Cougars Add Three Signees, Announce New Roster Additions

HOUSTON – The Houston Football program welcomed three signees and five new roster additions to its 2021 signing class, head coach Dana Holgorsen announced Wednesday.

The Cougars added three signees on Wednesday as offensive lineman Joshua Atkins, linebacker Jalen Garner and defensive lineman Garfield Lawrence will join the program for the upcoming 2021 season

UH also welcomed five newcomers to its roster with the additions of defensive lineman Latrell Blankston, wide receiver KeSean Carter, defensive back Alex Hogan, offensive lineman Kody Russey and defensive lineman Tre Williams.

The group joins the Cougars' 10-member signing class from December and is comprised of 18 total signees -- three junior college transfers, five FBS transfers and 10 high school seniors.

Members of Houston's class hail from four states and alongside one international signee. The state of Texas is represented by 12 signees.

Bios of the three February signees of the 2021 class are below:

Garfield Lawrence - DL
Tyler Legacy HS (Tyler, Texas)
6-4 / 240

High School: Three-star prospects by 247Sports … rated as the nation's No. 42 strong-side defensive end and No. 106 overall player in Texas by 247Sports … First-Team All-District 10-6A honoree as a senior … recorded 71 tackles, eight sacks, 10 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 23 quarterback pressures and five pass breakups as a senior while helping Tyler Legacy to the second round of the playoffs … Second-Team All-District 11-6A honoree as a junior … notched 33 tackles including five tackles for loss, four sacks, a blocked punt and a fumble return for a touchdown as a junior … was a Texas Class 6A regional qualifier in the shot put and discus in 2019 … chose Houston over Arkansas, Boston College, Colorado, Kansas, Kansas State, Syracuse, Tennessee and Texas among others.

Jalen Garner - LB
Norcross HS (Norcross, Ga.)
6-0 / 200

High School: Three-star prospect by 247Sports … rated as the nation's No. 81 outside linebacker and the state of Georgia's No. 107 overall player by 247Sports … named the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Class 7A Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … Georgia MaxPreps all-state second-team honoree as a senior … finished his senior year with 142 tackles, 28 tackles-for-loss, six sacks and forced five fumbles … added 200 tackles including 148 solo stops while averaging 16.7 tackles per game as a junior …combined to force eight fumbles, recovered four fumbles and block one field goal in his final two seasons … chose Houston over Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, FAU, Iowa State, Kansas State, Liberty and Temple among others.

Joshua Atkins - OL
Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, Texas)
6-4 290

High School: Three-star prospect by 247Sports … rated as the nation's No. 135 offensive tackle and No. 246 overall player in Texas by 247Sports … two-sport athlete in football and track and field (shot put) … played on both sides of the ball as a senior … helped team to 10-2 record and state semifinals appearance as a senior … first-team all-district selection as a junior … chose Houston over Liberty, Missouri State, New Mexico, North Texas and San Diego State among others.

Bios for the five newcomers are below:

KeSean Carter
The Woodlands, Texas (The Woodlands HS/Texas Tech)
5-11 / 190

Prior to Houston: In three seasons at Texas Tech, caught 83 passes for 831 yards and seven touchdowns … averaged 10.0 yards per catch in 30 games for the Red Raiders … caught 30 passes for 290 yards and four touchdowns in 2020 before his season was cut short due to a shoulder injury … finished tied for eighth in the Big 12 in receiving touchdowns in 2020 and was named All-Big 12 honorable mention … appeared in all 12 games as a sophomore while making one start … hauled in 27 receptions for 303 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 11 kickoff returns to the tune of 21.9 yards a return in 2019 … in 2018, appeared in all 12 games as a true freshman with one start, which came against Kansas … finished fifth on the team in both receptions (26) and receiving yards (238).

Alex Hogan
Houston, Texas (Lamar HS/Texas Tech)
5-11 / 190

Prior to Houston: Spent two seasons at Texas Tech, appearing in 18 games … appeared in all 10 games with three starts at cornerback in 2020 … recorded eight tackles on the year to go along with an interception and four pass breakups … one of two Red Raiders with an interception in 2020 … chipped in on special teams as one of Texas Tech's kick returners, averaging 16.0 yards over his seven attempts … appeared in eight games overall - all in Big 12 play - either on special teams or in the secondary … in 2019, was one of four true freshmen on the defensive side of the ball to appear in five or more games … totaled eight tackles on the season (seven solo) with two pass breakups.

Kody Russey
Burleson, Texas (Burleson HS/Louisiana Tech)
6-1 / 290

Prior to Houston: Spent five seasons at Louisiana Tech, appearing in 49 games and making 46 starts over his final four seasons … named to the 2020 C-USA all-conference first team … also a three-time All-Conference USA Honorable Mention … helped Louisiana Tech finish first in C-USA and second nationally in fourth down conversion percentage (0.889) as well as fourth in the conference in both red zone offense (0.846) and passing offense (216.6) … made 13 starts at center in 2019, leading an offensive front that produced a 1,000-yard rusher and C-USA Player of the Year … among conference schools, Louisiana Tech ranked second in scoring offense (32.5 PPG), fourth in rushing (168.4 YPG) and second in total offense (436.8 YPG) … in 2018, started all 13 games for the Bulldogs on the offensive line, while serving as LA Tech's starting center … in 2017, saw action in all 13 games for the Bulldogs on the offensive line, including making 10 starts.

Latrell Blankston
Woodstock, Ga. (Woodstock HS/Iowa State)
6-0 / 300

Prior to Houston: Spent the 2020 season at Iowa State, playing in every regular-season game, notching 16 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks while earning Honorable Mention Big 12 Newcomer of the Year recognition … named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Texas, which included two timely sacks … spent 2018-19 seasons at Hutchinson CC … First-Team NJCAA All-American … the 2019 Jayhawk Conference Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-league choice … team went 10-2 and won the Salt City Bowl … had a monster sophomore campaign, tallying 63 tackles, 22.0 TFL and 11.5 sacks … also had a forced fumble, fumble recovery and eight QB hurries … led the conference and ranked third in NJCAA in TFL and was eighth in the NJCAA in sacks … responsible for 95 yards of opponent loss yardage … posted 16 tackles, 5.5 TFL and three sacks as a freshman.

Tre Williams
Columbia, Mo. (Rock Ridge HS/Missouri)
6-5 / 260

Prior to Houston: Spent five seasons at Missouri, appearing in 42 games … made a combined 85 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks while forcing two fumbles in four-year playing career … totaled 21 tackles, three tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in 2020 … tallied 24 tackles with 3.0 tackles for loss and a one sack along with five QB hurries, the second-most on the team in 2019 … played in 11 games with eight starts in 2019 … made six starts and 12 appearances overall as a sophomore, racking up 20 tackles on the 2018 season ... notched five tackles for loss, including 2.5 quarterback sacks, and added three quarterback pressures … saw the field extensively in his redshirt freshman season, playing in 11 games total, and he ranked 16th on the team with 20 total tackles in 2017 while being named to the SEC All-Freshman team … redshirted in 2016.

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