University of Houston Athletics
Game Notes: Houston at Rice
8/28/2018 11:27:00 AM | Football
GAME NOTES HOME | HOUSTON GAME NOTES | RICE GAME NOTES
| THE GAME AT A GLANCE | |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, Sept. 1 |
| Time | 11 a.m. CT |
| Location | Houston |
| Venue | Rice Stadium |
| Capacity | 47,000 |
| Surface | Synthetic Turf |
| TV | CBS Sports Network |
| Radio | KPRC 950 AM |
| Live Stats | UHCougars.com |
HITS ON HOUSTON
« Houston (0-0, 0-0 The American) opens its 2018 season Saturday at 11 a.m. as the program travels four miles west of its campus to face crosstown rival Rice (1-0, 0-0 Conference USA) in a battle for the Bayou Bucket. Saturday's game will air on CBS Sports Network and on KPRC 950 AM with radio pregame coverage starting at 10 a.m.
« The game kicks off Major Applewhite's second season leading the Houston program after taking the Cougars to their fifth straight bowl game in 2017.
« Houston junior defensive tackle Ed Oliver returns for his final season in Houston, having declared for the 2019 NFL Draft last March. The first underclassmen to ever win the Outland Trophy, Oliver also earned consensus All-America honors and was named The American's Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.
« Playing tackle in a three-man front, Oliver has totaled 39.5 tackles for loss, the most ever by a defensive tackle through two seasons. Oliver more than doubled up the previous best, 19 from Pitt's Aaron Donald in 2010-11.
« Comparing all defensive linemen, ends and tackles, who earned FWAA All-America honors since 2008, Oliver leads all with not only his 39.5 tackles for loss, but also his 139 total tackles. South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is second on the TFL list with 35.5 tackles for loss through his sophomore season, while Texas A&M defensive end Demontre Moore is second on the tackles list with 112.
« Oliver leads all active players nationally with a career average of 1.56 tackles for loss per game.
« The Houston offense has a new look on its coaching staff with offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and offensive line coach Randy Clements joining the program in the offseason. The duo is welcomed with the return of quarterback D'Eriq King, who started the final four games of 2017 and has experienced his first full healthy offseason of his collegiate career.
« King is one of 23 full or part-time starters returning in 2018. The 2017 leaders in passing, total offense, field goals, scoring, punting, tackles for loss, sacks, interceptions, pass breakups and fumble recoveries all return and are joined by five FBS transfers who are eligible immediately.
« Houston enters 2018 atop The American's all-time win list in conference games. Since the league's inception, Houston and UCF lead all members with 28 wins in conference action. Memphis is third with 25 wins, while USF and Temple are tied for fourth with 24 wins. UCF is could take the outright lead as of game time, as it opens the season with American rival UConn in a battle for the missing Civil ConFLiCT trophy.
« Houston leads FBS schools in Texas with 45 wins since the start of the 2013 season. TCU is second with 44 wins in that span. Texas A&M and Baylor are tied for third with 40 wins, while Texas Tech is fifth with 31.
« Since 2013, Houston leads the nation with 147 takeaways. Washington is second in that span with 134.
« UH ranks 13th nationally and the best in Texas with nine seasons with at least eight wins since 2006. LSU, Boise State and Oklahoma lead the way with 12 such seasons since 2006 while three teams, Georgia, USC and Wisconsin, are tied with 11 such seasons.
« With its win over No. 3 Louisville in 2016, Houston picked up its fourth straight win over an AP Top 10 team (three of which have come in the last four seasons), which leads the nation among active streaks.
« Houston is one of just four programs nationally with at least 13 wins on two different occasions over the last seven years, joining Alabama, Clemson and Florida State in accomplishing the feat.
« The 2018 senior class enters the game with 29 wins, which currently ranks 24th on the Houston history for wins by a class. The class needs only five wins to move into the top 10 and is nine wins away from the record of 38 set by the 2016 senior class.
« Houston enters 2018 riding a streak of five straight bowl appearances, the 20th longest active streak in the nation, and second in The American behind the six of Navy.
ABOUT THE COUGARS
« Twenty-three full or part-time starters return. The 2017 leaders in passing, total offense, field goals, scoring, punting, tackles for loss, sacks, interceptions, pass breakups and fumble recoveries return.
« The program welcomed an incoming signing class of 23 that is comprised of 20 freshmen, two junior college transfers and one graduate transfer in linebacker Darrion Owens from Miami.
« In addition to the 2018 signing class, Houston has also welcomed five other transfers ahead of the fall, all of which are eligible for the 2018 season. Four of the five are graduate transfers - QB Quinten Dormady (Tennessee), WR Raelon Singleton (Utah), CB Nick Watkins (Notre Dame) and RB Terence Williams (Baylor) - while Deontay Anderson joined the program from Ole Miss and was ruled eligible immediately with three years of eligibility remaining.
« Seven members of the 2018 signing class enrolled early and took part of spring action - junior TE Bo Alexander, freshman DL Tahj Brown, senior LB Darrion Owens, sophomore DB Gleson Sprewell, freshman QB Clayton Tune, freshman DB Garrison Vaughn and freshman WR Julon Williams.
« Houston's roster sports 54 upperclassmen and 51 underclassmen. Fourteen players redshirted last season.
« New depth and faces are expected to emerge in 2018 as Houston lost 18 players who accounted for 290 games of starting experience, an average of 16.1 career starts per player. By comparison, the 23 returning players with starting experience combine for 272 career starts, an average of 11.8 career starts per player.
« Houston is one of three schools nationally, joining New Mexico State and TCU, replacing its top rusher (Duke Catalon), receiver (Steven Dunbar) and tackler (D'Juan Hines) from 2018.
« Since 2013, Houston leads the state of Texas among FBS schools with 45 wins. The Cougars are one win ahead of TCU, five ahead of Baylor and Texas A&M, and 14 games ahead of Texas in that span.
« Houston and TCU are tied for the lead among state of Texas FBS schools with nine seasons of at least eight wins since 2006. Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech are tied for third with seven each in that span.
« Houston and UCF enter the 2018 season tied for the lead for most wins in The American since the conference's inception in 2013. The two have 28 wins each, with both teams claiming an additional win in an American Championship. Memphis is third with 25 wins, while USF and Temple are tied for fourth with 24 wins.
« After three years of competition, the 2018 senior class is the 24th-most winningest class in Houston football history with 29 wins since starting in 2015. The class is only five wins away from moving into the top 10 and nine wins away from the record of 38 established by the 2016 senior class.
« Houston enters 2018 riding a streak of five straight bowl appearances, the 20th longest active streak in the nation and second longest in The American behind the six of Navy.
ABOUT RICE
« In its first season under head coach Mike Bloomgren, Rice enters Saturday at 1-0 after a 31-28 win over Prairie View A&M in week zero.
« Rice was led offensively in the win by junior running back Emmanuel Esukpa who rushed 32 times for 173 yards and one touchdown. Senior running back Austin Walter added 83 yards and two scores as the Owls split reps at quarterback with senior Shawn Stankavage (7-of 15 | 43 yards) and junior Jackson Tyner (5-of-9 | 44 yards) each seeing action under center.
« Defensively, the Owls were led in the win by junior defensive lineman Roe Wilkins who had seven tackles including one sack while adding a forced fumble. Sophomore linebacker Dylan Silcox added six tackles while picking up the lone turnover of the night with a fumble recovery.
« Saturday's matchup is the 42nd meeting between the two schools with Houston owning a 30-11 series lead. UH has claimed the last four meetings overall and eight of the last 10 with the two losses coming at Rice Stadium. Houston last won in Rice Stadium in 2006, a 31-30 win.
« Houston Head Coach Major Applewhite spent one season, 2006, as offensive coordinator at Rice, helping lead the Owls to their first bowl since 1961.
« Houston tight ends coach James Casey played two seasons as a tight end at Rice (2007-08), setting three program records en route to earning Freshman FWAA All-America honors. He was also named a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2008.
DEGREES IN HAND
« Twelve Houston student-athletes entered the season having already earned an undergraduate degree. Romello Brooker, Roman Brown, Jerard Carter, Quentin Dormady (Tennessee), Khari Dotson, Isaiah Johnson, Darrion Owens (Miami), Raelon Singleton (Utah), Zach Vaughan, Nick Watkins (Notre Dame), Joeal Williams and Terence Williams (Baylor) have all completed degree requirements prior to this season.
« Houston ranks eighth nationally with 12 players having earned degrees prior to the start of the season.
TOP 25 RANKINGS
« Houston enters the 2018 season receiving votes accounting for six points. If carried out, Houston would rank 38th nationally and second among schools in The American.
« Houston entered 2016 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 spent 16 straight weeks in the AP Top 25 over 2015-16, the fourth-longest in program history and the longest since a record streak of 42 weeks from 1988-91.
« Houston also spent five weeks in the AP top 10 in 2016, the third-longest stint in UH history and the longest since 15 straight weeks in 1979-80.
ON THE OFFENSE
« Since 2006, only Oregon, Oklahoma and Texas Tech have racked up more yards than Houston.
Rank Team Total Yards (06-present)
1. Oregon, 78,899
2. Oklahoma, 78,258
3. Texas Tech, 76,820
4. Houston, 76,389
5. Nevada, 69,186
« Houston has scored in 224 straight games dating back to Sept. 30, 2000.
« Eighteen of Houston's 53 scoring drives last season lasted less than two minutes with 10 lasting less than one minute, the quickest only seven seconds with a one-play, 22-yard TD drive vs. ECU.
« Houston had 14 scoring drives of four plays or less including three, one-play drives.
« The versatility of the offense was evident with six different players with rushing touchdowns for Houston while eight different players had receiving touchdowns and three different players had passing touchdowns.
« The Houston offense ranked 14th nationally in converting 45.5 percent of its third-down attempts, 81-of-178.
« Since 2015, Houston has 12 games with 500+ yards of total offense and five games with 600+ yards. It has scored more than 40 points 12 times and more than 50 points five times.
« Now the Houston offense will be overseen by offensive coordinator Kendal Briles who arrives in Houston after one season in the same role at FAU, where the Owls were eighth nationally in scoring offense (40.6 points per game) and ninth nationally in total offense (498.4 yards per game). The offense sported a dangerous ground game, finishing the year sixth nationally in rushing offense (285.3 yards per game).
« Prior to FAU, he spent nine seasons at Baylor including the final two as offensive coordinator. Named a 2015 Broyles Award finalist in 2015, his first season as an offensive coordinator, Baylor led the nation in both scoring (48.1 points per game) and total offense (616.2 yards per game) while finishing second nationally in rushing offense (326.7 yards per game). The 2016 offense was no slouch either as it finished the year sixth nationally in total offense (522.7 yards per game).
« As passing game coordinator at Baylor, Briles helped guide a top-five passing attack for four straight seasons from 2011 to 2014 (No. 4 in 2014, No. 5 in 2013, No. 4 in 2012, No. 4 in 2011).
A KING RETURNS FOR HIS CROWN
« Three QBs had the opportunity to take over for Greg Ward Jr., now on a Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles, in 2017 in Kyle Allen (starts in the first three games), Kyle Postma (starts in the next five games) and D'Eriq King, who took over at QB at USF, starting the final four games. The three helped Houston rank third nationally in completion percentage at 68.4 percent.
« UH was also the only team in the nation with three quarterbacks with 300-yard games in 2017 and the only team with three different quarterbacks with over 600 yards passing in 2017.
« Now with the graduation of Postma and Allen leaving early for the NFL, King returns looking to hold onto his crown of starting quarterback with competition from Tennessee graduate transfer Quinten Dormady.
« In King's four starts, Houston averaged 1.4 more yards per play than the previous eight games while also averaging 18.4 more yards passing per game despite averaging 20 less plays per game.
« King took over the quarterback role on the third drive at USF and never looked back in the game, rushing for a career-high 83 yards and two touchdowns while completing 12-of-20 passes for 137 yards and one score.
« He was named The American's Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
« King made his first career start at quarterback vs. ECU and set career highs with 15 completions for 330 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 14 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
« He picked up his first career 100-yard rushing game at Tulane, rushing for 141 yards and two touchdowns on 10 attempts.
« His single-game rushing average of 14.1 yards per attempt ranks eighth in UH history and the highest by a quarterback.
« King added his third game with multiple rushing touchdowns, all coming in the final four games of the season, with two scores vs. Navy, finishing the day with 57 rushing yards to go along with 277 passing yards off a career-high 21 completions.
« In his four games as starting quarterback, King averaged 337.8 yards of total offense per game, a number that would have ranked second in The American behind the league's offensive player of the year, McKenzie Milton, and seventh nationally.
« Dormady arrived in Houston after 16 games of action with five starts, all in 2017, at Tennessee and will add to a quarterback room that also includes redshirt-freshman Bryson Smith and freshman Clayton Tune.
NEW FACES, NEW PLACES
« With FAU's offense under new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles ranking sixth in the nation in rushing offense at 285.3 yards per game, Houston will look to establish the run but will have to turn to new faces to lead the way with the departure of 2017's starting backs - Duke Catalon and Dillon Birden.
« Houston returns 31.2 percent of its rushing yards from 2017 running backs, led by junior Mulbah Car, who finished the year as Houston's second-leading rusher with 388 yards and three touchdowns on 80 carries.
« He came on strong in more of a feature role towards the end of 2017, including a career-high 137 yards and one touchdown in Houston's upset win at No. 17 USF. He would later add 72 yards and three receptions for 15 yards at Tulane as 261 of his 388 yards on the season came in the final five games.
« Baylor graduate transfer Terence Williams joined the program over the summer and will immediately look to replicate his efforts in a Briles-led offense as to when he rushed for 1,048 yards for the Bears to earn honorable mention All-Big 12 honors in the process.
« In all, Williams played in 29 games with 11 starts at Baylor, leaving the program ranked 13th on the career rushing yards chart with 1,859.
« Houston returns two other backs with rushing attempts in 2017 in sophomore Davion Mitchell, who rushed 10 times for 38 yards, and junior Patrick Carr, who rushed eight times for 26 yards. Junior Kevrin Justice, who rushed 34 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns in 2016, returns and is joined in the group by true freshman Kelan Walker, who ran for 1,760 yards and 28 touchdowns in his high school career at DeSoto HS.
LENDING A HAND OR TWO
« Houston is one of nine schools nationally, and two in The American, to have a 1,000-yard receiver each of the last three seasons as Demarcus Ayers (2015 | 1,222 yards), Linell Bonner (2016 | 1,118) and Steven Dunbar (2017 | 1,070) each accomplished the feat.
« The wide receiver room will also be looking for new leaders with the graduation of two of Houston's top 10 receivers in program history. Steven Dunbar (39) and Linell Bonner (22) finished their careers with a combined 61 career starts and 85 career games played. Dunbar ended his career 10th on the Houston career receptions chart with 180 and 10th on the career receiving yards chart with 2,430, while Bonner closed his career eighth on the career receptions chart with 203 and 11th on the career receiving yards chart with 2,324.
« In all, Houston returns three of eight receivers who caught a pass in 2017, including D'Eriq King who finished the year as the Cougars' third-leading receiver with 29 receptions. Behind King, junior Courtney Lark was second with 13 receptions in 2017, while classmate Keith Corbin had 10 receptions.
« Both Lark, who had four starts in 2017, and Corbin, who had five starts in 2017, will be asked to step up and help carry the load while the group received a significant addition in Utah graduate transfer Raelon Singleton.
« Singleton arrived in Houston over the summer after playing in 34 games over three seasons at Utah with 19 starts. The Crosby, Texas, native was Utah's second-leading receiver as a sophomore and junior. In 2017, he pulled in 36 receptions for 531 yards and four touchdowns while pulling in 27 receptions for 464 yards and four touchdowns in 2016.
« Lark made his first career start at No. 17 USF last season and pulled in his first career TD, finishing with a career-high 69 yards. He made it back-to-back weeks with a touchdown as he pulled in a 5-yard score vs. ECU the following week.
« Sophomore Marquez Stevenson also looks to make his impact on the group after being sidelined for all of 2017 with a preseason injury. He saw action in two games as a true freshman in 2016 before a season-ending injury sidelined the speedy receiver.
« Junior Terry Mark also owns three collegiate receptions, with all three coming in 2016 vs. UConn.
« The group is joined by four freshmen - Ja'Kori Morgan, Peyton Sawyer, Henry Thomas and Julon Williams - while two redshirt freshman in Tre'Von Bradley and Jeremy Singleton also enter the fray.
« At tight end, Houston will turn to senior Romello Brooker on a full-time basis after he split starts with Alex Leslie in 2017, although Brooker did outpace Leslie in receptions, pulling in seven for 45 yards.
LINE ON THE LINE
« For the third straight year, a new offensive line coach will step in with options across the front as Randy Clements will oversee a group that has a combined 94 career starts and 128 career games played, although it will replace the 2017 day-to-day starters along the right side of the line.
« Senior center Will Noble leads the line in terms of starting experience with 32 career starts, including eight in 2015 en route to earning FWAA Freshman All-America honors.
« Junior Josh Jones stepped into the starting role at left tackle for the 2016 opener and never looked back, starting 23 at the position over the last two seasons.
« Next to him, junior Braylon Jones returns after starting all 12 games at left guard in 2017.
« At the other guard spot, there are options with players who have starts in their career as senior Mason Denley has 12 games of starting experience and junior Kameron Eloph has eight.
« Junior Jarrid Williams also has experience in a starting role, filling in for an injured Josh Jones in two games in 2017.
THIRD WARD DEFENSE
« The Houston defense is one of just eight nationally to hold opponents to an average of under 25 points scoring per game in each of the last five seasons. Taking it down a point further, UH is one of just six schools to hold its opponents under 24 points per game in each of the last five seasons, joining Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Stanford and Wisconsin in accomplishing the feat.
« The defense started 2017 right where it ended in 2016, as it ranked second in The American in scoring defense, allowing 23.8 points per game.
« The Houston defense accomplished the feat despite facing five of the nation's top 23 scoring offenses in its 12 games - No. 2 Memphis, No. 5 Arizona, No. 10 USF, No. 12 SMU and No. 23 Texas Tech.
« Houston held four of the five top-23 scoring offenses its faced to well below their average in No. 5 Arizona (Avg. 41.3 points per game | 16 vs. Houston), No. 10 USF (38.3/game | 24 vs. Houston), No. 12 SMU (37.8/game | 22 vs. Houston) and No. 23 Texas Tech (34.3/game | 27 vs. Houston).
« Houston snapped No. 17 USF's NCAA record 24-game streak of 30+ points as it held the Bulls to 24 points. It was particularly good against USF's No. 7 rushing offense, holding the Bulls to a season-low 137 yards. USF entered the game averaging 305.1 rushing yards per game.
« SMU entered its game at Houston ranked No. 3 nationally in scoring offense with an average of 48.2 points per game and left TDECU Stadium with just 22 points.
« Against Memphis, Houston gave up no points in the first half, marking the first time the Tigers had been held scoreless at halftime since Oct. 13, 2012.
« Against Temple, the Houston defense held the Owls scoreless in the first half, snapping a 51-game streak that Temple had scored in the first half.
« The defense held Texas Tech to half its scoring average entering the game, holding the Red Raiders, who were averaging 54.0 points per game, to 27 points and just three touchdowns.
« Houston held Rice to only three points, a field goal with 2:47 remaining in the game. It was Rice's lowest scoring output since falling to No. 4 Nebraska, 48-3, on Sept. 20, 2001.
« In its final regular season game, Houston held Navy to only 79 yards of offense in the second half.
TUNROVER U
« Since the start of the 2013 season, no program has taken the ball away from opposing offenses more than Houston with 147 turnovers forced in that time with 21 in 2017, 18 in 2016, 35 in 2015, 30 in 2014 and 43 in 2013. Houston has a 13-turnover lead on its closest competitor in that stretch - Washington.
« UH has forced multiple turnovers in 50 of its last 72 games.
« Houston has been opportunistic with its turnovers, ranking third nationally since 2010 with 41 non-offensive touchdowns including 15 defensive touchdowns over the last five years.
« Garrett Davis returns for his senior season as The American's second-leading returner in interceptions after picking off four passes in 2017.
« Ed Oliver is liability for opposing offenses with bad ball protection, as after only two seasons with UH, he ranks 13th on the program's career forced fumbles chart with five. He needs just two more to climb into the top five.
ED-UCATION
« The American Athletic Conference and the nation were quickly introduced to Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver as a true freshman in 2016 when he earned seven First-Team All-America honors, FWAA Freshman All-America Honors and was named The American's Rookie of the Year.
« Ranked the nation's No. 2 defensive tackle in the 2016 signing class by ESPN, Oliver did not wait long to make his impression felt for Houston, earning his first career start vs. No. 3 Oklahoma, leading all linemen with seven tackles including two sacks. Oliver finished second nationally in 2016 with 23 tackles for loss.
« He did not disappoint in his follow-up season, becoming the first underclassmen to ever win the Outland Trophy while also earning consensus All-America honors and The American's Defensive Player of the Year honor.
« With two tackles for loss in the Hawaii Bowl, Oliver recorded his 13th career game with multiple TFLs, and now has 39.5 career tackles for loss in only 25 games.
« Oliver's 39.5 tackles for loss through a sophomore season rank second in NCAA history among all players, and first among all defensive tackles.
« While playing the nose spot in a three-man front, he totaled 73 tackles in 12 games, despite missing three quarters of one game and being limited in the next four with a knee injury in 2017.
« He recorded an average of 6.1 tackles per game which ranked third nationally among all defensive linemen.
« He wasted no time to open 2017, totaling 11 tackles at Arizona, his third career game with 10-plus tackles.
« The Houston native saved his best for last vs. Navy in 2017, totaling a career-high 14 tackles, his fourth career double-digit tackle game, including a career-best 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
« He started off the season with forced fumbles in the first two games, and now has five in his career, ranking 13th in Houston history. His next forced fumble would move him into eighth and he is five away from tying the Houston career record.
« He leads all active players nationally with a career average of 1.56 tackles for loss per game.
« On one side of Oliver will be senior Jerard Carter, who after missing the first seven games of 2017, made an immediate impact upon his return for the final five. While totaling 5.5 tackles for loss on his own in the five games, Carter also opened up room for others as Oliver had 9.5 of his 16.5 TFLs when Carter returned and Leroy Godfrey had 7.5 of his 8.5 stops behind the line. In all, Houston had 42 of its 80 tackles for loss in the five games Carter was in the lineup.
« The line also adds TCU transfer Isaiah Chambers, who sat out 2017 in Houston where he was ranked the No. 7 defensive end in the nation in 2016.
NO FLY ZONE
« A mix of returners and new faces are in store for the Houston secondary in 2018. Senior safety Garrett Davis leads all returners with 22 career starts and was second among returners in The American with four interceptions in 2017.
« Davis made a big difference in 2017's season opener, making his first career interception to snuff out an Arizona drive at his own 32-yard line with 3:49 left in the game. He also totaled 11 tackles, his second career game with double-digit stops.
« Davis is joined by sophomore transfer Deontay Anderson who arrived in Houston after one season at Ole Miss. Ranked the No. 1 safety in the nation by ESPN in the 2016 recruiting class, he earned Freshman All-SEC honors in 2016.
« At corner, seniors Alexander Myres and Isaiah Johnson both return after starting 10 games and six games, respectively, in 2017.
« Johnson is Houston's leading returner with nine passes defended - seven pass breakups and two interceptions.
« Myres is just behind with seven passes defended - six pass breakups and one interception.
« Notre Dame graduate transfer Nick Watkins, who started 10 games for the Fighting Irish, also joins the group.
« The group also has new leadership as Paul Williams takes over as cornerbacks coach and LaMar Morgan takes over as safeties coach.
« Playing in a third-down package, senior Joeal Williams made his first career sack against SMU, an eight-yard loss on a 3rd-and-13 in the third quarter. He totaled 17 tackles on the year.
SMASHMOUTH FOOTBALL
« With Houston having a linebacker selected in the NFL Draft for a third consecutive season with Matthew Adams going to the Indianapolis Colts, UH will be turning to new leadership again in 2018.
« Senior Emeke Egbule, who started every game in 2017 at outside linebacker, is Houston's second-leading returning tackler and tops among linebackers with 62 stops in 2017.
« With Adams out vs. Memphis and limited vs. USF last season, senior Austin Robinson stepped in the starting lineup, one of four starts on the year, and responded with seven tackles vs. USF including two tackles for loss.
« Robinson continued his hot streak with a career-high 12 stops vs. ECU, including 1.5 tackles for loss, and finished the year with 33 tackles and four tackles for loss.
« Darrion Owens joins the group after three seasons at Miami where the grad transfer saw action in 39 games.
« Junior linebacker Leroy Godfrey will look to continue his strong finish to 2017 when he pulled in 32 of his 33 tackles and 7.5 of his 8.5 tackles for loss in the final six games of the season, all starts.
« Playing as a true freshman in 2017, David Anenih picked up two sacks on passing downs, a third of his six tackles on the year.
« Senior Roman Brown, who has four career tackles, and junior Jordan Milburn, who has seen action in 23 career tackles, also look to step into more prominent roles.
THE PUNT-AH
« Twenty-nine year old junior punter Dane Roy is back for his third season in America as Houston's starting punter.
« At 29, Roy is the third oldest player in FBS football behind Colorado kicker James Stefanou (31) and Maryland punter Wade Lees (30), both natives of Melbourne, Australia.
« The Bunyip, Australia, native and former Australian rules football player for Richmond Central led The American in 2017 with 25 punts inside the 20 and with 43.1 percent of his punts inside his opponents 20. Twelve of his 55 punts were inside his opponents' 10-yard line.
« Despite leading the league in punts inside the 20, Roy was fifth in The American with an average of 41.8 yards per punt.
« Roy dropped all three of his punts vs. Rice inside the Owls' 20-yard line, with one inside the 10-yard line, forcing two fair catches and holding Rice without a punt return. He earned The American's Special Teams Player of the Week honor for his efforts.
« After totaling three punts of 50+ yards in the first seven games, Roy exploded with four punts of 50+ yards at USF. He averaged a season-best 48.0 yards per punt while still placing four punts inside the Bulls' 20-yard line.
« Prior to arriving in Houston, Roy 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.
BLASTIKOFF
« Senior Caden Novikoff walked on to the Houston program in the 2017 fall training camp and grabbed the reigns of the kicking job.
« He showed the coaches decision was right, finishing second in The American with a field goal percentage of 80 percent, hitting 12-of-15 field goals on the year.
« Over the final nine regular season games, Novikoff connected on all eight field goal attempts.
« He was 10-of-11 on the year from within 40 yards as his only three misses on the year were from 38 yards, 45 yards and 46 yards. He did successfully connect on two from over 40 yards, hitting a 44-yard field goal vs. ECU and a 45-yard field goal vs. Texas Tech.
« Junior kicker Dalton Witherspoon also returns in 2018 to provide competition for Novikoff.
SNAP IT TO ME
« Junior Nick Wildberger returns for Houston after taking over the starting long snapper role in 2017, holding the position for all 12 games.
« Wildberger's backup last season, junior Anthony Cantu, also returns in 2018.
RETURNS DEPARTMENT
« The #HTownTakeover ranked third in The American in kickoff returns in 2017 with 32 returns for 721 yards, an average of 22.5 yards per return. The caveat though is the only player on Houston's 2018 roster with a kick return last season is quarterback D'Eriq King, who had one return for six yards vs. Texas Tech.
« The competition for the kick return role will take place into fall camp after a number of players saw reps during spring practice. Whoever takes the job will look to replace the graduated John Leday, who had 25 returns for 572 yards in 2017.
« The same story will take place for the punt returner role with the graduation of Brandon McDowell, who had 14 returns for 62 yards in 2017.
« No player on the 2018 Houston roster had a punt return in 2017, however, sophomore Marquez Stevenson did see action at the position in an injury-shortened 2016.
