2026 Houston Cougars

[Freethinker]

From 2005-2012 Houston started 9, 9, 9, 8, 6, 4, 5 and 4 White athletes. No 2013 write-up. From 2014-2025 Houston started 3, 4, 2, 2, 1, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2 and 7 White athletes. For this "modern era" after 2013 they average a paltry 3 White starters a season. Looks like they stay above the bar with 6 White starters (not including the specialists) this year.

QB - Conner Weigman (Sr)
WR-Z - Trent Walker (Sr)
TE - Patrick Overmyer (Jr)
RG - McKenzie Agnello (Sr)* could be part mestizo or just a dark Italian (Sicily)
RT - Drew Terrill (Sr)

SLB - Chance Bryant (So)

2-deep:
TE - Luke McGary (Jr)
RT - Hayden Wright (So)
SLB - Miller Malone (Fr)

Conner Weigman is the 5th year star QB, who escaped Texas A&M and had a great first year with Houston in 2025:

• One of four FBS QBs with a 25+10 passing and rushing TD season (25 passing, 11 rushing)
• 36 touchdowns tied for 7th nationally and ninth in program history
• 36 total touchdowns tied for the Big 12 Conference lead

This year he's on plenty of preseason award watch lists. Projected as a 3rd day draft pick, I'm hoping a huge final season can push him up draft boards.

The other star is Oregon State transfer Trent Walker. The 6'-2" receiver brings a great resume and hopes to have a huge final season. Ironically, Houston opens the year against his former Beavers.

• Biletnikoff Award Watch List
• Spent five seasons at Oregon State, playing in three
• 1,790 receiving yards on 154 catches and four touchdowns
• Caught 68 passes for 823 yards and two touchdowns in 2025

They also have 4-star freshman RB John Hebert. The hometown four-star recruit from Houston Strake Jesuit joined the program after racking up a massive 8,079 rushing yards and 89 touchdowns during his varsity career. While Makhi Hughes and Re'Shaun Sanford II hold the top two spots on the depth chart, analysts expect Hebert to see the field early in specific packages and potentially earn role expansion as the season progresses. HC has said he's "very, very impressive". There are a number of freshman at taboo positions (WR, DBs) but it remains to be seen if they are merely there as practice bodies....

 

[Leonardfan]

Walker should see a career season considering the qbs he had him throwing the ball at Oregon St.

QB Luke Carney transferred over the Syracuse as well. Hopefully he is the starter in waiting.

 

[Freethinker]

Walker should see a career season considering the qbs he had him throwing the ball at Oregon St.

QB Luke Carney transferred over the Syracuse as well. Hopefully he is the starter in waiting.

Good to hear. I know they have the suppa duppa top freshman recruit black QB waiting in the wings. So Houston will be no country for White quarterbacks for a few years.

 

[SneakyQuick]

If someone named John Hebert beats out someone named Re’Shaun for a running back slot that would be huge cause for celebration.


Nice write up!