch.
Walker’s résumé is already solid. In two seasons at Oregon State, he put up 149 receptions for 1,724 yards. The touchdown total - four - is modest, but the source of that number is hard to pin on him, since Oregon State never had a clear QB1 in either of those seasons.
Thomas, meanwhile, is viewed as the receiver most likely to lead Houston in most statistical categories. Together, he and Walker give the Cougars a receiver duo that should keep defenses honest and take some pressure off Weigman.
Houston offensive coordinator Slade Nagle said the goal is not to lean on Weigman as a runner every week.
"Conner's a good runner, a really good runner. Ideally, would we like to run him 18 times a game?
No," Nagles said recently. "We'd like to be a little more spotty and strategic for what we're doing, but at the end of the day, I think that's a trait and a skill set that he brings to the table that we'll definitely have to lean on at some point."
Coach Willie Fritz has also done his part by giving Weigman as much help as possible in the passing game. For a quarterback in his final season from the 2022 high school class, the message is simple: the pieces are there, and the opportunity is now.
In Other News...
Conner Weigman Gives Houston Fans Reason To Exhale At Camp
Conner Weigman gave Houston a little more breathing room at camp when he returned to limited throwing after sitting out the previous two practice days. It was a small but meaningful step in his arm recovery, the kind of update that matters this time of year because every rep shapes the depth chart and the mood around the quarterback room. Elsewhere in practice, freshmen John Hebert and Jeremiah Bushnell have been getting attention, with Bushnell drawing notice among the receivers.
The Cougars also got a defensive flash when Quindario Lee picked off a pass in a live scrimmage, another reminder that camp is still offering chances for young players to make noise. On special teams, Jonathan Dimas has moved to the front of the placekicking competition, with coach Willie Fritz identifying him as the top option for now, a sign that Houston is starting to sort out some of the quieter battles before the season arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Conner Weigman May Have The Answer To Houstons Biggest Third-Down Issue
Houstons third-down work took a noticeable step forward in 2025, climbing to a 41.0% conversion rate, and theres a clear reason Trent Walker keeps coming up in the conversation. The receiver has already shown he can be a steady yardage producer, and his presence gives Conner Weigman a dependable option when drives start to tighten up and the offense needs a play to stay on schedule.
What makes Walker especially important is how much Houston still wants to clean up against the better defenses on its schedule. The Cougars were far more limited by Texas Tech and TCU, two games that showed how quickly third downs can become an issue when Weigman gets pushed out of rhythm, which is why Walkers role could wind up mattering as much as any schematic tweak. [Read more 🡒]