Martin Marroquin sees Houston positioned to take a real step forward in year two under Conner Weigman, and his confidence starts with how the quarterback’s job is changing.
Weigman’s production should shift more toward the passing game this season, Marroquin said, after the quarterback ran the ball 171 times last year and finished as the team’s second-leading rusher with 700 yards. The expectation is that he’ll still be involved with his legs, just not nearly as heavily. With more help in the passing game and an offensive line that should be better, Marroquin believes the air attack is set up to do more damage.
“The continuity on the staff and his comfort being in the same offensive system give him every opportunity to take that next step. And I think he will.”
Houston’s backfield should also look different with former Tulane and Oregon running back Makhi Hughes stepping in. Marroquin pointed to Hughes’ past production, including nearly 3,000 career rushing yards, and said he expects him to look like the same player he was in 2023 and 2024.
Even if the workload is spread around more because of Houston’s depth, Hughes should still make his presence felt. Marroquin also highlighted Re’Shaun Sanford (#6), who is back from a second ACL injury, as another piece that can help the offense and protect Weigman.
In the passing game, former Oregon State receiver Trent Walker is expected to be a dependable option right away. Marroquin described Walker (#4) as a steady target and a stick mover, while also noting his value in the locker room. He believes Walker’s presence helps Amare Thomas (#0) create bigger plays, and Houston has more weapons beyond that with transfer tight end Patrick Overmyer (#9) and returning wideout Koby Young (#2).
On defense, Marroquin thinks Houston has a real chance to improve on last season. He mentioned returning starters Kentrell Webb (#8) and Jordan Allen (#6) at safety, plus cornerback Will James (#5).
He also singled out transfer cornerback Jalen Mayo (#2), saying Mayo could be a draft pick and telling the story of his climb from “0 offers out of high school to Division II Virginia Union to FCS Stephen F. Austin to the Big 12.”
Marroquin added that fans should keep an eye on Oregon transfer DE Ashton Porter (#9) and Ole Miss LB Jaden Yates (Ole Miss,#1) in the front seven.
As for the matchup itself, Marroquin went with the same score he predicted last season: 27-13 for Houston. He said not having to travel should help the Cougars, but the bigger factor is the upgrade in talent. Houston is coming off a 10-win season, brings back its starting quarterback and all three coordinators, and has added more talent in key spots.
In Other News...
Trent Walker Faces A Pressure Spot Houston Fans Will Be Watching
Trent Walkers first season in Houston comes with a built-in spotlight. The former Oregon State wide receiver arrived as a fifth-year senior after a breakout 2024 run in Corvallis, where he piled up 81 catches for 901 yards and finished seventh on the schools single-season receptions list. Houston brought him in to be an important piece of the passing game, and the Cougars are counting on that experience to show up right away.
The timing only adds to the intrigue, because Houston opens the season against Walkers former team. It is the kind of matchup that can make an early impression on a new fan base, especially for a player expected to play a major role in the receiving corps. For Walker, it is a chance to turn a familiar opponent into the first big statement of his Houston tenure. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Secondary Has A Willie Fritz Wild Card This Fall
One of the more intriguing pieces of Houstons secondary this fall is Javion White, a defensive back who followed Willie Fritz from one program to another and now finds himself in position to help the Cougars right away. Fritz recruited White to Tulane in 2023, and after two seasons there, White arrives at Houston with a reputation for being adaptable and productive in the back end.
White transferred after the 2025 season and is back under Fritz as the Cougars work through fall camp, where he is expected to factor in as a versatile piece on defense. For Houston, that kind of familiarity matters, especially with a player who already knows the coaching staffs expectations and brings experience from his time in the American Athletic Conference. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Faces One Early Threat In Opener Fans Should Not Ignore
Houston opens the 2026 season on Sept. 5 at TDECU Stadium with a matchup that already carries a little extra edge. ESPN sees the Cougars as the favorite, and Houston enters the game with several players on national watch lists, but the first weekend of the year still brings some unfamiliar variables, including a new Oregon State coach in JaMarcus Shephard and a roster that will look different from the one Houston saw in past meetings.
One of the more intriguing layers is the return of wide receiver Trent Walker against Oregon State, giving the opener a familiar face on Houstons side and a little added personal weight to a game that is supposed to be manageable on paper. Oregon State also brings in a fresh quarterback situation with Braden Atkinson set to make his FBS debut, which makes the Beavers a little harder to read than a typical early-season opponent and gives Houston a few reasons to stay alert even in what looks like a favorable home opener. [Read more 🡒]