University of Houston Athletics
[GAME NOTES] #6/5 Houston at Navy
10/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
GAME NOTES - HOUSTON | GAME NOTES - NAVY
| THE GAME AT A GLANCE | |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, Oct. 8 |
| Time | 2 p.m. CT |
| Location | Annapolis, Md. |
| Venue | Memorial Stadium |
| Capacity | 34,000 |
| Surface | FieldTurf |
| TV | CBSSN |
| Radio | KPRC 950 AM |
| Live Stats | |
HITS ON HOUSTON |
« No. 6/5 Houston (5-0, 2-0 The American) hits the road for the third time this season as it faces Navy (3-1, 2-0 The American) Saturday at 2 p.m. CT. Houston is coming off a 42-16 win over UConn while Navy enters the game following a 28-14 loss at Air Force. Saturday's game airs on CBS Sports Network (TV) and on KPRC 950 AM (radio) with radio pregame coverage starting at 1 p.m.
« Winners in 19 of its last 20 games, Houston has its first 5-0 starts in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.
« Houston's eight-game winning streak ranks third nationally, trailing just Alabama (17) and Tennessee (11). The Cougars are one of 16 teams nationally to remain undefeated after five weeks of action.
« Showing its ability on both sides, Houston is the only team nationally with more points scored (221) than rushing yards allowed (210).
« Houston the only team nationally in the top 10 for both offensive 1st downs (No. 3 - 137) & defensive 1st downs (No. 4 - 56).
« Quarterback Greg Ward Jr. owns the nation's best active streak with 18 straight wins while ranking sixth nationally in total offense with an average of 375.8 yards per game.
« The Houston defense is imposing its will, leading the nation in rushing defense at 42 yards per game while ranking third in scoring defense (11.2 points per game) and sixth in total defense (250 yards per game).
« When it held UConn to just 62 rushing yards, it recorded its seventh straight game with less than 100 yards rushing allowed. The Huskies joined Texas State (33), Cincinnati (30), Lamar (15 yards), Oklahoma (70 yards), Florida State (16 yards) and Temple (98 yards) in being held to less than 100 rushing yards. Houston is the only defense nationally holding opponents to less than 1.5 yards per rush.
« The defense set a program record in holding Lamar to 73 total yards, besting the previous record of 74 yards from Mississippi State in 1969. After Lamar ran for 237 yards in its season opener, they were held to just 15 yards by the Cougars.
« When it held Cincinnati to 307 total yards, it held the Bearcats to their lowest offensive output at home since Dec. 4, 2010 vs. Pitt.
« The group is led by sackmaster Steven Taylor who has multiple sacks in six career games including the first three games this season and is sixth nationally with his 5.5 sacks after adding two more as part of his team-best nine tackles at Cincinnati.
« Houston eclipsed the 40-point mark and totaled 500+ yards for the fourth straight game with 42 points and 540 yards vs. UConn. The four-game streak with 40+ points ranks second nationally behind Ohio State (5) while the four game streak with 500+ yards also ranks second behind Louisville (8). Houston is 12th nationally in scoring offense (44.2 points per game) and 19th in total offense (506.0 yards).
« Even with 93 plays of at least 10 yards or more, tenth best in the nation, the Houston offense is controlling the clock and ranks third nationally in time of possession with an average TOP of 36:32 per game.
« No. 3 Oklahoma became the highest-ranked foe to fall to Houston since the Cougars defeated No. 3 Texas, 29-15, on Nov. 10, 1984. Houston also defeated No. 3 Michigan State, 37-7, on Sept. 23, 1967. With the win, Tom Herman joined College Football Hall of Famer Bill Yeoman as the only other Houston coach with a win against a top-3 opponent.
« With its win over No. 3 Oklahoma, Houston has a program-record five straight wins over top-25 opponents, a number that also ranks second nationally among active streaks against ranked opponents behind just Alabama (9).
« Houston is one of just three programs nationally with at least 13 wins on two different occasions over the last five years, joining Alabama and Florida State in accomplishing the feat.
« The Cougars own the longest winning streak by a non-power 5 team against power 5 opponents with five consecutive wins over the last three seasons. Houston now owns wins over Oklahoma, Florida State, Vanderbilt, Louisville and Pitt in its last five power 5 matchups. The Cougars will look to extend their streak to six when they host Louisville on Nov. 17.
ABOUT THE COUGARS |
« Twenty-three full or part-time starters returned in 2016 for Houston. The 2015 leaders in rushing, passing, field goals, kick returns, scoring, total offense, sacks and forced fumbles all returned.
« The program welcomed an incoming signing class of 24 that is comprised of 17 high school student-athletes, four junior college transfers and three four-year transfers. Eight of the 24 newcomers enrolled in the program in January for spring workouts - QB Kyle Allen, RB Duke Catalon, DB J.J. Dallas, TE Alex Leslie, WR Terry Mark, OL Na'Ty Rodgers, QB Bowman Sells and DB Terrell Williams.
« Houston's roster sports 42 upperclassmen and 57 underclassmen. Seventeen players redshirted last season.
« Since 2011, Houston owns the second-most wins in the state of Texas among FBS schools with 52. The Cougars are just five wins behind Baylor and four ahead of third-place TCU.
« The current class of Houston seniors owns 34 wins since starting in 2013, a number that ranks fourth among classes in Houston history. With its 35th win, the group would take sole possession of fourth and needs just three more wins to capture the program record of 36 from the classes that started their four-year clocks in 1976, 2006 and 2008.
« Houston, Alabama and Florida State were the only three teams to defeat a ranked opponent by double digits in the opening weekend of the season. They were also three of five schools nationally to score at least 30 points on a ranked opponent in the opening weekend, joining Georgia (33 vs. North Carolina) and South Dakota State (41 vs. TCU) in accomplishing the feat.
« Houston is 5-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.
ABOUT NAVY |
« In its ninth season under head coach Ken Niumatalolo, Navy enters Saturday's showdown at 3-1 after opening the season with three straight wins Fordham (52-16), UConn (28-24) and Tulane (21-14) before dropping its first game last week at Air Force, 28-14.
« Navy is led offensively by junior fullback Chris High with 295 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Senior quarterback Will Worth adds 173 rushing yards with five touchdowns while throwing for 527 yards and one touchdown. Senior receiver Jamir Tillman leads Navy in receiving with 18 receptions for 271 yards.
« Defensively, the Midshipmen are led by junior linebacker Micah Thomas who has 32 tackles. Junior linebacker D.J. Palmore leads Navy with three sacks while senior safety Daiquan Thomasson has Navy's lone interception.
« Saturday's matchup is the third meeting between the two schools with Houston claiming wins in each of the last two meetings - 52-31 last season in Houston and 35-0 in the 1980 Garden State Bowl in East Rutherford, N.J.
DEGREES IN HAND |
« Seven Houston student-athletes entered the season having already earned an undergraduate degree. Chris Johnson (Baylor), D'Juan Hines, Cameron Malveaux, Tyler McCloskey, Steven Taylor, Davonte Thomas and Brandon Wilson all completed degree requirements prior to this season.
« Six additional Cougars will complete their degree requirements this December: Tyus Bowser, Zorrell Ezell, Mac Long, Hunter McCoy, Byron Simpson and B.J. Singleton.
LAST TIME OUT |
« After a scoreless first quarter, Houston scored 28 unanswered in the second quarter to roll to a 42-14 win over UConn.
« Greg Ward Jr. threw for a career-high 389 yards on 32-of-38 passing with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Ward added a game-high 65 yards rushing to go along with two scores on the ground, his second career game with multiple touchdown through the air and on the ground.
« Linell Bonner had career highs in receptions (12) and yards (159) including a four-yard scoring strike. Chance Allen also added a career-high seven receptions for 85 yards while Steven Dunbar had five for 97 yards and a 15-yard touchdown.
« Garrett Davis, Ed Oliver and Khalil Williams each had five tackles to lead a Houston defense that held UConn to its lowest rushing output of the year (65 yards) despite playing without three starters.
TOP 25 RANKINGS |
« Houston entered the season at No. 15 in the AP poll, its highest ranking since checking in at No. 12 in the 1991 AP preseason poll.
« Following its win over Oklahoma, Houston moved up to No. 6, its highest AP ranking since No. 3 on Nov. 10, 1990. It also marked the first time to be in the top 10 in the month of September since Sept. 8, 1980.
« Houston's current streak of 16 straight polls in the AP Top 25 is the fourth-longest in program history and the longest since a record streak of 42 weeks from 1988-91.
« The current streak of five straight weeks in the top 10 is the third-longest in UH history and the longest since 15 straight weeks in 1979-80.
« Houston has won its last five games vs. ranked opponents and its last three games vs. top-10 opponents. Both streaks rank second nationally behind just Alabama.
ON THE OFFENSIVE |
« Since 2006, only Oregon (69,547) has racked up more offensive yards than Houston who has 68,017 yards in that time.
Rank Team Total Yards (06-present)
1. Oregon 69,547
2. Houston 68,017
3. Texas Tech 66,508
4. Oklahoma 64,902
5. Nevada 61,481
« Houston has scored in 204 straight games dating back to Sept. 30, 2000.
« With 540 yards of total offense vs. UConn, Houston accumulated 500+ yards in its fourth straight game, its longest streak since a four-game streak in 2012. The streak is tied for the second-longest in the nation behind just Louisville (6).
« With 42 points vs. the Huskies, Houston has scored 40+ points in four straight games, its longest streak since seven straight games of 40+ in 2011.
« The streak is the nation's second longest active streak as well.
« Houston has not dipped below 300 yards of total offense in it last 31 games.
« Six of Houston's 32 scoring drives this season have lasted less than two minutes with two lasting less than one minute, the quickest just 41 seconds with a two-play, 54-yard drive to open scoring at Cincinnati.
« Houston has six scoring drives of four plays or less including two two-play drives.
« With a balanced attack, Houston is one of just five schools nationally to average over 200 yards per game rushing (201.4) and over 300 yards passing per game (304.6).
« Houston is 10th nationally with 93 plays of 10+ yards and 20th nationally with 30 plays of 20+ yards.
« The versatility of the offense is evident as seven different players have rushing touchdowns this season for Houston while six different players have receiving touchdowns and two different players have passing touchdowns.
« Houston has 221 points through five games this season, the fourth-best five-game start in program history behind 249 in 1989, 232 in 2015 and 226 in 2011.
« Houston totaled over 600 yards of total offense in four games last season. UH finished its season opener with 621 yards of total offense, the most for UH since Oct. 26, 2013. The Cougars bested the total with 689 yards vs. Texas State and 638 at Tulsa. Houston now has 74 games with 600+ yards in program history.
THE WORD ON WARD |
« Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. entered 2016 after claiming the 2015 Earl Campbell Award, presented annually to the top player from the state of Texas. Ward became the first Houston quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, finishing 2015 with 1,108 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns to go along with 2,828 passing yards with 17 touchdowns. Ward ranked ninth nationally in completion percentage, completing 232-of-345 passes on the year, while throwing just six interceptions, seventh-best nationally among quarterbacks with at least 300 attempts.
« Ward owns a nation's best 18 straight wins in games he has started. His last loss as a starter came on Dec. 6, 2014, and he has not lost a game when paired with head coach Tom Herman and offensive coordinator Major Applewhite.
« He won his 23rd game as Houston's starting quarterback with the win over UConn, the fourth-best total on the Houston career victory chart. He needs two more wins to move up to third on the list.
« Ward leads Houston with a .920 (23-2) career winning percentage as a starting quarterback. Gary Mullins ranks second in school history with a .833 (25-5) percentage. They are the only QBs in UH history with 10+ starts and a winning percentage over .800.
« None of Houston's opponents have been able to fully lock down both elements of Ward's game the last two seasons. He has at least 200 passing yards or 100 rushing yards in every full game he has played last the last two years, missing parts of two games with injury.
« Despite missing Houston's game vs. Lamar, Ward ranks sixth nationally with an average of 375.8 yards of total offense per game and 13th nationally with an average of 331.3 passing yards per game.
« Showing his accuracy, Ward ranks fifth nationally in completion percentage, completing 99 of his 140 attempts. He also ranks 12th in completions per game (24.8), 13th in yards per pass attempt (9.5), 15th in points responsible per game (19.5) and 16th in passing efficiency (166.2).
« Ward is one of just three quarterbacks nationally averaging over 300 yards passing per game (331.2) and over 40 yards rushing per game (44.5). He is joined by just Louisville's Lamar Jackson and Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes II on the list.
« In the win over UConn, Ward threw for a career-high 389 yards and three touchdowns as he connected on 84.2 percent of his passes (32-of-38). He also ran for a game-best 65 yards and two touchdowns on 12 attempts.
« Ward is currently second on the Houston career rushing TDs chart with 34, five away from the UH record.
« UConn marked Ward's 11th career game with multiple passing TDs and his 19th with over 200 yards passing.
« It was also his second career game with multiple passing and rushing touchdowns in the same game.
« The win over UConn also marked Ward's sixth career game with at least 300 yards passing, and his fourth in a Houston win.
« He became the sixth player in Houston history with at least 8,000 yards of total offense and currently has 8,508 career yards of total offense. He needs 819 yards to pass David Klingler and move into third on the Houston career chart.
« He became the 15th player in Houston history with over 2,000 career yards rushing vs. UConn and now has 2,035 yards.
« The win over Cincinnati was Greg Ward's fifth comeback victory in the second half during his career. It was his first second-half comeback victory since leading Houston to a 34-31 win at Louisville on Sept. 12, 2015.
« He became just the third player in the last 14 games to throw for over 300 yards against Oklahoma as ended the day with 321 yards against the Big 12's top passing defense from 2015 as Oklahoma gave up just 202.8 yards per game through the air
« Ward was accurate on third down vs. OU, completing 10-12 passes for 158 yards. All 10 completions resulted in first downs.
« The Tyler, Texas, native has been responsible for a touchdown, either passing or rushing, in 24 of his last 26 games.
« Ward has moved up to seventh on Houston's career passing yards list and needs 639 yards to move up to No. 6 on the list.
« With 1,108 yards in 2015, he broke the UH single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback of 656 set by Lionel Wilson in 1981. His effort marked the 25th 1,000-yard rushing season in Houston history.
« The UH single-season rushing by a QB record was one of 14 Houston or The American Athletic Conference records Ward broke last season while tying three others including the Houston single-season rushing touchdowns record with his 21 scores.
« Ward and Clemson's Deshaun Watson were the only two players in the nation to rush for at least 1,000 yards and pass for at least 2,000 yards last season.
« The electrifying Ward was eighth nationally with 16 rushes of at least 20 yards and nine rushes of at least 30 yards in 2015. The 16 rushing attempts of 20+ yards led all FBS quarterbacks and all players in The American, regardless of position.
« Ward ranked in the top 25 in five of the NCAA's final recognized stat categories: completion percentage (ninth), points responsible for (12th), points responsible for per game (15th), rushing TDs (fifth) and scoring (25th). He finished seventh nationally in scoring among non-kickers with 126 points.
« With his four rushing TDs vs. SMU, Ward broke the Houston QB rushing touchdowns records for a game and a season, snapping the previous record of nine from Case Keenum in 2007.
« Ward collected his third straight game with at least three rushing touchdowns with three scores on the ground at Tulane, the third-longest such streak on the FBS level over the last 10 seasons. Ward had multiple rushing touchdowns in six games last season.
« With 21 rushing touchdowns on the year, Ward set the UH single-season touchdown record, regardless of position, breaking the previous record of 15 set by running back Jackie Battle in 2006.
« He ranked fourth nationally in 2015 in percentage of rush plays that gained five or more yards among ball carriers with 150 or more carries (51.4 percent).
« His 21 rushing TDs in 2015 ranked second nationally among all returners behind just the 22 from LSU's Leonard Fournette.
« He was third among all returners with 126 points and sixth among all returners with a completion percentage of 67.2 percent.
THE LINE ON THE LINE |
« Houston lost a combined 83 starts from five senior offensive linemen and the loss of sophomore Colton Freeman, due to career-ending injuries in the spring, but returns a combined 26 starts from five returners.
« Houston ranked 10th in the nation in points per game (40.4) last year, despite having four freshmen offensive linemen who racked up more than 2,100 combined offensive snaps.
« The line took significant hits last season with three season-ending injuries enabling several returners to receive valuable experience. In 14 games, the line saw 11 different starting combinations with 11 different linemen receiving starts.
« A 2015 Freshman All-American, Will Noble started the final eight games of the season at center. Two other freshmen - Mason Denley (six starts) and Kameron Eloph (four starts) received action at the guard spots as well.
« Junior college transfer Na'Ty Rodgers, ranked the No. 7 overall junior college player by ESPN, earned his first career start at right tackle against Oklahoma while Josh Jones picked up his first career start at left tackle. Senior right guard Mac Long rounded out a trio of first-time starters on the line against Oklahoma. Junior college transfer Alex Fontana earned his first career start, coming at left guard, against Lamar.
« This season has already seen three different starting combinations in four games with eight linemen receiving starts.
ON THE RECEIVING END |
« Houston is spreading the ball around this season as it has had at least seven players with a reception in each game including nine receivers in each of the last two games. Fourteen different players have a reception with four with at least 19 - Linell Bonner (33), Steven Dunbar (21), Chance Allen (19) and D'Eriq King (19).
« Bonner recorded his first career 100-yard receiving game with 119 yards from eight receptions at Cincinnati. Six of his eight receptions at Cincinnati were at least 10 yards.
« He added his second 100-yard receiving game with career highs in both receptions (12) and yards (159) against UConn, pulling in a one-handed four-yard TD reception that ended up at No. 1 SportsCenter's Top 10 plays.
« Bonner ranks ninth nationally with 21 receptions of 10+ yards.
« With Bonner recording his second 100-yard game of the season, Houston has had at least one receiver with multiple 100-yard receiving games in a season every year since 1997.
« Seven different players pulled in receptions against Oklahoma, led by Steven Dunbar who tied a career high with seven receptions en route to his second career 100-yard game with 125 yards on the day.
« Dunbar nearly had a second 100-yard game with five receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown against UConn.
« With Bonner (87.8) and Dunbar (65.2), Houston is one of two schools (ECU) with two players in The American's top 10 for receiving yards per game.
« Against Texas State, King became the first player in Houston history, and the first in the NCAA since 2010, to pull in a touchdown reception (48 yards), throw for a touchdown (15 yards to Dunbar) and return a kick for a touchdown (99 yards) in the same game.
« Senior Chance Allen set a career high with seven receptions vs. UConn, resulting 85 yards through the air.
« The tight end returned in 2015 led by Tyler McCloskey who pulled in 14 receptions for 157 yards and one touchdown. He pulled in his second career touchdown reception against Oklahoma on a two-yard scoring reception to close out the third quarter scoring against the Sooners.
« McCloskey pulled in his third career touchdown reception, this one for three yards against UConn.
« Houston returned 54.2 percent of its receiving yards from 2015 with the early NFL departure of Demarcus Ayers (1,222 yards in 2015) and the graduation of running backs Kenneth Farrow (119 yards) and Ryan Jackson (111 yards).
FIRST YEAR FACES IN NEW PLACES |
« While Houston returns 45 percent of its rushing yards from 2015, it returned just 14 percent of its rushing yards by running backs with the graduation of four-year mainstays Kenneth Farrow and Ryan Jackson.
« What Houston lacks in returning numbers, it makes up for in potential with sophomore Duke Catalon joining the program after transferring from Texas. The former four-star recruit redshirted in his lone season at Texas after being ranked the No. 10 running back in the nation coming out of Houston's Eisenhower High School.
« Catalon had a game-best 88 yards in the Houston-Oklahoma season opener on 22 carries for an average of 4.0 yards per gain. He also added four receptions for 29 yards including a 15-yard pass for Houston's first touchdown of the day.
« With Catalon held out of Houston's week two game against Lamar, the duo of redshirt-freshman Kevrin Justice and true freshman Mulbah Car took the rushing game reigns, with Justice rushing for 111 yards and Car 109.
« Walk-on Dillon Birden, who shifted from cornerback to running back the week of the Cincinnati game, received his first career start against UConn, finishing with 27 yards and one touchdown on nine carries.
« Five players have at least 100 rushing yards, led by 225 from Catalon, while seven have rushing touchdowns.
THIRD WARD DEFENSE |
« If the old adage "Defense Wins Championships" holds true, then 2016 could be another great year for Houston as it enters week six with the No. 1 rushing defense in the nation, allowing just an average of 42 yards per game through five contests. Houston also ranks third in scoring defense (11.2 points per game), fourth in first down defense (56), sixth nationally in total defense (250.0 yards per game) and seventh in sacks (18).
« The Houston defense has not allowed another team to rush for over 100 yards in its last seven games, holding Temple, Florida State, Oklahoma, Lamar, Cincinnati, Texas State and UConn to a combined 324 rushing yards. The seven-game streak is the longest active streak nationally.
« Houston has not allowed an opponent to eclipse 400 yards of total offense in its last five games, an active streak that is tied for sixth nationally.
« The defense has held its opponents to just 36 rushing yards on 62 attempts in the second half this season.
« Houston leads the nation as 76 percent of its opponent drives have been non-scoring drives covering 25 yards or less.
« The Cougars are one of nine defenses nationally holding their opponents to less than a point per possession.
« Houston has forced a three-and-out on 52.2 percent of its drives and is third nationally with an average of seven three-and-outs forced per game, trailing just Alabama (8) and Toledo (7.33).
« The Cougars set a program record when they allowed Lamar just 73 total offensive yards, besting a 47-year old record of 74 yards set by the 1969 Houston team against Mississippi State.
« The Houston defense held Oklahoma to 23 points in its season opener, just the third time in the last 14 games the Sooners have been held to under 30 points.
« Oklahoma, who averaged 530.2 yards per game in 2015, had 393 total yards against the Houston defense including just 70 on the ground. OU averaged 222.1 rushing yards per game in 2015.
« Houston held Cincinnati to its lowest output of total offense at home (307 yards) since Dec. 4, 2010, against Pittsburgh. The 30 total rushing yards on 25 attempts were the Bearcats fewest since rushing for 15 yards on 32 attempts in their 2010 season opener at Fresno State.
« Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando is the coordinator in the nation to place two players in the top 20 for tackles for loss in both 2014 and 2015 with Zach Vigil (11th) and Nick Vigil (18th) accomplishing the feat at Utah State in 2014 and Elandon Roberts (13th) and Steven Taylor (16th) doing so in 2015.
« The 2015 Cougar defense led The American and was eighth nationally in allowing opponents just an average of 108.9 yards rushing per game. The Cougars ranked 20th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 20.7 points per game.
« The 2015 Houston defense held 10 of 14 opponents below their total offense average and 12 of 14 below their scoring offense averages. The two teams that did exceed their scoring averages, Tennessee Tech and UConn, were held within a point of their season average.
« In its win over Florida State, the Houston defense held FSU star running back Dalvin Cook to just 33 yards on 18 carries, an average of 1.8 yards per attempt. Entering the game, Cook had averaged 150.7 yards per game and 7.9 yards per carry. Among the Power 5 Conferences entering bowl season, Cook had the most rushes of 20 or more yards at 22. Houston limited his longest rush to just nine yards.
« Last season's win over Vanderbilt was the first shutout of an SEC team by a non-conference opponent since Sept. 5, 2004 when Louisville defeated Kentucky 28-0.
« Navy entered its 2015 regular-season finale vs. Houston second nationally in averaging 348.4 yards rushing per game, but the Houston defense held the Midshipmen to just 147 yards rushing in the game with 76 yards coming on Navy's first drive of the game. After giving up 67 yards rushing to Heisman candidate Keenan Reynolds on the first drive, the UH defense held the QB to just 17 yards for the rest of the game.
TURNOVER U |
« Since the start of the 2013 season, no program has taken the ball away from opposing offenses more than Houston with 115 turnovers forced in that time with seven in 2016, 35 in 2015, 30 in 2014 and 43 in 2013.
« In his first year with Houston, defensive coordinator Todd Orlando continued the turnover theme as his defenses had 95 turnovers from 2013-15. Orlando's Utah State defense ranked eighth nationally with 59 turnovers forced over 2013-14 and tied Houston in 2014 with 30 turnovers forced and 19 interceptions.
« Orlando ranks third nationally among defensive coordinators with an average of 2.26 takeaways per game over 2013-15.
« Orlando, Brent Venables (Clemson), Bud Foster (Virginia Tech) and Gary Patterson (TCU) are the only defensive coaches nationally to rank in the top 15 for turnovers per game, defensive third down percentage and tackles for loss last season.
« UH has forced multiple turnovers in 40 of its last 53 games.
« Houston once again established itself in the turnover battle in 2015 as it ranked second nationally with a +21 turnover margin and 10th nationally with just 14 turnovers lost.
« Houston was opportunistic, turning its 35 turnovers into 128 points including four defensive touchdowns.
« Houston forced at least three turnovers in seven games last season, capping the year with a season-best five vs. Florida State.
« Cameron Malveaux and Howard Wilson each came up with fumble recoveries against Oklahoma as the Cougars turned the Sooners' two turnovers into seven points.
« Against Lamar, cornerback Dillon Birden came up with Houston's lone turnover, ripping the ball out of a Cardinals' receivers hands and retaining possession as he hit the turf.
« Houston upped the ante against Cincinnati as it recorded three turnovers, all fourth quarter interceptions, to help Houston overcome a 16-12 fourth-quarter deficit en route to a 40-16 win. The Houston offense followed Howard Wilson's first interception of the night with an 11-play, 60-yard touchdown drive before Steven Taylor and Wilson ended the next two Cincinnati drives with back-to-back pick-sixes. After Taylor returned a Bearcat interception 74 yards for a touchdown, Wilson returned one on the very next play 28 yards for his first career defensive touchdown.
« The Cougars have been opportunistic when creating turnovers, turning their seven turnovers into 42 points this season, including 14 points directly from the interception returns from Taylor and Wilson at Cincinnati.
UP FRONT |
« Known for occupying blockers and knocking offensive linemen into the backfield in 2015, the defensive line group has quickly established itself as a group that likes to create chaos in the opposition's backfield.
« The group has been bolstered by the addition of true freshman Ed Oliver, ranked the No. 2 defensive tackle in the nation by ESPN in the 2016 signing class. Oliver did not wait long to make his impression felt for Houston, earning his first career start against Oklahoma and leading all defensive linemen in the game with seven tackles including two sacks. Playing at the nose tackle position, Oliver penetrated the Oklahoma backfield throughout the game to disrupt the Sooners' offensive flow.
« He continued to wreak havoc in the backfield against Lamar with a game-high 2.5 tackles for loss and while he had just two tackles against Cincinnati, he continually collapsed the Bearcat offensive line despite multiple double and triple teams.
« Oliver pulled in his third sack while breaking up two passes in the win over UConn. He now ranks third in The American with six tackles for loss and three sacks.
« A team captain in 2016, Cameron Malveaux enjoyed a breakout year in 2015 under the new coaching staff, finishing the season with 33 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in an increased on-field presence.
« The group was bolstered with the emergence of junior Nick Thurman and sophomore Jerard Carter in 2015. Thurman finished the year with 27 tackles, including five for loss, and two fumble recoveries. Carter also recovered two fumbles on the year while picking up 13 tackles.
« Singleton has started 25 games at defensive tackle for the Cougars and was named to The American's second team in 2015.
« With a three-man front not always showing up on a defensive stat sheet, defensive line coach Oscar Giles charts the groups impact with two other stats - twofer's (occupying multiple blockers to allow another defender to make a play) and knockbacks (knocking offensive linemen into the backfield to disrupt the play). Oliver leads the group with 19 twofer's and 10 knockbacks followed by Carter with 14 twofer's and six knockbacks. Malveaux rounds out the top three with three twofer's and four knockbacks.
TAKE FLIGHT WITH CAUTION |
« Howard Wilson picked off his fourth career pass in Houston's win over Texas State last season before suffering a season-ending injury in the same game. A medical redshirt was granted on his behalf to restore his sophomore season.
« Howard Wilson claimed his first career fumble recovery against Oklahoma to end the Sooners' second drive of the second half.
« He upped his turnover game against Cincinnati with a career-best two interceptions, one of which he returned 28 yards for a Houston touchdown while collecting eight tackles. Wilson nearly added a third interception and a second pick-six, eventually dropping a bobbled pass on a jumped out route.
« Wilson added his third interception of the year, and the sixth of his career, with a diving pick at Texas State.
« Wilson has touched the ball nearly as often as the receivers he has been covering as he has three interceptions and two passes defended while allowing eight catches for 51 yards on his 19 targets (2.7 yards per target).
« Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of 10.1 when targeting Wilson.
« Paired at corner with Wilson is Jeremy Winchester who leads the team with four pass breakups.
« Brandon Wilson now has 24 career starts and was the team's second-leading returner with 58 tackles in 2015. He led all returners with eight pass breakups last season while also picking off a pass and recovering a fumble, returning both for touchdowns. Wilson also saw time at running back in two games last year, finishing the season with 188 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 37 attempts.
« Playing in the nickelback role, Brandon Wilson got his season started off on the right foot with a career-high 10 tackles, including one for a loss, and one pass breakup against Oklahoma and was named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week.
« He has missed the last two games with ankle injury suffered against Cincinnati.
« At safety, junior Khalil Williams and sophomore Garrett Davis have both stepped into the starting lineup with junior college transfer Terrell Williams, who earned his first career start at Cincinnati, and true freshman Collin Wilder providing depth at the position.
« Davis is second on the team with 26 tackles and leads all defensive backs with four tackles for loss.
A LOOK AT THE LINEBACKERS |
« Steven Taylor has taken over the emotional leader duties for the Houston defense from current New England Patriot Elandon Roberts and has quickly established himself as he is sixth nationally with 5.5 sacks through five games.
« He is third nationally among all active players with 22.5 career sacks.
« Taylor has moved into fifth on the Houston career sacks chart with 22.5 and is four away from fourth. He has also moved to fifth on the career tackles for loss chart with 44 and is six away from fourth.
« With no sacks at Texas State, Taylor ended a five-game sack streak including multiple sacks in each of the first three games this season.
« He is third in The American with six tackles for loss and leads with the 45 yards lost by the opposition.
« He picked off his fourth career pass against Cincinnati and returned it 74 yards for his first career defensive touchdown.
« Taylor owns 10 career games with double-digit stops and is the team's returning leading tackler from 2015 with 92 stops on the year. He also led Houston on the year with 10 sacks and was second on the team with 18.5 tackles for loss.
« Taylor led The American with his 10 sacks last season and was second in The American, behind Roberts, in tackles for loss.
« Bowser made the move from defensive end, where he earned three starts in his first two years, to outside linebacker in 2015 and had sacks in each of the first three games of the season, finishing the year with 5.5 sacks, fourth-best among all returning players in The American.
« Bowser also had a sack streak come to an end at Texas State, snapping a four-game streak. He has 3.5 sacks this season, giving him 16.5 for his career, just 2.5 away from cracking the Houston top-10 chart for career sacks.
« Matthew Adams finished the 2015 season with 49 tackles including two sacks while pairing with Roberts in the middle of the 3-4 defense and coming off the field in the nickel situation. He opened the year with his third career forced fumble while totaling nine tackles against Oklahoma.
« Adams also had nine tackles against Cincinnati, tying Taylor for the team lead, and currently leads Houston with 24 stops on the year.
« With Adams suspended vs. Texas State last season, Emeke Egbule, then a true freshman, made a quick name for himself with three tackles including his first career sack. He finished the year with 11 tackles.
TY ONE ON |
« Ty Cummings holds the starting role as the team's kicker after taking over starting placekicking duties last season vs. SMU in addition to his already held kickoff role.
« He had 100 kickoffs last year, averaging 62.7 yards per kickoff, with 30 touchbacks, ranking fifth in The American in both categories.
« Cummings connected on all 51 of his extra point attempts last season and all eight field goal attempts, including a career-long 45-yard field goal vs. Navy. Despite not starting the first four games of the season at kicker, Cummings ranked 11th in the conference, and seventh among kickers, in scoring with 75 points on the year.
« In the first half alone against Oklahoma, Cummings became the ninth kicker in Houston history with at least four field goals in a game with his career-high four including a career-long 47-yard kick on the final play of the first half to give the Cougars the lead for good. Cummings also connected to on all three extra point attempts to remain perfect on his career in kicking.
« After his streak of consecutive made field goals ended at 12 against Lamar, Cummings bounced back with 32-yarder at Cincinnati.
« His ranks third in The American with an average of 63.35 yards per kickoff and owns 18 touchbacks, second in The American, on 37 attempts.
« Cummings is sixth in the league with 44 points on the year - 26 extra points and six field goals.
THE PUNT-AH |
« After losing two-year starting punter Logan Piper, Houston turned to down under for its newest punter. Dane Roy, a 27-year old true freshman from Bunyip, Australia, joined the Houston program this fall after a career as an ice-cream salesman.
« Roy picked up the art of punting at ProKick Australia.
« An Australian rules football player for Richmond Central, he won the longest kick competition at the AFL grand final in Melbourne, Australia, after booting a torpedo 73 meters, which equates to 79 yards. Roy, who stands 6-7, also has a personal-best hang time of 5.4 seconds.
« In his debut against Oklahoma, Roy had four punts for 176 yards, an average of 44.0 yards per punt. He followed with one punt for 50 yards against Lamar before dropping four of his six punts inside Cincinnati's 20-yard line.
« He's placed seven of his 21 punts inside his opponent's 20-yard line and his high-hanging punts have helped Houston to rank ninth nationally in punt return defense, allowing just 0.7 yards per return.
THE RETURNS DEPARTMENT |
« Houston returned The American's most dangerous kick returners in Brandon Wilson and it shows as Houston leads the league and is second nationally in kick returns with an average of 33.5 yards per return.
« Against Oklahoma, Wilson scored his eighth career touchdown in the sixth different fashion when he returned a missed Oklahoma field goal 109.99 yards from the back of his own end zone for a Houston touchdown. Wilson also has touchdowns via rushing (2), kick returns (2), fumble return, interception return and a blocked field goal return.
« He added his fourth career kick return of at least 50 yards against Cincinnati when he returned a Bearcats' kick 56 yards.
« He is one of eight players nationally with two returns of at least 50 yards this season.
« Wilson's kick return average of 32.2 yards per return leads The American and ranks eighth nationally.
« Even with Wilson out at Texas State, the Houston kicking game did not fall off as true freshman D'Eriq King returned two kicks for 130 yards including a 99-yard touchdown return.
« Wilson led the league in 2015 with two kickoff return touchdowns while ranking fourth with an average return of 26.6 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. The return was Wilson's second career special teams TD as he returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown vs. UTSA in 2013.
« Wilson became just the second player in Houston history to return multiple kickoffs for touchdowns in a season and a career, joining Tyron Carrier who had four in the 2009 season and seven in his career, with a kick return for a score at UConn.
A CLASS OF ITS OWN |
« With the first full year of recruiting under their belts, Tom Herman and his staff signed what is being praised as not only the top signing class in Houston history, but the top class ever among all group of five programs.
« The group ranked No. 30 by ESPN included defensive tackle Ed Oliver who is the highest ranked player ever to sign with a group of five program. Oliver was ranked the No. 2 defensive tackle nationally by ESPN and the No. 4 player regardless of position in the nation by ESPN.
« The class includes three players in the ESPN 300 â€" Oliver, receiver Courtney Lark and quarterback D'Eriq King â€" and six players ranked in the top 10 nationally at their positions â€" quarterback Kyle Allen (No. 1 quarterback in 2014), running back Duke Catalon (No. 10 running back in 2014), offensive lineman Keenan Murphy (No. 5 center), Oliver (No. 2 defensive tackle), offensive lineman Na'Ty Rodgers (No. 4 junior college offensive tackle) and defensive back Terrell Williams (No. 9 junior college safety).
« The class of 24 signees consists of 19 players from the state of Texas and one each from Arizona, Louisiana, Maryland, Oklahoma and Canada. Of the 17 high school players in the class, 16 hail from the state of Texas with one from neighboring Louisiana. The class covers seven position groups with six defensive backs, four offensive linemen, four receivers, three quarterbacks, three defensive linemen, two running backs and one tight end.
« Fourteen from the class have already seen action through the first two weeks including 10 true freshman - Oliver, who has started at defensive tackle, Rodgers, who has started at right tackle, Catalon, Williams, Mulbah Car, Keith Corbin, Aymiel Fleming, Alex Fontana, Braylon Jones, D'Eriq King, Courtney Lark, Terry Mark, Javian Smith and Collin Wilder.
WON'T BACK DOWN |
« Houston VP for Athletics Hunter Yurachek and Tom Herman announced in 2015 a commitment to non-conference scheduling with a goal of two power 5 opponents and two group of 5 opponents each year following 2016 to avoid scheduling FCS opponents.
« Houston's 2016 non-conference schedule is the last to feature an FCS opponent in Lamar and its 2017 non-conference schedule is set with trips to Arizona and UTSA while hosting Texas Tech and Rice.
« UH has just one spot to fill in 2018 with the second end of home-and-home series with Arizona, Rice and Texas Tech filling three of the four spots. Houston wraps up its series with Oklahoma when they visit the Sooners in 2019. UH also has future series with Kansas (2019-2020), Texas Tech (2021-2022) and UTSA (2022-2024) on the docket along with a return trip to Vanderbilt on Oct. 2, 2021.
Future Non-Conference Games
2017: at UTSA, at Arizona, Rice, Texas Tech
2018: at Rice, Arizona, at Texas Tech
2019: at Oklahoma, Kansas
2020: Rice, at Kansas
2021: at Rice, Texas Tech, at Vanderbilt
2022: at Texas Tech, UTSA
2023: at UTSA
2024: UTSA
