University of Houston
Texas Southern
Game Notes: Houston vs. Texas Southern
9/18/2018 11:32:00 AM | Football
GAME NOTES HOME | HOUSTON GAME NOTES
| THE GAME AT A GLANCE | |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, Sept. 22 |
| Time | 7 p.m. CT |
| Location | Houston, Texas |
| Venue | TDECU Stadium |
| Capacity | 40,000 |
| Surface | Synthetic Turf |
| TV | ESPN3 |
| Radio | KPRC 950 AM |
| Live Stats | UHCougars.com |
HITS ON HOUSTON
« Houston (2-1, 0-0 The American) returns home for the second time this season, Saturday at 7 p.m. as it faces Texas Southern (1-2, 0-0 SWAC) in Houston's second cross-city game of the young season. Saturday's game will air on ESPN3 and KPRC 950 AM with radio pregame coverage starting at 6 p.m.
« Houston enters the game following a 63-49 loss at Texas Tech, while Texas Southern is coming off a 27-15 loss at Alcorn State.
« Ed Oliver is in his final season at Houston, having declared for the 2019 NFL Draft last March. The first underclassman 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 totaled 39.5 tackles for loss in his first two seasons, the most ever by a defensive tackle through their sophomore season. 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 led 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.
« He started the season off with a bang vs. Rice, totaling 13 tackles (one short of his career high) including 3.5 tackles for loss, tying a career high.
« Oliver leads all active players nationally with a career average of 1.57 tackles for loss per game.
« The new-look Houston offense has opened up the season with three straight games of 45+ points and 500+ yards - 577 yards at Rice, 551 yards vs. Arizona and 635 yards at Texas Tech. Houston and Missouri are the only two programs in the nation with three straight games of at least 550+ yards. UH ranks eighth nationally in total offense with an average of 587.7 yards per game while ranking 10th nationally in passing with 345.3 yards per game.
« Houston has scored at least 40 points in the first three games of a season for the first time in program history. The current three-game streak of at least 40 points ranks fifth among such streaks in UH history and is tied with nine teams for the nation's longest active streak. Houston is tied with only Alabama and Penn State for the nation's longest active streak of games with 45+ points.
« The offense ranks third nationally with six plays of 50+ yards while ranking sixth with 26 plays of at least 20+ yards.
« Quarterback D'Eriq King opened the season by throwing for 320 yards, his second career 300-yard passing game, and tying a then career high with four total touchdowns, three passing and one rushing. That high stood one week until King threw for four TDs and ran for two more vs. Arizona. He tied the mark the following week at Texas Tech with six TDs, five passing and one rushing. The six touchdowns were part of a day that saw the junior complete 30 passes for 431 yards, both career highs along with his five passing touchdowns.
« After three weeks, King leads the nation with an average of 32.7 points responsible for per game and is second nationally with 12 passing TDs. He is second in The American with an average of 315 yards of total offense per game while leading the league with 332.3 passing yards per game.
« Sophomore receiver Marquez Stevenson has proved to be electrifying with five plays of at least 50 yards and six plays of at least 20 yards, both of which lead the nation. He ranks ninth nationally with an average of 165.7 all-purpose yards per game while leading The American with 324 receiving yards and four TD receptions.
« The Houston offensive line ranks fourth nationally with only one sack allowed through three games.
« Defensive end Isaiah Chambers took to a football field for the first time since high school in 2015 vs. Rice, and promptly totaled three sacks which led the nation after in the opening weekend of action. Now with four sacks on the year, Chambers leads The American and ranks fourth nationally.
« Since 2013, Houston leads the nation with 151 takeaways. Louisiana Tech and Washington are tied for second in that span with 138.
« Houston leads FBS schools in Texas with 47 wins since the start of the 2013 season. TCU is second with 46 wins in that span. Baylor and Texas A&M are tied for third with 42 wins, while Texas fifth with 32.
« 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.
« Houston is 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 emerging 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 combined for 272 career starts, an average of 11.8 career starts per player entering the year.
« 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 47 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 entered 2018 atop The American's all-time win list in conference games and currently sits second with 28 wins after UCF picked up its 29th with a season-opening win over UConn. Since the league's inception, 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 18th-most winningest class in Houston football history with 31 wins since 2015. The class is only three wins away from moving into the top 10 and seven 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 TEXAS SOUTHERN
« In its third season under head coach Mike Haywood, Texas Southern enters Saturday at 1-2 after a season-opening 26-16 win over Texas-Permian Basin before back-to-back losses at Texas State (36-20) and at Alcorn State (27-15).
« Texas Southern is led offensively by sophomore receiver Tren'Davian Dickson who has 16 receptions for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Two quarterbacks have seen action under center for TSU with senior Glen Cuiellette leading the way by completing 43-of-78 passes for 529 yards with five touchdowns against four interceptions. Senior Jay Christophe has completed 21-of-40 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Senior Brad Woodard leads the Tigers in rushing with 29 attempts for 98 yards.
« Defensively, the Tigers are led by senior defensive back Sean Jones who has 18 tackles including a sack, while breaking up three passes. Sophomore linebacker Patrick Howell has 16 tackles with a team-best three tackles for loss including the Tigers' other sack. Junior defensive back Andre Joseph has TSU's lone interception.
« Saturday's matchup is the second meeting between the two schools with Houston owning an 1-0 series lead. The only other meeting was a 59-6 Houston win on Nov. 24, 2007.
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 entered the 2018 season receiving votes accounting for six points. After two weeks it picked up 26 points and currently sits at No. 29 entering the weekend.
« 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, which has 78,602 in that span.
Rank Team Total Yards (06-present)
1. Oregon 80,408
2. Oklahoma 79,912
3. Texas Tech 78,693
4. Houston 78,602
« Houston has scored in 227 straight games dating back to Sept. 30, 2000.
« After 18 of Houston's 53 scoring drives in 2017 lasted less than two minutes, the Cougars have 15 scoring drives of less than two minutes this season with four lasting less than one minute. It has 10 scoring drives of five plays or less this season.
« Against Texas Tech, six of Houston's seven scoring drives lasted less than two minutes including two less than 32 seconds.
« The offense ranks third nationally with six plays of 50+ yards while ranking sixth with 26 plays of at least 20+ yards.
« The versatility of the offense is showing as six different receivers have receiving TDs and four different players across three position groups have rushing TDs.
« The new-look offense has opened up the season with three straight games of 45+ points and 550+ yards - 577 yards at Rice, 551 yards vs. Arizona and 635 yards at Texas Tech. It marked the first streak of both numbers since the first half of the 2016 season.
« Houston has opened the season with at least 40 points in its first three games for the first time in program history. The current streak is tied for fifth longest in Houston history.
« With 45 points at Rice and 49 points at Texas Tech, Houston has scored 45+ in multiple road games in a season for the first time since scoring 49 at Rutgers and 59 at UTSA in 2013.
« Houston currently ranks 16th nationally and third in The American with an average of 46.3 points per game while ranking eighth nationally and third in The American with an average of 587.7 yards per game.
« UH is one of only four teams to rank in the top 25 for both passing offense (No. 10) and rushing offense (No. 24).
« Since 2015, Houston has 15 games with 500+ yards of total offense and six games with 600+ yards. It has scored more than 40 points 15 times and more than 50 points five times.
« The Houston offense is now overseen by offensive coordinator Kendal Briles who arrived 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) and finished 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
« D'Eriq King opened up 2018 in style with his second career 300-yard passing game and four total touchdowns, three through the air and one on the ground. He finished the day with 353 yards of total offense - 320 passing and 33 rushing. The game was his second best in terms of total offense, trailing only the 366 yards (141 rushing, 265 passing) vs. Tulane in 2016.
« One week later against Arizona, he accounted for a career-best six touchdowns - throwing a career-high four passing TDs while rushing for two TDs, his fourth game with two scores on the ground.
« King matched the career-best six touchdowns a week later at Texas Tech, as he had a career day through the air by completing 30-of-51 passes for 431 yards and five touchdowns, all career bests. He also added 47 yards on the ground with a rushing TD.
« With 16 total touchdowns and a two-point conversion through three weeks, King has been responsible for 98 points and leads the nation with an average of 32.7 points responsible per game.
« He is second nationally with 12 passing touchdowns, trailing only the 15 of Hawaii's Cole McDonald who has played in four games to King's three.
« King is sixth nationally and first in The American with an average of 369.3 yards of total offense per game while ranking ninth nationally and first in The American with an average of 332.3 passing yards per game.
« Three QBs had the opportunity to take over for Greg Ward Jr. in 2017 in Kyle Allen (starts in the first three games), Kyle Postma (starts in the next five games) and 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 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 a career high with 330 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 14 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
« He had 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.
« In his four games as starting quarterback in 2017, 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.
« Backup Quinten 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 is turning to new faces to lead the way with the departure of 2017's starting backs. UH returned 29.1 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 TDs on 80 carries.
« He came on strong at the end of 2017, including a career-high 137 yards and one touchdown in an upset win at No. 17 USF. He would later add 72 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 looks to replicate his efforts in 2016 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 returned one other back with rushing attempts in 2017 in 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, also returned.
« Carr surpassed his entire Houston career numbers against Rice, rushing eight times for 74 yards including a 37-yard touchdown.
« He added 62 yards on eight attempts vs. Arizona and is second in The American with three runs of at least 20 yards.
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 has new leaders with the graduation of two of the top 10 receivers in UH history. Steven Dunbar and Linell Bonner finished their careers with a combined 61 starts and 85 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 returned 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, along with Marquez Stevenson have been asked to step up while the group received the addition in Utah graduate transfer Raelon Singleton.
« Stevenson is back on the field 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.
« With his 107-yard game vs. Rice, Stevenson quickly made a mark on the Houston offense. The 107 yards were part of 203 total yards he had in the game, rushing for 60 yards, including a 51-yard TD run on a reverse, and a 36-yard kick return. In all, Stevenson had three plays of 30+ yards.
« Stevenson has proved to be electrifying with five plays of 50+ yards and six plays of at least 30 yards, both of which lead the nation.
« He ranks ninth nationally with an average of 165.7 all-purpose yards per game. Stevenson has a team-best 324 receiving yards and 54 kickoff return yards to go along with 119 rushing yards.
« Stevenson is 15th nationally and leads The American with an average of 108.0 receiving yards per game.
« He recorded his second 100-yard receiving game of the season with 177 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions at Texas Tech.
« Corbin pulled in his first career TD with an 18-yard grab against Arizona.
« He had a career day at Texas Tech, pulling in seven receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns, both career highs as he eclipsed the century mark for the first time in his career.
« Lark made his first career start at No. 17 USF in 2017 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.
« Lark doubled up his career touchdown receiving total entering the season with two scores against Rice, a 40-yard score and an 18-yard score.
« After only three receptions in his first two seasons, junior Terry Mark has four in three games.
« Raelon 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.
« He made his first appearance in a Houston uniform at Texas Tech, pulling in his only reception for an 18-yard touchdown.
« Two explosive redshirt-freshmen made their debut vs. Rice - Bryson Smith, who also spends time in the quarterback room, and Jeremy Singleton. The two dynamic youngsters each had a reception against the Owls, a 25-yard catch by Smith and a 5-yard catch by Singleton.
« Smith topped his efforts vs. Arizona, pulling in his first TD, a 13-yard reception that was part of four for 29 yards.
« At tight end, Houston turned 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.
« In the first game alone, Brooker had a third of his 2017 receiving yards with 15 yards off two receptions.
« Brooker exploded vs. Arizona, pulling in two receptions for a career-best 76 yards including a career-long 52-yard TD reception.
« The tight end has three receptions of 20+ yards through three games.
LINE ON THE LINE
« For the third straight year, a new offensive line coach has stepped in with options across the front as Randy Clements oversees a group that has a combined 109 career starts and 154 career games played, although it replaced two 2017 day-to-day starters.
« Senior center Will Noble leads the line in terms of starting experience with 35 career starts, including eight in 2015 en route to earning FWAA Freshman All-America honors.
« At left guard, senior Mason Denley mans the spot with 15 games of starting experience.
« Junior Josh Jones stepped into the starting role at left tackle for the 2016 opener and never looked back, starting 26 games at the position over the last three seasons.
« At right guard, junior Braylon Jones has started the last 15 games including all 12 in 2017.
« Junior Jarrid Williams also has experience in a starting role, filling in for an injured Josh Jones in two games in 2017, and has locked down the right tackle spot in 2018.
« The group has started off right in 2018, allowing no sacks in the season's first two games, one of only 12 teams nationally to lay claim to the goose egg through two weeks.
« The line currently ranks fourth nationally in allowing only sack on the season.
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 (2013-17). 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 it 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 30 minutes.
« 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 in 2017, 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 151 turnovers forced in that time with four in 2018, 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 competitors in that stretch - Louisiana Tech and Washington.
« UH has forced multiple turnovers in 51 of its last 75 games.
« Houston has been opportunistic with its turnovers, ranking fourth nationally since 2010 with 41 non-offensive touchdowns including 15 defensive touchdowns over the last six years.
« Ed Oliver is a 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 3.5 tackles for loss vs. Rice, Oliver recorded his 14th career game with multiple TFLs, and now has 44.5 career tackles for loss in only 28 games.
« Oliver's 39.5 tackles for loss through a sophomore season ranks 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.
« Named the nation's top player by several national outlets entering 2018, the Houston native totaled 13 tackles vs. Rice, his fifth career double-digit tackle game. Of his 13 stops, 3.5 tackles were for loss, while adding two quarterback hurries.
« He leads all active players nationally with a career average of 1.57 tackles for loss per game.
« Oliver has at least five tackles in every game this season.
« On one side of Oliver is senior Jerard Carter, who after missing the first seven games of 2017, made an immediate impact upon his return in 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 added TCU transfer Isaiah Chambers, who sat out 2017 in Houston where he was ranked the No. 7 defensive end in the nation in 2016.
« Chambers wasted no time in getting his collegiate career started, racking up three sacks vs. Rice, the first time a Houston defender had three sacks in a game since current Baltimore Raven Tyus Bowser had three vs. Tulane in 2016.
« With his fourth sack at Texas Tech, Chambers leads The American and is fourth nationally in the category. All four sacks have come on third down.
NO FLY ZONE
« A mix of returners and new faces are in store for the Houston secondary in 2018. Senior safety Garrett Davis led the group with 25 career starts and was second among returners in The American with four interceptions in 2017 but was unfortunately lost with a season-ending injury suffered at Texas Tech.
« He 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.
« Anderson made his mark against Arizona, totaling five tackles including two for a loss. He followed with a career-best nine stops at Texas Tech.
« Sophomore Gleson Sprewell replaced Davis at Texas Tech and finished the game with a career-high eight tackles and is expected to fill the role moving forward.
« At corner, seniors Alexander Myres and Isaiah Johnson both return after starting 10 and six games, respectively, in 2017.
« Johnson was Houston's leading returner with nine passes defended in 2017 - seven pass breakups and two interceptions.
« Myres was just behind with seven passes defended in 2017 - six pass breakups and one interception.
« Notre Dame graduate transfer Nick Watkins, who started 10 games for the Fighting Irish, also joined the group and picked up his first start at Houston against Rice.
« Watkins leads Houston and is third in The American with four pass breakups on the season.
« Playing in a third-down package, senior Joeal Williams made his first career sack against SMU in 2017, an eight-yard loss on a 3rd-and-13 in the third quarter. He totaled 17 tackles on the year.
« He had over a third of his 2017 total vs. Rice, collecting six stops on the day.
« Williams split time with sophomore Grant Stuard at nickel back vs. Rice. Stuard totaled a career-high four tackles including his first career tackle for loss.
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 turned to new leadership 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.
« The Houston native made his first career interception vs. Rice.
« With three pass breakups, Egbule leads all linebackers in The American and is seventh nationally.
« 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 and finished 2017 with 33 tackles and four TFLs.
« He added his second and third career double-digit tackle game with 10 both vs. Arizona and at Texas Tech.
« Senior Roman Brown, who had four career tackles entering 2018, promptly totaled 11 tackles in the season-opening win over Rice and added eight more vs. Arizona.
« Houston's two inside linebackers, Brown and Robinson lead UH and rank third and fourth, respectively, in The American in total tackles. Brown has 31 while Robinson has 29.
« The two each had their second double-digit tackle games of the season at Texas Tech as Brown led the way with 12 stops while Robinson had 10 stops.
« Robinson leads The American and ranks 10th nationally with 19 solo tackles.
« Junior linebacker Leroy Godfrey looks 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.
« Darrion Owens joined the group after three seasons at Miami where the grad transfer saw action in 39 games but is out for 2-6 weeks after suffering a leg injury vs. Rice.
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 two-of-three punts at Rice inside the Owls' 20-yard line, forcing three fair catches on the day.
« 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.
SPOONMAN
« Sophomore Dalton Witherspoon took over the starting kicking role vs. Arizona and responded with a 35-yard field goal and connecting on all six extra point attempts.
« After seven extra points at Texas Tech, Witherspoon ranks fourth among kickers in The American with 20 total points.
« Witherspoon is back on the field after setting single-season records for longest field goal (58), most field goals in a season (17) and most points by a kicker (92) at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in 2016.
« Senior Caden Novikoff walked on to the Houston program in the 2017 fall training camp and finished 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.
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 carried over into fall camp after a number of players saw reps during spring practice. Marquez Stevenson and Jeremy Singleton now own the starting duties with Stevenson returning two kicks for 54 yards this season.
« No player on the 2018 Houston roster had a punt return in 2017, however, redshirt-freshman Bryson Smith took over duties vs. Rice and has two returns for one yard this season.
