The transfer portal has become a huge part of Houston’s rise, and the latest AP Midseason All-America team showed just how well that approach is paying off. The Cougars landed three selections, all of them transfers, and that total leads the Big 12 while tying No. 12 UCLA for the most in the country.
Redshirt sophomore center Anthony Boswell and fifth-year left guard Shadre Hurst were both voted to the First Team, while redshirt junior tight end Patrick Overmyer earned Second Team honors. For Houston, it’s a clear snapshot of a roster that has gotten real production from newcomers who have stepped in and performed at a Power Four level.
The most obvious evidence of that impact shows up along the offensive line. Having both Boswell and Hurst recognized says plenty about how sturdy Houston’s front has been this season. That unit has helped power the 14th-ranked rushing offense in the FBS and a group that has allowed the second-fewest tackles for loss in the nation.
Boswell, listed at 6-foot-2 and 301 pounds, has been the highest-graded offensive lineman in the Big 12. He’s also been the highest-graded run blocker in the NFL and the second-highest-graded pass blocker among players with at least 350 snaps. Before arriving at Houston, he was a freshman All-American at Toledo.
Hurst has been right there with him. The 6-foot-2, 304-pound guard is the second-highest-graded offensive lineman in the Big 12 and also ranks second among run blockers in the league. He is one of only nine players who moved from the Preseason All-American First Team to the Midseason First Team.
Overmyer has supplied a different kind of punch. He grabbed national attention in Week 6 when he tied the NCAA single-game receiving touchdowns record for a tight end with four scoring catches against Kansas State. That performance earned him Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors, along with recognition as the John Mackey Award Player of the Week and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Player of the Week.
At 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, Overmyer has become a major weapon in the passing game. He leads all FBS tight ends with six total touchdowns, and his 399 receiving yards rank second nationally among tight ends.
In Other News...
Baylor Faces A Huge Home Test With Early Big 12 Stakes
Week 8 in the Big 12 brings a useful snapshot of where the league is starting to sort itself out, and Houston is right in the middle of it with Oklahoma State coming to town. The Cougars are fresh off a 35-16 win at Kansas State, a result that gave their season some needed momentum and made this one feel a little more meaningful than a typical conference date. For fans looking for a game to circle, this matchup fits the bill, with a road-tested opponent, an energized home setting and stakes that are beginning to matter more by the week.
Oklahoma State also arrives with enough individual talent to keep Houston honest, especially quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who is already drawing midseason honors attention after a fast start to his Cowboys career. The broader weekend slate includes Baylor hosting TCU and Cincinnati heading to West Virginia, but from Houstons perspective, this is the one that can say the most about where the Cougars fit in the Big 12 picture. A solid showing would only sharpen the conversation around a team that is trying to turn one good win into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Faces A Tough Formula To Upset Oklahoma State
Houstons path to an upset in Stillwater starts with making Oklahoma State uncomfortable. The Cowboys offense leans on quarterback Drew Mestemakers ability to stay on schedule, while receiver Wyatt Young adds another layer of difficulty because he can move around and force the Cougars to sort things out on the fly. For Houston, the first order of business is simple in theory and difficult in practice: tackle cleanly, avoid giving up easy yards, and make the Cowboys earn every bit of space they get.
The challenge only grows when Caleb Hawkins gets rolling, because Oklahoma State can turn a routine run into a much bigger problem if the first wave of tacklers does not finish the play. On the other side, Houstons own offense has to manage pass rusher Jaleel Johnson while still looking for chances to attack outside and create some balance. It is the kind of game where a few missed stops or one clean pocket at the wrong time can tilt everything, and that leaves the Cougars with a thin margin for error if they want to pull this off. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Secondary Faces Its Biggest Test Yet Against Oklahoma State
The No. 20 Cougars head into a significant home matchup with No. 18 Oklahoma State carrying a defense that has quietly started to settle in, especially on the back end. Houstons secondary has looked better of late and brings experienced pieces to the field, which matters in a game of this size and in a league where one busted coverage can change everything in a hurry.
Oklahoma State brings a dangerous challenge into town, with quarterback Drew Mestemaker directing an offense that has been one of the more productive units in the Big 12. For Houston, this is the kind of test that can sharpen a defenses identity, and the Cougars will need their secondary to keep matching routes, contesting throws and holding up under the pressure of a top-tier conference opponent. [Read more 🡒]