University of Houston Athletics
[GAME NOTES] Houston at Louisville
9/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
[VIDEO] PRESS CONFERENCE | PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
| THE GAME AT A GLANCE | |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, Sept. 12 |
| Time | 11:00 a.m. CST |
| Location | Louisville, Ky |
| Venue | Papa John's Stadium |
| Capacity | 55,000 |
| Surface | FieldTurf |
| TV | FOX Sports SW Plus |
| Radio | KPRC 950 AM |
| Live Stats | |
HITS ON HOUSTON |
« The #HTownTakeover hits the road for the first time of 2015 Saturday at 11 a.m. when the Cougars take on Louisville from the ACC. Houston is coming off a 52-24 win over Tennessee Tech while Louisville dropped its season opener, 31-24, vs. Auburn in Atlanta. Saturday's game will be aired by ACC Regional Network including Fox Sports Southwest Plus in the Houston area and on KPRC 950 AM in Houston.
« Saturday's game will mark the first road game as a head coach for Herman who 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 came to Houston after three seasons as offensive coordinator at Ohio State, where he helped lead the Buckeyes to the inaugural CFP Championship.
« 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.
« Houston's depth chart sports 17 underclassmen vs. 27 upperclassmen, including 15 seniors.
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 |
« Entering its sixth season under head coach Bobby Petrino, Louisville enters Saturday's meeting at 0-1 after dropping its season opener to No. 6 Auburn, 31-24, in Atlanta. Auburn jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead with an 82-yard return of a Louisville fumble. After taking a 31-10 lead with 10 minutes remaining, Louisville got two rushing touchdowns from Brandon Radcliff to pull within a score with 2:59 remaining in the game. Despite outgaining Auburn, 405-327, Louisville was unable
« Louisville was led offensively by true freshman quarterback Lamar Jackson who rushed for 106 yards and one touchdown on 16 attempts. The Boynton Beach, Fla., native also threw for 100 yards and one interception on 9-of-20 passing. Sophomore quarterback Reggie Bonnafon split time with Jackson, finishing with 67 yards passing on an 8-of-13 effort.
« Defensively, the Cardinals were led by junior safety Josh Harvey-Clemons who finished the night with 14 tackles and two interceptions. Sophomore cornerback Trumaine Washington also pulled in an interception along with seven tackles.
« Saturday's meeting marks the 16th meeting between the two teams with Louisville owning an 8-7 edge in the series. The Cardinals have won the last three meetings, the last a 20-13 win in Louisville on Nov. 6, 2013.
TIES W/ LOUISVILLE |
« Houston Director of Football Sports Performance Yancy McKnight spent the last six years at Iowa State while Louisville offensive line coach Chris Klenakis was a member of the Cyclones' staff from 2012-13.
« Louisville has one Texan on its roster, TCU transfer Devonte Fields. The Houston roster contains zero Kentucky natives.
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 Schulz 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.
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.
« RT Alex Cooper and LG Ben Dew return for Houston after starting all 13 games at their respective positions and the Cougars welcome back senior LT Zach Johnson who missed the 2014 season with a torn ACL after starting 11 games at RT in 2013.
« Sophomores Marcus Oliver and Josh Thomas and redshirt-freshman C Colton Freeman will look to make a mark on the line in 2015 along with seniors Carter Wall and Damian Parris and freshman Will Noble.
« Freeman, Oliver and Wall each earned their first career starts vs. Tennessee Tech in the 2015 season opener.
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 became the 22nd passer in Houston history to throw for at least 2,000 yards in a season, finishing the year with 2,010 yards passing with 573 yards on the ground.
« 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.
« He threw for two 300-yard games in 2014 - 336 yards vs. Tulane, and 360 yards and two touchdowns at Cincinnati.
« Ward had 15 receptions for 139 yards and one touchdown 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 107 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.
« 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 threw for 1,091 career yards and six touchdowns in eight career games with the Utes while rushing for 78 yards on 25 attempts.
THUNDER & LIGHTNING |
« Houston's backfield features a thunder-and-lightning combo in seniors Kenneth Farrow and Ryan Jackson.
« Last season the duo 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. The two helped Houston to 399 yards on the ground vs. UNLV, as UH fell just one yard short of its first 400-yard rushing game since 1985.
« 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 and ranks 14th on the UH career rushing yards chart with 2,066 career rushing yards.
« 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.
« He ranks 13th in UH history with seven career 100-yard rushing games, nine away from the career record set by Robert Newhouse (1969-71).
« 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.
« 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 was just four yards short of capturing The American's 2014 rushing crown, trailing Marlon Mack of USF's 1,041 yards.
« Jackson was seventh in The American last season with two 100-yard games, including a career-high 147 rushing yards vs. UNLV. Jackson owns five career 100-yard games with Houston undefeated when he eclipses the century mark on the ground.
« The two eclipsed the century mark in the same game for a second time in 2014 vs. Tulsa as Farrow rushed for 116 yards vs. the Golden Hurricane while Jackson ended the day with 103 rushing yards. UH enters 2015 with 51 games with two 100-yard rushers. The two also accomplished the feat vs. UNLV with Jackson rushing for 147 yards and Farrow 113 yards.
« 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.
« 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 opened 2015 with 272 yards rushing vs. Tennessee Tech.
« Quarterback Greg Ward Jr. also averaged 44.1 rushing yards per game in 2014, gaining 573 yards on the ground on 118 attempts, with Javin Webb averaging 44.3 yards per game in the three games he appeared in 2014.
« 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.
STEPPING UP ON THE RECEIVING END |
« With the loss of five receivers combining for 77 career starts graduating from the program, Tom Herman will look at a number of options at the receiver spot in his first season at Houston. Junior Demarcus Ayers (11 career starts) and sophomore Steven Dunbar (two career starts) owned the group's lone UH starts entering 2015. The two started alongside Chance Allen and TE Tyler McCloskey in Houston's season opener.
« 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 including a pivotal fourth quarter score in Houston's comeback win over Pitt in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.
« The Lancaster, Texas, native jumped out to a strong start in 2015, with career highs in receptions (10) and receiving yards (121). Ayers also added 44 rushing yards and returned three punts for 25 yards, totaling 190 all-purpose yards.
« Dunbar broke out vs. Tulsa in 2014 with a career-best seven receptions for 150 yards, also a career best. All seven receptions resulted in Houston first downs, as 15 of his 20 receptions on the year resulted in a first down.
« The group was bolstered in June when Oregon transfer Chance Allen was ruled eligible immediately, entering 2015 classified as a junior with two seasons to play. While at Oregon, Allen pulled in five receptions for 98 yards and one touchdown with action in nine games in 2013 and five games in Oregon's march to the National Championship game in 2014.
« Fall camp saw the addition of two more receivers, albeit already on the Houston roster in Kyle Postma, from the quarterbacks group, and Tyreik Gray, from the running backs. Just four days after he started taking reps at the position, Postma exploded for four receptions totaling 82 yards including a 29-yard touchdown pass from Greg Ward Jr.
« Redshirt-freshmen Isaiah Johnson and Latrell Martin also join the mix in 2015 along with true freshman Devin Smith. Sophomores Donald Gage and John Leday look to return to form after missing 2014 with injuries while classmate Linell Bonner was placed on scholarship after a strong spring session.
« Three players made their first career UH receptions vs. Tennesee Tech - Chance Allen, Isaiah Johnson and Kyle Postma.
« The tight end, a position not seen lately on the Houston roster, returns 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 in one game with two receptions for 19 yards vs. Tennessee Tech.
TAKE IT AWAY, DON'T GIVE IT AWAY |
« Over the 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 28 of its last 35 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.
« A nation's best nine players had interceptions for Houston in 2014 with eight accounting for 11 fumble recoveries.
« Adrian McDonald led Houston with eight turnovers in 2014 - three fumble recoveries and five interceptions. Heading into the UCF game, McDonald had gained a turnover in seven straight games dating back to 2013.
« 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 converted its 30 turnovers into 17 scores, 56.7 percent, leading to 93 points on the year.
« 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.
« 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 third nationally among active players with 14 career interceptions after claiming Houston's lone turnover vs. Tennessee Tech. The number ranks second on the Houston career charts as the Lawton, Okla., native needs just two more interceptions to tie the UH career mark.
THIRD WARD DEFENSE |
« 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.
« Opponents threw just 27 passes of 20 yards or more, ranking eighth nationally.
« 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 ranks eighth nationally among defensive coordinators 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 is one of just eight teams nationally to hold its opponent to an average of less than one yard per rushing attempt, holding Tennessee Tech to an average of 0.9 yards per rush.
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 enters the year ranked third nationally among active players with 297 career stops and is one of just five players nationally with multiple seasons with triple-digit tackles.
ANYTHING BUT SECONDARY |
« The secondary group made a name for itself in the takeaway department in 2013, recording 29 of the team's 43 turnovers or 67 percent. 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.
« At free safety, Stewart has started 36 career games, earning FWAA Freshman All-America honors in 2012. The Patterson, La., Native led the nation in 2013 with 10 turnovers (six fumble recoveries and four interceptions) and is third nationally among all active players with 297 career tackles.
« A high school quarterback, McDonald led The American in 2014 with eight turnovers (five interceptions and three fumble recoveries) at his strong safety position.
« McDonald needs just two more interceptions 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.
« With Hightower lost for the season, Houston turned to other corners to make their mark including junior Brandon Wilson and sophomore Howard Wilson.
« Brandon Wilson made his first career start at BYU while Howard Wilson saw significant time at nickel back with interceptions vs. UNLV, Temple and Tulsa, receiving his first career start against the latter.
« Sophomore Khalil Williams also made his debut vs. the Owls, coming in at a safety position in the nickel package. Williams earned his first career start in Houston's season-opening win over Tennessee Tech.
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) leads the group into a new frontier with a change to the 3-4 defense.
« Taylor owns seven career game 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.
« Sophomore Matthew Adams moved into the starting lineup 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 makes the move from defensive end, where he earned three starts in his first two years, to outside linebacker while senior Luke Stice moves to inside linebacker after earning two career starts at fullback.
UP FRONT |
« Moving to a three-man front in 2015, the Houston defensive line returned three players with starting experience entering 2015 - senior Tomme Mark (16 career starts), junior B.J. Singleton (12 career starts) and junior Cameron Malveaux (two career starts). All three earned starts in Houston's season-opening win over Tennessee Tech.
« The one career start 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 will play along the line 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.
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 had passed the previous record of 16 straight from Matt Hogan (2009-10) vs. UCF.
« 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 four field goals vs. UCF, Bullard recorded the sixth multi-field goal game of his career and the fourth of 2014. The game also marked his second career game with multiple field goals of at least 40 yards or longer.
« 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.
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 opened the year with nine kickoffs, averaging 63.9 yards per kickoff, with four 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 opened the year with four punts with an average of 45.2 yards per attempt. He had a long of 56 yards, landing one inside the 20 with a fair catch and helping limit Tennessee Tech to just three yards off two returns.
THE RETURNS DEPARTMENT |
« 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. Ayers needs 119 yards to move into second.
« The junior is now holding Houston's punt return role with three returns for 25 yards vs. Tennessee Tech.
« 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.
