Houston’s offense has enough firepower to keep people talking in 2026, but one spot stands out as the clear question mark: tight end.
Conner Weigman, Amare Thomas and Makhi Hughes give the Cougars a loaded core, and the overall talent level on that side of the ball still points toward a strong season. But after the production Houston got from Tanner Koziol in 2025, the tight end room looks like it could take a real step back.
Koziol was a huge part of the offense a year ago. Weigman leaned on him heavily, and the tight end finished with 74 receptions while Thomas had 67.
Koziol also earned All-Big 12 First Team honors and led all FBS tight ends in catches. That kind of output is not easy to replace.
His numbers from 2024 at Ball State only underline the gap. Koziol posted 839 yards and eight touchdowns that season, and none of the tight ends currently on Houston’s 2026 roster are close to that kind of resume.
Right now, the projected starter is Patrick Overmyer. He spent two seasons at UTSA and combined for 627 yards and eight touchdowns there. That’s solid production, but it is still a noticeable drop from what Koziol brought to the table.
That matters because Weigman’s connection with Koziol helped drive the offense. Koziol was second on the team in receiving yards behind Thomas, and Houston’s 10-3 run in 2025 was tied in part to having that kind of weapon at tight end. Without an established star in that role next season, Weigman will have to adjust.
The depth behind Overmyer does not offer much proven production either. Traville Frederick Jr. is a junior with just 26 career receiving yards, while Luke McGary is a senior who played in six games in 2025 before suffering an injury against Oklahoma State. Compared with Houston’s other offensive groups, the tight ends simply do not bring the same level of experience.
Still, there is reason to think offensive coordinator Slade Nagle can make something work. Nagle has plenty of background with tight ends, having coached the position at Tulane from 2016-2022 and at LSU in 2024.
That history gives Houston a chance to get the most out of Overmyer, even if the group is not going to match Koziol’s output. The Cougars also have plenty else working in their favor, with Amari Thomas, Makhi Hughes, transfer receivers Trent Walker, Koby Young, Muizz Tounkara and Harvey Broussard, plus an offensive line that is expected to be much better.
So while tight end looks like the one spot where Houston could lose production in 2026, the rest of the offense still gives the Cougars a chance to stay among the conference’s best. And if Overmyer can simply handle his part, that unit could still be plenty dangerous.
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