Spring Practice, Game Announced

2/28/2024 5:45:00 PM | Football

Houston to open spring practice Tuesday, host Spring Game on Saturday, April 13

HOUSTON – University of Houston Football hits the field for the first time under first-year Head Coach Willie Fritz when the Cougars open spring practice on Tuesday morning.

The Cougars will practice 15 times over 34 days with one week off for the University's spring break (March 11-16). The squad wraps the schedule by holding the Houston Football Spring Game in front of fans at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 13.

Due to ongoing Football Operations Center (FOC) construction inside and surrounding TDECU Stadium, the game will be held at the Carl Lewis International Complex – home of Houston Soccer and Track and Field. Admission is free. Additional parking and gate entrance information will be available as the event draws closer. The game will also be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

Houston's spring slate will be intertwined with strength & conditioning sessions as well as team and positional meetings. Per NCAA rules, no more than 12 of 15 practices may involve contact and eight of the 12 contact practices can involve tackling.

COUGAR DEBUTS
Twenty-four mid-year enrollees will take the field for the first time in Scarlet & White this spring. The unit – consisting of 14 defensive players, nine on offense and one specialist – breaks down into six defensive backs, five defensive linemen, four offensive linemen, three tight ends, three linebackers, one quarterback, one wide receiver and one long snapper.

Among the newcomers, 19 possess prior Division I experience including linebacker Michael Batton (ULM), tight end Maliq Carr (Michigan State/Purdue), quarterback Zeon Chriss (Louisiana), defensive lineman Keith Cooper (Tulane), defensive back Kriston Davis (Southern), linebacker Kendre Gant (Louisiana), defensive lineman Quindario Lee (Central Michigan), defensive back Hershey McLaurin (West Virginia), offensive lineman Cedric Melton (Ole Miss), wide receiver Mekhi Mews (Georgia), long snapper Pierson Parent (Tulane), linebacker Corey Platt Jr. (Tulane), defensive lineman Everitt Rogers (Tulsa), defensive back Kentrell Webb (Tulane), offensive lineman Dakota White (Louisiana Tech), offensive lineman Jake Wiley (UCLA), defensive back Teagan Wilk (East Carolina), defensive back Jeremiah Wilson (Syracuse) and tight end Jayden York (Texas Tech).

Two others come to Houston following successful junior college starts in offensive lineman Larry Crawford (Georgia Military College) and defensive lineman Xavier Stillman (Hutchinson CC). Three student-athletes enrolled early out of high school including defensive lineman Zion Taylor (Missouri City; Shadow Creek HS), tight end Kaleb Thomas (Houston; North Shore HS) and Maurice Williams II (Alief, Texas; Shadow Creek HS).

WHAT'S BACK IN '24
The Cougars return 27 letterwinners including 14 on offense, 11 on defense and two on special teams. The group includes five defensive linemen who will be tutored under decorated Defensive Line Coach Oscar Giles who is in his third tour of duty with the Cougars. Up front, Hakeem Ajijolaiya and Anthony Holmes Jr. each notched 21 stops a season ago with Holmes Jr. leading all Big 12 freshmen interior defenders in defensive grade (68.9) and pass rush grade (67.8) by PFF.

Four letterwinners return on the offensive line with a combined 1,079 snaps played a season ago between senior Tank Jenkins (743), junior Peyton Dunn (164), senior Shamar Hobdy-Lee (118 snaps) and junior Tevin Shaw (54). The quartet appeared in a combined 40 games led by Jenkins who made 12 starts at right guard and permitted just three sacks in 421 opportunities.

Senior quarterback Donovan Smith, who ranked third in the Big 12 in completion percentage (64.5%) and fourth in completions per game (21.33) and passing touchdowns (22), returns for his second season with the program. Smith, who was also dangerous in the run game, is joined by three returning letterwinners at running back (sophomore Parker Jenkins, junior Stacy Sneed and senior Tony Mathis Jr.). The Cougars return 96.7% of rushing yards and 100% of rushing touchdowns.

Houston welcomes back three of its top four reception leaders including juniors Samuel Brown (62) and Joseph Manjack IV (46) who paced the team. Brown and Manjack IV are joined by returning letterwinners Stephon Johnson (277 yards; 3 TDs) and Joshua Cobbs (71 yards) at wide receiver and a pair of tight ends in junior Matt Byrnes (44 yards) and sophomore Bryan Henry (6 yards).

Three defensive backs and three linebackers who lettered in 2023 are back this spring including seniors Jamal Morris and Isaiah Hamilton who ranked third and fourth on the team, respectively, in tackles a season ago. Morris matched the team lead with five pass breakups and Hamilton ranked 19th nationally with four interceptions.

Senior kicker Jack Martin, who handled kickoff (61.7 average), field goal (8 of 14) and extra point (34 of 34) duties returns as does junior long snapper Jacob Garza who served as the team's primary punt snapper (48 snaps) and field goal snapper down the stretch (13 snaps – all in final four games).

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Football by purchasing season tickets, supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective – and by joining 46ers and The Huddle which provides financial support directly to Houston Football for needs beyond its operating budget.

STAY CONNECTED 
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarFB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Cougar Football. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarfb.

–– UHCougars.com ––