Houston is heading into fall camp with real competition in a few spots, but the offense already has a pretty clear shape as the Cougars close in on their Sept. 5 opener against Oregon State. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. inside TDECU Stadium, and with spring ball wrapped up, the early read is that Willie Fritz has a deeper, more versatile group than he did a year ago.
Up front, Houston looks set to lean on experience and portal help. Senior Alvin Ebosele is the anchor on the left side after starting all 13 games in 2025 and going without allowing a sack in 10 of them.
Sophomore Ronnell McLain gives the Cougars a flexible backup option there. On the interior, Tulane transfer Shadre Hurst is expected to jump right into the starting five after arriving as one of the top offensive line additions in the portal.
PFF ranked him the No. 6 guard nationally in 2025, and Houston is counting on him to stabilize the middle right away. Junior Larry Crawford is next in line behind him after playing in six games as a sophomore.
At center, sophomore Anthony Boswell appears to have the edge after coming over from Toledo. He’s been one of the more impressive players during the offseason, and Houston is expecting him to be a key piece in holding the line together.
McLain is also an option here if needed. On the right side, veteran McKenzie Angelo is projected to start at guard after grading as Houston’s top blocker in 2025 and not giving up a sack on 368 pass-block snaps.
Senior Hingano Hautau remains in the mix as another experienced interior option. Miami (Ohio) transfer Drew Terrill should also play a role after earning MAC recognition last season as the conference’s highest-graded run blocker, while Northwestern transfer Hayden Wright adds another developmental body with upside.
Quarterback is the one spot where the depth chart feels pretty settled. Conner Weigman is still the guy after putting up 3,405 yards of offense in 2025, and he’ll be the one steering the ship again.
Behind him, five-star freshman Keisean Henderson is expected to back up and could get work in specialty packages or late-game spots. Syracuse transfer Luke Carney gives Houston an experienced third option.
The backfield has plenty of bodies, but Oregon transfer Makhi Hughes is the projected starter and has drawn strong praise from the coaching staff. Sophomore Re’Shaun Sanford II is next after bouncing back from the season-ending injury he suffered last year, and junior DJ Butler showed late in the season that he can be counted on when called upon.
At receiver, Houston has a mix of proven production and younger players ready for bigger jobs. Sophomore Koby Young is in line for a larger role after catching 12 passes for 191 yards in his first meaningful action a year ago.
Junior Harvey Broussard III brings size and athleticism to the group and gives the Cougars another target who can win in contested situations. Senior Amare Thomas remains one of the offense’s biggest names after finishing second in the Big 12 in both receiving yards and touchdown catches last season.
Sophomore Jaquise Martin has also emerged and should keep growing into a bigger part of the rotation.
Trent Walker, who transferred from Oregon State, arrives with plenty of production on his résumé - 174 career catches for 980 yards and four touchdowns - and is the favorite to start at the Z spot. Florida transfer Muizz Tounkara should also be involved and adds another explosive outside option.
Tight end looks like another spot where Houston has some real shape already. Junior Patrick Overmyer, a transfer from UTSA, is expected to lead the room after a sophomore season that produced 344 yards.
The Kingwood native brings value as both a receiver and blocker. Senior Luke McGary should be right behind him, especially when Houston wants extra help in the run game, while still offering something on offense when called upon.
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 🡒]