University of Houston Athletics
[GAME NOTES] Houston at Tulsa
9/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES | Tom Herman PRESS CONFERENCE | STUDENT-ATHLETES PRESS CONFERENCE
| THE GAME AT A GLANCE | |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, Oct. 3 |
| Time | 11 a.m. CST |
| Location | Tulsa, Okla. |
| Venue | H.A. Chapman Stadium |
| Capacity | 30,000 |
| Surface | FieldTurf |
| TV | CBS Sports Network |
| Radio | KPRC 950 AM |
| Live Stats | |
HITS ON HOUSTON |
« The #HTownTakeover hits the road Saturday at 11 a.m. when Houston faces Tulsa in The American Athletic Conference opener for both teams. Houston is coming off 59-14 win over Texas State while Tulsa enters at 2-1 following its bye week. Saturday's game will be aired on CBS Sports Network and on KPRC 950 AM in Houston.
« Houston head coach Tom Herman joined rare air last week as he became just the second coach in Houston history to open his career 3-0. John Jenkins accomplished the feat in 1990. He is one of two new head coaches nationally (Jim McElwain - Florida) to start the year undefeated.
« Herman was officially named the Houston head coach on Dec. 19, 2014, one week after being named the 2014 Frank Broyles Award winner as the nation's top assistant coach.
« Herman has vowed Houston will be physical and the numbers are reflecting it. The Cougars rank fifth nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 66.0 yards per game, while ranking 10th on rushing offense with an average of 286.0 yards per game.
« Saturday's game could see fireworks as Houston ranks sixth nationally in scoring offense at 48.3 points per game while Tulsa is 16th with 41.7 points per game. Houston is seventh nationally in total offense with an average of 590.7 yards per game while Tulsa is fourth with 607.0 yards per game.
« Houston was narrowly picked to finish second in the west division of The American Athletic Conference in a poll of the league's media. 2015 marks the first season for divisions in The American and the first with a conference championship as the league's two division winners will square off on Dec. 5 at the home of the division winner with the best conference record. Each team will play five other opponents from its division plus three cross-division opponents. Houston plays the top two projected teams in the east, Cincinnati and UCF, along with UConn in cross-division games this season.
ABOUT THE COUGARS |
« Twenty-eight full or part-time starters return in 2015 for Houston. The 2014 leaders in rushing, passing, field goals, punting, tackles for loss, sacks and interceptions all return.
« The program welcomed an incoming class of 21 that is comprised of 18 high school student-athletes, one junior college transfer and two four-year transfers. Three of the 21 newcomers enrolled in the program in January for spring workouts - WR Chance Allen, QB Adam Schulz and WR Devin Smith.
« Houston's roster sports 49 upperclassmen and 56 underclassmen. Eighteen players redshirted their first season on campus in 2014.
« Houston's all-time record sits at 405-351-15 since the program started in 1946.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT |
« In its first season under head coach Philip Montgomery, Tulsa enters Saturday's meeting at 2-1 and coming off its lone bye week. Tulsa opened the season with a 47-44 home overtime win over Florida Atlantic before heading on the road to defeat New Mexico, 40-21. The Golden Hurricane dropped its third game of the season on the road to No. 15 Oklahoma, 52-38, in its third straight game with at least 600 yards of total offense with 603 against the Sooners. Tulsa ranks fourth nationally in total offense with an average of 607.0 yards per game and sixth in passing offense with 390.7 yards per game.
« Tulsa is led offensively by junior quarterback Dane Evans, who has thrown for 1,172 yards and eight touchdowns in three games. Three receivers lead the Golden Hurricane, led by senior Keyarris Garrett, who is third nationally in receiving yards with 454 yards and a touchdown off 26 receptions, while junior Keevan Lucas has five touchdowns as part of his 19 receptions for 342 yards. Junior receiver Josh Atkinson rounds out the group with 13 receptions for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Zack Langer leads Tulsa with 389 rushing yards along with five touchdowns.
« Defensively, the Golden Hurricane are led by senior safety Michael Mudoh who leads the nation with an average of 13.3 tackles per game. Junior linebacker Trent Martin leads the team with two sacks and is second with five tackles for loss while sophomore cornerback Kerwin Thomas has Tulsa's lone interception of the season.
« Saturday's meeting marks the 40th meeting between the two teams with Houston owning a 21-18 edge in the series. The Cougars won the last meeting between the two, a 38-28 victory on Nov. 22, 2014 in TDECU Stadium.
TIES W/ TULSA |
« Houston offensive line coach Derek Warehime is a 2006 graduate of Tulsa where he started 34 games at center for the Golden Hurricane (2001-04). Ware played on Tulsa's 7-4 Humanitarian Bowl squad in 2003 and was named a First-Team All-Western Athletic Conference selection his senior year in 2004.
« Houston running backs coach and Tulsa co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Bill Young spent two seasons (1996-97) on the same staff at Oklahoma where Pope coached the Sooners' defensive ends and Young served as the defensive coordinator.
« Tulsa running backs coach Justin Hill started his career as a running back at Rice under then Rice offensive coordinator Tom Herman. Hill served one season (2011) as an offensive graduate assistant for Herman at Iowa State, coaching alongside Houston wide receivers coach Drew Mehringer.
« Tulsa offensive quality control coach Mike Bloesch is a Houston alum and started 37 games at offensive guard from 2006-08, while helping lead the Cougars to their first bowl victory in 28 years. He spent the 2004 season with the UH program as an offensive analyst.
« Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery spent five seasons (2003-07) as a member of Art Briles' staff at Houston, coaching the offensive backfield and serving as co-offensive coordinator from 2006-07. He was on the same staff as current UH defensive line coach Oscar Giles in 2003-04.
« Tulsa co-offensive coordinator/quarterback and receivers coach Sterlin Gilbert spent the 2005 season as a graduate assistant of the Houston program, assisted with the quarterback and running backs.
« Tulsa co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Matt Mattox spent 2005-06 as a part of the Houston program, serving first as an assistant strength coach in 2005 and then as a graduate assistant in 2006, assisting with the offensive tackles.
DEGREES IN HAND |
« Five Houston seniors entered the season having already earned an undergraduate degree. Alex Cooper, Ben Dew, Earl Foster, Logan Piper and Adam Schultz all completed degree requirements prior to this season.
« Nine additional Cougars will complete their degree requirements this December: Kyle Bullard, Hayden Daniels, Marcus Dillard, Kenneth Farrow, Nolan Frese, Zach Johnson, Cameron Malveaux, Damien Parris and Luke Stice.
2015 PRESEASON HONORS |
« Houston has been well-represented on 2015 preseason national watch lists. As of July 9, three Cougars have been named on prestigious national award lists as Kyle Bullard (Groza Award), Kenneth Farrow (Maxwell Award) and William Jackson III (Bednarik Award) were recognized among the nation's elite.
« Houston had two players named to Phil Steele's Preseason Third Team All-America team in Jackson and long snapper Nolan Frese.
« Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine tabbed senior Adrian McDonald as Texas' Best Defensive Back. The veteran Texas prognosticator named two Cougars in McDonald and linebacker Steven Taylor to his All-Texas Preseason First Team, while Trevon Stewart was tabbed Second Team.
« Houston was represented with three Preseason All-American Athletic Conference First Team selections (Farrow, Jackson, McDonald) by Phil Steele with Stewart named to Second Team.
« Athlon Sports' tabbed three (Farrow, Jackson, McDonald) to its Preseason First Team, while Stewart and receiver Demarcus Ayers were named to the Second Team.
ON THE OFFENSIVE |
« Since 2006, only Oregon (62,090) has racked up more offensive yards than Houston who has 60,481 yards in that time.
Rank Team Total Yards (06-present)
1. Oregon 62,090
2. Houston 60,481
3. Texas Tech 58,696
4. Oklahoma 57,698
5. Nevada 56,232
« Houston has scored in 188 straight games dating back to Sept. 30, 2000.
« Seven of Houston's 20 scoring drives this season have been less than two minutes with one lasting just 29 seconds and another 32 seconds.
« Houston had two scoring drives of four plays in its season-opening win over Tennessee Tech and a two-play drive vs. Texas State.
« Houston finished its season opener with 621 yards of total offense, the most for UH since Oct. 26, 2013, when Houston posted 611 yards in a 49-14 win at Rutgers. The Cougars bested the total with 689 yards vs. Texas State and now have 72 games with 600+ yards in program history.
« Houston's 145 points in its first three games is the best three-game start since the 1989 team scored 170 in its first three games. The 1989 team is also the only other Houston team to match the 2015 team with 600+ yards of total offense in two of its first three games as it started the season with four straight 600+ yard games.
« Houston's six rushing touchdowns vs. Tennessee Tech marked the first time UH had six rushing TDs in a game since Sept. 10, 2010 at UTEP.
« The Cougars have scored touchdowns on their first drive in each of the season's first three games. On the flip side, the Houston defense has forced two three-and-outs and a turnover on each of its first three drives of the season.
« With 59 points vs. Texas State, the Houston offense has posted 30+ points in each of its last seven games, the first streak of its length since scoring 30+ in the first 12 games of the 2011 season.
THE WORD ON WARD |
« Named Houston's starting quarterback vs. Memphis in 2014, Greg Ward Jr. returned to a position he saw action at in 10 games as a true freshman in 2013. After seeing action at receiver and punt returner in the final four games of 2013 and the first four games of 2014, Ward returned under center in the fifth game of 2014.
« Ward ranked ninth nationally in completion percentage in 2014, completing 67.3 percent of his passes, or 177-of-263 attempts. He currently ranks third nationally this season, completing 75.3 percent of his passes through three games.
« In his first career start at QB (Memphis - 10/11/14), Ward rushed for a game-best 95 yards including a 64-yard TD scamper.
« Ward moved to 2-0 when he led Houston to a win over Temple, finishing with an 88 percent completion rate and 268 yards with two touchdowns on 29-of-33 passing. Temple entered the game sixth nationally and first in The American with a pass efficiency defense of 97.1 and Ward ended the night with an efficiency rating of 176.1.
« Ward had 15 receptions for 139 yards and one TD while returning nine punts for 63 yards in the first five games of 2014.
« He opened 2015 with his first career 100-yard rushing game with 101 yards and two TDs on 13 attempts vs. Tennessee Tech. He also threw for 275 yards and one TD on 21-of-28 passing vs. the Golden Eagles. He became the eighth Houston QB to top 100 yards in rushing and passing in the same game, and the first since Kevin Kolb on Oct. 25, 2003.
« Ward has narrowly missed a second 100-yard rushing game with 98 rushing yards vs. Louisville and 91 yards vs. Texas State
« Ward threw for a career high four touchdowns vs. Texas State and ended the night with a career-best and the seventh-best single-game passing efficiency mark with a passer rating of 253.41.
« Ward ranks sixth nationally and second in The American with a season passing efficiency rating of 186.8.
« He is now 14th on the Houston career passing yards chart with 3,105 yards. Next on the list is Bo Burris, with 3,248 yards from 1964-66.
« Texas State marked Ward's sixth game with multiple passing touchdowns and his eight game with over 200 yards of passing.
« Houston added two transfer quarterbacks as part of its 2015 signing class, senior Adam Schulz (Utah) and sophomore Kyle Postma (Trinity Valley Community College).
« Both saw action in Houston's opener with Schulz throwing for 80 yards on 6-of-10 passing and rushing for 12 yards and one touchdown on two attempts. Postma made his debut in a different way - after taking reps at receiver four days prior to the game, the sophomore pulled in four receptions for 82 yards including a 29-yard TD pass from Ward.
« Schulz was lost for the year with a torn ACL vs. Texas State as Postma switched back to QB to back up Ward.
BACKING UP THE BACKFIELD |
« Houston's backfield features a handful of talented backfield options in seniors Kenneth Farrow and Ryan Jackson and sophomore Javin Webb.
« In 2014, Farrow & Jackson helped Houston to its most rushing yards (2,391) since 2007 when the Cougars rushed for 2,911 yards. The two combined for nine 100-yard games in 2014, four more than any other team in The American.
« With his 1,037 rushing yards in 2014, Farrow became the 24th player in Houston history to rush over 1,000 yards in a season and the first since Bryce Beall in 2008 with 1,247 yards. He also became the 14th 2,000-yard career rusher in Houston history.
« Farrow led The American with seven 100-yard rushing games last season with 130 vs. Grambling,113 vs. UNLV, 112 at USF, 116 vs. Tulsa, 110 vs. SMU, 143 at Cincinnati and 103 vs. Pitt. He ended the year with four consecutive 100-yard games. Houston was 6-1 in Farrow's century-mark games.
« Farrow led The American with 14 rushing touchdowns including nine in the final four games. The 14 TDs ranked second on the UH single-season charts, just one away from the season record of 15 set by Jackie Battle in 2006.
« Farrow tied The American's single-game rushing touchdown record and placed his name along three others (Bryce Beall, Anthony Aldridge, Joffrey Reynolds) in a tie for second in Houston single-game history with four rushing TDs vs. Tulsa in 2014.
« He was just four yards short of capturing The American's 2014 rushing crown, trailing Marlon Mack of USF's 1,041 yards.
« He ranks 12th in UH history with eight career 100-yard rushing games, eight away from the career record set by Robert Newhouse (1969-71), after rushing for 109 yards vs. Louisville.
« Farrow ranks ninth on the Houston career rushing touchdowns chart with 22 career scores with the record of 39 set by Bryce Beall from 2008-11.
« He ranks 12th on the UH career rushing yards chart with 2,243 career yards. Up next is Anthony Evans with 2,295 career rushing yards from 2001-05.
« Jackson was seventh in The American last season with two 100-yard games, including a career-high 147 rushing yards vs. UNLV. He owns five career 100-yard games with Houston undefeated when he eclipses the century mark on the ground.
« Jackson crossed the goal line first for UH in its season opening win for his 15th career TD and gave him the first Houston TD of the season for the third consecutive year.
« Webb quickly established himself as another rushing threat for Houston with two touchdowns as part of his five carries vs. Tennessee Tech, finishing the night with 39 yards. The shifty sophomore led the backs vs. Texas State with 90 yards on 15 carries.
« The rushing attack will be of importance in 2015 as Houston averaged 246 rushing yards per game in its eight wins in 2014, but averaged just 86 yards per game in its five defeats. The Cougars are averaging 286.0 rushing yards per game, a number that ranks 10th nationally.
THIRD WARD TARGETS |
« With the loss of five receivers combining for 77 career starts graduating, Tom Herman has a number of new options at receiver. Junior Demarcus Ayers (11 career starts) and sophomore Steven Dunbar (two career starts) owned the group's lone starts entering 2015.
« The 2013 American Athletic Conference Co-Special Teams Player of the Year, Ayers was second on the team in 2014 with 33 receptions for 335 yards and two touchdowns.
« The Lancaster, Texas, native jumped out to a strong start in 2015, with a career-high 10 receptions for 121 yards. Ayers added 44 rushing yards and returned three punts for 25 yards, totaling 190 all-purpose yards.
« Ayers had a career-best 126 receiving yards and two touchdowns on eight receptions, all in the first half vs. Texas State.
« After totaling 33 receptions for 335 yards and two TDs in 2015, Ayers already has 26 for 300 yards and three TDs.
« Dunbar broke out vs. Tulsa in 2014 with a career-best seven receptions for 150 yards. All seven receptions resulted in Houston first downs, as 15 of his 20 receptions on the year resulted in a first down.
« He enters Saturday with TDs in two straight games including a UH season-long 65-yard reception vs. Texas State
« The group was bolstered in June when Oregon transfer Chance Allen was ruled eligible immediately, entering 2015 as a junior with two seasons to play.
« Allen is currently second on the team with 11 receptions and 156 yards, and pulled in his first career TD vs. Texas State to start the night of scoring.
« Dunbar and Linell Bonner both pulled in their first career touchdowns in Houston's win at Louisville.
« The tight end returned in 2015 led by junior Tyler McCloskey who pulled in two receptions for 16 yards as a fullback in 2014. McCloskey eclipsed his yardage total vs. Tennessee Tech with two receptions for 19 yards and now has four receptions for 38 yards.
THE LINE ON THE LINE |
« Houston lost two of its most experienced players along the line with the graduation of RG Rowdy Harper (52 career starts) and C Bryce Redman (34 career starts), both seniors. Following the season, 2014 LT Travis Cross was forced to end his playing career due to concussions. The line took another significant hit prior to the Texas State game when LG Ben Dew was lost for the season with foot injury.
« With Dew's injury, senior captain Alex Cooper shifts from RT to RG with Carter Wall flipping from RG to LG. Zach Johnson slides in to Cooper's vacated RT spot while sophomore Marcus Oliver holds down the LT position. Redshirt-freshman Colton Freeman holds down the center position for the Cougars.
« Freeman, Oliver and Wall each earned their first career starts vs. Tennessee Tech in the 2015 season opener.
TAKE IT AWAY. DON'T GIVE IT AWAY |
« Over 2013-14, no program took the ball away from opposing offenses more than Houston with 73 turnovers forced over the two seasons.
« The 2013 Houston defense led the nation with 43 forced turnovers - 18 fumbles (NCAA best) and 25 interceptions (second nationally). The 2014 edition ranked 11th nationally with 30 turnovers and eighth nationally with 19 interceptions.
« Combined with the hiring of Todd Orlando as Tom Herman's first defensive coordinator, the program's outlook for forcing turnovers is promising. Orlando's Utah State defense ranked eighth nationally with 59 turnovers forced over the last two seasons and tied Houston in 2014 with 30 turnovers forced and 19 interceptions.
« UH has forced multiple turnovers in 30 of its last 37 games, and had a 34-game turnover forced streak end at the 2014 regular-season finale at Cincinnati. At the time, it was the longest active streak in the NCAA.
« Early in the season, Houston is quickly establishing itself in the turnover battle, ranking third nationally with a +7 turnover margin. Houston is 18th nationally with nine turnovers gained and fifth with two turnovers lost. Both numbers lead The American.
« Adrian McDonald led Houston with eight turnovers in 2014 - three fumble recoveries and five interceptions.
« Three players had at least three interceptions in 2014 for Houston as Trevon Stewart and Howard Wilson each had three picks along with McDonald's five.
« Houston had three defensive touchdowns in 2014 - two fumble recoveries in the end zone (Vincent Hall vs. Grambling and Adrian McDonald vs. Tulane) with one interception returned 29 yards for a TD vs. Tulane.
« William Jackson III gave Houston its first defensive touchdown of the 2015 season with a 35-yard return of an interception late in the first half of the Texas State win.
« If you haven't picked up on it yet, Stewart and McDonald are turnover machines. Stewart led the nation in 2013 with a combined 10 turnovers - interceptions (4) and fumble recoveries (6) while McDonald led The American in 2014 with eight turnovers - five interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
« McDonald is fourth nationally among active players with 15 career interceptions after claiming Houston's lone turnover vs. Tennessee Tech and following it up with another vs. Louisville. The number ranks second on the Houston career charts as the Lawton, Okla., native needs just one more interception to tie the UH career mark.than 100 yards rushing.
THIRD WARD D |
« The 2014 defense continued to lower the scoring average, finishing with an average of 20.6 points per game, ranking 15th nationally. The defense gave up just 343.3 total yards per game, ranking 20th nationally.
« The Houston airspace was a no-fly zone as the Cougars led The American and ranked eighth nationally with 19 interceptions while ranking 18th nationally in pass efficiency defense at 111.65.
« UH allowed just 37 plays of 20 yards or more to lead the nation, and 16 plays of 30 yards or more, ranking eighth.
« With Todd Orlando at the helm for two of the seasons, the Utah State defense has ranked fourth nationally over the last four years, giving up an average of just 3.13 yards per rushing attempt.
« Orlando ranked eighth nationally among defensive coordinators entering the season with a third-down defensive percentage of 34.2 percent, allowing just 159 conversions on 465 attempts.
« His Utah State defense has ranked among the nation's best in scoring defense over the last two seasons, ranking 12th in 2014 (19.7 points per game) and seventh in 2013 (17.1). His attacking defense was fourth nationally in 2014 with 49 sacks and second with 114 tackles for loss.
« In its season opener, the Houston defense held Tennessee Tech to just 29 yards rushing, the lowest output by an opposing team since holding UTEP to just 30 yards in an Oct. 21, 2006 win.
« Houston held its first two opponents to a combined nine yards rushing in the first half, holding Tennessee Tech to -8 yards on three first half attempts and Louisville to 17 rushing yards on 15 carries.
« The Cougar defense ranks fourth nationally in allowing opponents just an average of 49.5 yards rushing per game.
« The 2015 defense is the first since 1998 to hold its first three opponents to less than 100 yards rushing with Texas State rushing for 99 yards. The defense looks to become the first since the 1981 defense to hold each of its first four opponents to less than 100 yards rushing. The last time Houston had a four-game streak with its opponents rushing for less than 100 yards in each game was a six-game streak from Sept. 18, 1999 to Oct. 30, 1999.
TACKLING MACHINES |
« The 2014 season saw six Cougars account for 17 games with 10 or more tackles.
« Steven Taylor, who was Houston's second-leading tackler in 2014 with 76 stops, enters the season with seven career games with double-digit tackles.
« Trevon Stewart is fourth nationally among active players with 308 career stops and is one of just five players nationally with multiple seasons with triple-digit tackles.
« Senior linebacker Elandon Roberts has led Houston in tackles in each of the first three games including a career-best 12 tackles vs. Louisville. Through two games, Roberts has 31 tackles after totaling 33 stops through his first two seasons.
LOOK AT THE LINEBACKERS |
« With the loss of Derrick Mathews (45 career starts) and Efrem Oliphant (29 career starts), junior Steven Taylor (20 career starts) led the group into a new frontier with a change to the 3-4 defense.
« Taylor owns seven career games with double-digit stops and is the team's returning leading tackler from 2014 with 76 stops on the year. He also led Houston on the year with nine tackles for loss and four sacks. He opened strong in 2015 with three tackles for loss, with one sack, vs. Tennessee Tech.
« A new captain, senior Elandon Roberts tied a career-high with a team-best nine tackles in Houston's 2015 season opener before setting a new career high with 12 stops at Louisville. Through two games Robert has 21 tackles after recording 33 in his first two seasons.
« Sophomore Matthew Adams moved into the starting lineup last year after a season-ending injury to Mathews midway thru the year last season and ended the year with three starts, totaling 40 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss.
« Junior Tyus Bowser made the move from defensive end, where he earned three starts in his first two years, to outside linebacker and has sacks in each of the first two games of the season to extend a four-game streak with sacks dating back to 2014. Bowser now owns 9.5 career sacks.
ANYTHING BUT SECONDARY |
« The secondary group has made a name for itself in the takeaway department over the last two seasons. And this season it returned 97 career starts with every starter from 2014 returning.
« The group had 19 of the 30 turnovers in 2014 with interceptions from Adrian McDonald (5), Trevon Stewart (3), Howard Wilson (3), William Jackson III (2), Lee Hightower and Earl Foster while McDonald (3) and Jackson (1) had fumble recoveries.
« Jackson, who was named a preseason All-American by Phil Steele, owns one starting corner role. In 2014, the rangy corner was second in The American with 10 pass breakups, while intercepting two passes, playing in man coverage.
« Jackson had his second career defensive touchdown with a 35-yard return from Texas State. He ended the Bobcats' opening drive with his third career fumble recovery.
« At free safety, Stewart has started 38 career games. The Patterson, La., native led the nation in 2013 with 10 turnovers (six fumble recoveries and four interceptions) and is fourth nationally among all active players with 308 career tackles.
« Stewart recorded an interception and a fumble recovery in UH's win at Louisville. Stewart now ranks seventh on the UH career fumble recoveries chart with seven.
« A high school quarterback, McDonald led The American in 2014 with eight turnovers (five INTs and three fumble recoveries). McDonald recovered his sixth career fumble vs. Texas State and ranks fifth on the UH career chart in the category.
« McDonald needs just one more interception and 49 interception return yards to set the Houston career records in both categories.
« Senior Lee Hightower joined the group in 2014 and started the first six games opposite of Jackson before suffering a season-ending leg injury vs. Memphis, the same game, in which the junior recorded his first interception at Houston.
« Brandon Wilson made his first career start at BYU last season while Howard Wilson saw significant time at nickel back with three interceptions. Brandon Wilson now has 11 career starts including a current streak of six games while Howard Wilson picked off his fourth career pass in Houston's win over Texas State.
« Sophomore Khalil Williams opened 2015 with back-to-back starts as Houston's fifth defensive back.
LOOK AT THE LINEBACKERS |
« With the loss of Derrick Mathews (45 career starts) and Efrem Oliphant (29 career starts), junior Steven Taylor (20 career starts) led the group into a new frontier with a change to the 3-4 defense.
« Taylor owns seven career games with double-digit stops and is the team's returning leading tackler from 2014 with 76 stops on the year. He also led Houston on the year with nine tackles for loss and four sacks. He opened strong in 2015 with three tackles for loss, with one sack, vs. Tennessee Tech.
« A new captain, senior Elandon Roberts tied a career-high with a team-best nine tackles in Houston's 2015 season opener before setting a new career high with 12 stops at Louisville. Through three games Robert has 31 tackles after recording 33 in his first two seasons.
« Roberts is one of four players nationally to lead his team in tackles in every game leading into week five of the college football season.
« Junior Tyus Bowser made the move from defensive end, where he earned three starts in his first two years, to outside linebacker and has sacks in each of the first three games of the season to extend a five-game streak with sacks dating back to 2014. Bowser now owns 10.5 career sacks. Bowser is 18th nationally and second in The American with his three sacks.
« Sophomore Matthew Adams moved into the starting lineup last year after a season-ending injury to Mathews midway thru the year last season and ended the year with three starts, totaling 40 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss.
« With Adams suspended vs. Texas State, true freshman Emeke Egbule made a quick name for himself with three tackles including his first career sack.
UP FRONT |
« Moving to a three-man front in 2015, the Houston defensive line has three players with starting experience - senior Tomme Mark (18 career starts), junior B.J. Singleton (14 career starts) and junior Cameron Malveaux (four career starts).
« The four career starts may be misleading for Malveaux as the Beaumont, Texas, native enjoyed a breakout spring under the new coaching staff, earning the program's spring MVP honors. The 6-6, 270 lb., defensive end had 15 tackles in 2014, but is expecting to greatly increase that number in 2015 with an increased on-field presence.
« Mark and Singleton were a part of a four-man defensive tackle rotation in 2014 and have the ability to play both at end and tackle in 2015.
« The group was bolstered with the emergence of sophomore Nick Thurman. After seeing action in five games as a redshirt-freshman, the Dallas native provided a jump in the spring of 2015 at defensive tackle.
« Senior defensive tackle Melvin Holland earned a scholarship with his play in the spring and was highly lauded for his work, as was redshirt-freshman Zach Vaughan.
« Redshirt-freshman defensive lineman Jerard Carter recorded his first career fumble recovery in the second quarter of Houston's win at Louisville.
THE BOOK ON BULLARD |
« Senior Kyle Bullard took over as the team's placekicker in the seventh game of 2013 and has held the position ever since, being placed on scholarship in April of 2014. Bullard saw action in seven games in 2013 and connected on all 20 extra-point attempts. Bullard was perfect in his first season, hitting all six field goal attempts including a long of 46 yards at Louisville.
« Prior to this season, Bullard was named to the Lou Groza Award watch list for the second consecutive year. The Boerne, Texas, native was named a semifinalist for the award in 2014.
« He was 16-of-22 on field goal attempts last season and 42-of-47 on extra points. The season ranked seventh on the Houston single-season field goal chart as he ranks ninth on the UH career field goals chart with 23.
« Bullard set a program record with 18 consecutive made field goals last season after connecting on his first 12 of the season.
« Bullard was named a Lou Groza Award Star of the Week following his performance vs. UCF, finishing the game with a career-best four field goals including a career-long of 51 yards.
« With his two field goals at Louisville, Bullard recorded the seventh multi-field goal game of his career and the first of 2015.
« He finished fifth among all players in The American with 90 points last season.
« He ranked third in The American with 16 field goals in 2014.
« Bullard opened the season with 10 points vs. Tennessee Tech - seven extra points and one field goal.
« With 26 field goals, Bullard is eighth on the UH career field goals chart. He needs five to move into seventh.
THE OTHER FOOT |
« Junior Ty Cummings holds the starting role as the team's kickoff specialist.
« Cummings had 21 touchbacks on 75 kickoffs last season with an average of 61.7 yards per attempt.
« He's opened this year with 26 kickoffs, averaging 62.9 yards per kickoff, with 10 touchbacks.
THE PIPER |
« Houston opened 2014 with two punters sharing the duties in Dylan Seibert and Logan Piper before Piper, now a senior, took over the starting role vs. UNLV. Piper joined the program in 2013 after two years with the Houston Baseball program.
« Piper had 43 punts on the year with an average of 39.3 yards per attempt. Nineteen resulted in fair catches and 13 landed inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He ended the year strong with a career-long 60-yard punt vs. Pitt in the Armed Forces Bowl
« He had his best game of the year at USF, finishing with a career-best 46.2 average including a 53-yard punt with two landing inside the Bulls' 20-yard line.
« Piper has opened the year with nine punts with an average of 43.3 yards per attempt. He had a long punt of 56 yards vs. Tennessee Tech with one fair catch and one punt land inside his opponents 20-yard line with no touchbacks.
RETURNS DEPT. |
« At kick returner, Houston junior Demarcus Ayers was named The American Athletic Conference's Co-Special Teams Player of the Year in 2013 as a true freshman after finishing the year with 37 kick returns for 1,021 yards and The American's best average return of 27.6 yards, a number that ranked 12th nationally. He had a return of at least 40 yards in six games.
« With 1,021 yards, Ayers set the Houston freshman record and was just 153 yards away from the UH single season record. He was second in the nation with 12 returns over 30 yards in 2013. Ayers is currently third on the Houston career kick return yards chart with 1,586 career yards and needs 119 yards to move into second.
« The junior now holds Houston's punt return role with four returns for 26 yards on the year.
« Ryan Jackson and Brandon Wilson have assumed Ayers' role as kick returners with Wilson totaling 78 yards on three returns vs. Tennessee Tech and Jackson returning one kick 21 yards.
« Wilson knotted Houston up with Louisville at 17 in the third quarter of UH's win with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Wilson became the sixth player in UH history to record a 100-yard kickoff return for a TD. The return was Wilson's second career special teams touchdown as he returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown vs. UTSA in 2013.
« Wilson is one of six players nationally with two returns of 40+ yards this season and ranks 11th nationally with an average of 32.3 yards per return.
