Houston’s transfer haul is already shaping the roster, and a few newcomers look ready to matter right away in 2026.
The Cougars have leaned heavily on transfers from the last few recruiting cycles, pulling in players from all over the college football map. Some arrived from major programs in the SEC and other power conferences, while others came up from the Division two level. That mix has become a defining part of how this roster was built.
A couple of the more recent additions have already shown what that pipeline can do. Conner Weigman and Amare Thomas both came from big programs and made their presence felt on the Houston roster in 2025. Their success only sharpens the focus on the next wave of transfers and what they can bring next season.
On offense, Houston’s receiving room was a major reason for last year’s success, with playmakers who could stretch the field and finish drives in the end zone. Thomas was the clearest example of that, and there are more new names who could keep that momentum going.
Tyson Turner, who comes over from Texas Tech, is one of the receivers worth watching. He faced Houston last year as a Red Raider, and his move to the Cougars gives him a fresh start. If his offseason work goes well, he has the kind of profile that could lead to a breakout season.
Trent Walker is another potential weapon for the Houston offense. He put together a spectacular 2025 season at Oregon State and now brings that experience into the Big 12. The jump comes with a tougher weekly test, but his track record suggests he could fit in quickly.
Defensively, Ashton Porter stands out as an immediate name to know on the line. The former Oregon Duck brings strength against the run, and that skill set should help a defensive front that needs reinforcement.
Houston also added help in the secondary with Jaylen Mayo, who leaves SFA after a decent 2025 season. He’ll face a much different challenge in the Big 12 than he did in the Southland Conference, but he has the tools to keep opponents from making easy gains through the air.
In Other News...
Houston Is Getting The Kind Of Preseason Respect Fans Wanted
Houstons preseason profile is starting to look like the kind of thing fans have been waiting to see. Nine Cougars landed on the 2026 Shriners Childrens 1000 Watchlist for the 2027 East-West Bowl, matching last years total and underscoring just how much talent is stacked across the roster. Senior quarterback Conner Weigman is on the list, along with a mix of experienced returners and newcomers who give the group a much deeper feel than it had a year ago.
The names tell the story of where the program is headed. Offensive linemen Shadre Hurst and Drew Terrill, running back Makhi Hughes, wide receivers Amare Thomas and Trent Walker, tight end Patrick Overmyer, defensive lineman Brandon Mack II and defensive back Jalen Mayo all earned recognition, giving Houston a broad spread of talent on both sides of the ball. For a program trying to turn rising expectations into something more tangible, this kind of preseason attention is exactly the sort of signal that matters. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]