Houston’s preseason hardware haul says plenty about where this program stands heading into 2026.
The Cougars landed 12 players on Athlon Sports’ Preseason Awards lists, a strong sign of how much talent has piled up under Willie Fritz as he enters his third year in charge. After a 10-win season that ended with a bowl victory, Houston is getting the kind of recognition that matches its momentum.
The headline names are senior wide receiver Amare Thomas and senior offensive lineman Shadre Hurst, who both made the Preseason All-America Third Team. They were the only Houston players to earn that distinction. Junior defensive back Will James joined them on the Preseason All-Big 12 first team.
Those three sit at the center of what Houston wants to be. Hurst, the Tulane transfer, is back on the All-American radar for the second time and is viewed as one of the nation’s top players at his spot. Thomas is the No. 1 receiver in the room, and James gives the Cougars their top corner.
Houston also spread its representation across the rest of the All-Big 12 teams, with three players apiece on the second, third, and fourth teams.
On the second team, senior running back Makhi Hughes stands out after transferring in from Oregon to lead the backfield. Hughes was an All-Conference player at Tulane with Fritz, and now he’s set to anchor Houston’s running game. He was joined there by key JACK Brandon Mack, plus transfer defensive back Javion White, who came over from Tulane.
The third team included starting tight end Patrick Overmyer, along with two returning defenders in lineman Khalil Laufau and defensive back Jordan Allen.
Houston’s fourth-team selections were center Anthony Boswell and offensive tackle Drew Terrill, both transfer offensive linemen, plus linebacker Sione Fotu, who earned the nod after a standout season a year ago.
From top to bottom, the list shows the same thing: Houston’s talent isn’t concentrated in one spot. It’s spread across the roster.
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Houstons recruiting picture is starting to look a lot different, and it has less to do with promises than with proof. After a strong finish last season, the Cougars have enough on-field credibility to make their pitch feel more grounded, and the programs stability under Willie Fritz is giving recruits something Houston has not always been able to sell with confidence.
The timing helps, too. In todays college football climate, the transfer portal and NIL have changed how quickly a roster can move and how much momentum can matter, and Houston is benefiting from both as it tries to turn one good year into something sustainable. There is also a clearer path for newcomers to get on the field sooner, which only adds to the appeal as the Cougars keep building toward a season where bigger goals are suddenly part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
One Houston Freshman Is Already Forcing His Way Onto The Field
Houstons 2026 recruiting class is already starting to look the part on paper, and the early buzz around it has centered on the obvious headliner in five-star quarterback Keisean Henderson. But another newcomer has been pushing his way into the conversation this spring. Athlete Paris Melvin Jr., one of three four-star additions in a class ranked No. 32 nationally and No. 5 in the Big 12 by 247Sports, has shown enough in practice for the staff to keep finding ways to get him on the field.
Melvins value is in the kind of flexibility that keeps a coaching staff interested all spring. Houston has looked at him as a kick returner and cornerback, with the possibility of using him on offense too, and his work in camp and the spring game only added to the intrigue. He has flashed in multiple settings, and the next question is how far the Cougars will be willing to stretch that versatility once the real games begin. [Read more 🡒]