Tag: houston cougars football

Former Texas A&M offensive lineman Matthew Wykoff reunites with Conner Weigman at Houston

Prior to becoming a Bear, Wykoff spent the first two years of his career at Texas A&M. He was selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2022.

Two former Texas A&M football players are reuniting at the University of Houston through the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman officially departed from the Aggies on Wednesday when he chose the Cougars. The next day, California senior offensive lineman Matthew Wykoff chose to join Weigman in Houston.

“Dear Cal Family, I have thoroughly enjoyed the last two years being a part of this team and community,” Wykoff stated via X on Dec. 1. “I am blessed to be graduating this semester, but after lots of deliberation and prayer, I have decided to enter into the transfer portal as a grad transfer with one year of eligibility remaining.

“It has been a honor and Berkeley will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Prior to becoming a Bear, Wykoff spent the first two years of his collegiate career in Aggieland. Wykoff played in 16 games over two seasons at Texas A&M. He was selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2022.

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New predicted landing spot for Texas A&M QB Conner Weigman has emerged

Could Conner Weigman stay close to home in 2025?

On Monday, it was reported that Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman will enter his name into the transfer portal after three years with the program. His injury-riddled career in College Station has sadly come to an end.

While it didn’t work out during his first season under coach Mike Elko and first-year offensive coordinator Collin Klein, Elko appreciated the redshirt sophomore, who battled his way back from a shoulder injury before being permanently replaced by freshman QB Marcel Reed.

“So much respect for Conner (Weigman) and the way he handled a tremendously challenging situation for him.”

“To lose the job and stay a consummate teammate, a great Aggie, a great teammate. … I had an idea that was coming. I think it’s the right thing for him, his future and his career. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him.”

Elko is right on the money by noting Weigman’s dedication to the program no matter his starter status, as any QB-needy program would be lucky to land the former five-star prospect.

That list is becoming much clearer. On3’s Pete Nakos (subscription required) noted that Syracuse, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri and Louisville are the current leaders. However, the list has been reduced to three teams, led by Syracuse, Missouri, and a new addition, Houston.

A native of Cypress, Texas, Weigman grew up 30 miles from the Houston campus. First-year coach Willie Fritz is in dire need of a competent signal caller after quarterbacks Donovan Smith and Zeon Chriss combined for eight touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

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Georgia Bulldogs transfer WR scores punt return TD

Houston Cougars wide receiver, former Georgia football transfer evaded several defenders on a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown

Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver and punt returner Mekhi Mews is off to a strong start with the Houston Cougars. Mews, who played at Georgia from 2021-2023, has 11 catches for 102 yards in three games with Houston.

The 5-foot-8, 185-pound wide receiver has the most receptions on the Cougars and the second-most receiving yardage. The former Georgia walk-on recorded an explosive 75-yard punt return for a touchdown in Houston’s 33-7 win over Rice.

Mews’ punt return touchdown is the second of his career. The junior previously scored a 67-yard punt return touchdown against Ball State in 2023 with Georgia.

The UGA transfer used his elite quickness to evade several Rice special teams players on his punt return touchdown.

https://twitter.com/UHCougarFB/status/1835116716507992241

Mews and Houston are 1-2 to start the season. The Central Gwinnett High School product is having a much larger role with Houston and should continue to see a lot of snaps for the Cougars as they begin Big 12 play.

Predictions for No. 13 Oklahoma Sooners vs. Houston Cougars

Sooners Wire staff predicts this week’s matchup between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Houston Cougars.

The No. 13 Oklahoma Sooners welcome the Houston Cougars (0-1) to Norman for a Saturday evening affair. The Sooners lead the all-time series, 3-1, with their most recent win coming in 2019 in Jalen Hurts’ debut.

Since that meeting, both teams have changed coaches and conferences. However, Saturday night will make for an intriguing nonconference affair inside Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

The Cougars are coming off a disappointing 20-point loss to UNLV, while the Sooners beat Temple by 48. Oklahoma’s offense ranks 23rd in points per game at the Football Bowl Subdivison level, and Houston is sitting at No. 124 after Week 1.

However, the Sooners are likely to see a better team this Saturday night than the one that lost in Week 1. How will the game turn out, our team here at Sooners Wire predicts Oklahoma vs. Houston.

Sooners Wire Staff Predictions

Week 2 has arrived in Norman, and after the Sooners dispatched the Temple Owls with little resistance, they turn the page and continue to gear up for their inaugural conference schedule in the SEC.

In front of them this week at Owen Field is the Houston Cougars. Houston lost key pieces this offseason with Patrick Paul heading to the NFL and Matthew Golden transferring to the Texas Longhorns. Houston also lost convincingly to UNLV, so morale was depleted to start the season. I expect a better effort from them this week, but it will not matter.

Here’s why.

This Oklahoma team is bigger, stronger, faster and better. Improved health should help the stability and overall production of the offensive live that struggled against Temple. Bounce-back performances from some depth receivers will help the Sooners look more explosive this week.

Jackson Arnold throws for another three touchdowns, Jovantae Barnes touches pay dirt for the first time this year, and I think the Sooners’ defense forces Cougars QB Donovan Smith into a couple of turnovers. The Sooners improve from their dreadful 1 of 12 performance on third down and get closer to 45%.

Oklahoma 49, Houston 17

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Up Next: More Sooners Wire Staff Predictions

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3 keys to an Oklahoma Sooners victory over the Houston Cougars

The Oklahoma Sooners have a underrated challenge coming to town and here are three keys for their matchup with the Houston Cougars.

Brent Venables and his team are putting the finishing touches on preparation for their second game of the 2024 season. After a 48-point win over Temple, OU readies to host the Big 12’s Houston Cougars.

The Cougars are the first Big 12 team Oklahoma will face since moving to the SEC. The two teams have played twice in the last decade, with each side picking up a win.

In Week 1, Oklahoma struggled on third down, going 1 of 12. The defense, however, suffocated the Owls. Offensive line play was a focus of much post-game angst, and rightfully so. The Sooners struggled to run the ball, and the depth at receiver was called into action. Most probably weren’t expected to contribute in 2024, but injuries have forced Emmett Jones’s hand.

Willie Fritz left Tulane to take the job at Houston, and his team will be ready to play after a disappointing performance against UNLV.

Oklahoma should win the game convincingly, but the Sooners can’t get caught napping or the action could get weird quickly.

Below, we compiled our three keys to a Sooners victory.

Establish the line of scrimmage

This is a direct message to Bill Bedenbaugh and his offensive line. The big boys up front have been in a battle all offseason to decide who would earn snaps. As the games go by, the Sooners need to put their five best out there so they can jell.

Projected starter at right tackle Jake Taylor looks ready to suit up. Though we haven’t yet seen what Taylor’s capable of as a starting offensive lineman at the collegiate level, with a four-star pedigree, there are high hopes for the 2022 signee.

The Sooners need to come out and let the Cougars know that whatever ideas and inspiration they might have gleaned from the film against Temple will not work. The running game should pop much more often than it did in the first half of their week one win.

Up Next: 2 More Keys to Victory

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Oklahoma Sooners announce game captains for week 2 vs. Houston Cougars

The Oklahoma Sooners revealed their week two game captains for their matchup with the Houston Cougars.

The Oklahoma Sooners (1-0) begin their week getting ready for the Houston Cougars (0-1) in Norman on Saturday night. The matchup is the second of four-straight home games for the Sooners to start the season, culminating in their week four matchup with the Tennessee Volunteers.

After their 51-3 win over the Temple Owls, the Sooners will to continue improving in all three phases as they inch closer to their SEC debut.

With week two underway, the Sooners have announced their game captains. Oklahoma will be led by defensive end [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag], running back [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag], tight end [autotag]Jake Roberts[/autotag], cheetah linebacker [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag], and kicker Zach Schmit.

https://twitter.com/OU_Football/status/1830987191092178989

Downs represents one of the longest-tenured Sooners on the roster and one of a handful of players still on the roster from the Lincoln Riley days. He’s been a steady force for the Sooners at defensive end as Oklahoma has turned over it’s unit up front under Brent Venables.

Barnes looked really good against Temple. He was fast, explosive, showed the ability to break tackles and nearly broke a long run for a touchdown. After a 2023 season that was limited due to injuries, Barnes looks ready to improve upon his breakout freshman campaign back in 2022.

Roberts is another veteran on the roster, in his fifth season of college football. Combined with [autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag], the Sooners have a really good duo at tight end. When Oklahoma utilized two-tight end formations, Roberts was out there to aid the offense. His experience and leadership is key for a team relying on a lot of youth across the depth chart.

Dolby has been a revelation since coming up from the JUCO ranks. Initially a backup last season, he emerged to take over the starting cheetah role and hasn’t relinquished it. He’s displayed his playmaking ability both in coverage and as a blitzer. Against Temple, he had a sack and forced a pass deflection that led to an interception.

Schmit may not have won the place-kicking duties, but his work as the kickoff man is crucial to Oklahoma’s special teams. His ability to kick it out of the back of the end zone prevents teams from mounting a return.

Though the Houston Cougars were beaten by UNLV in week one, this is a well-coached team led by Willie Fritz. Fritz had his Tulane Green Wave team pushing the Sooners back at the beginning of the 2021 season. Oklahoma’s game captains will have to keep the Sooners focused on themselves this week and not looking past Houston to stave off a threat from the Cougars.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

Houston WR Sam Brown has announced his transfer destination

Texas A&M loses out on another wide receiver transfer with former Houston WR choosing Miami over A&M

It’s been no secret that Texas A&M has been trying to add a wide receiver or two during the spring transfer window. Yes, A&M does have a talented receiver room, but when you look deeper there is no true number one or proven depth at the position. With that knowledge, head Mike Elko and OC Collin Klein went to the portal to try to bolster the receiver room.

Two WRs the Aggies had their eye on were former Penn State receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith and former Houston receiver Sam Brown. After making the final two for Lambert-Smith he ultimately chose Auburn over A&M. That left the highly productive Houston product in play. Unfortunately for the Aggies, Brown also chose to head to Miami instead of College Station.

Brown closed out his Houston career with 1,200+ yards and 7 touchdowns in his last two years with the Cougars. However, A&M has not given up yet and will host former Auburn receiver Ja’Varrius Johnson on May 3. Maybe the third time will be the charm.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

Texas DT target Ja’Maree Caldwell chooses Oregon

Texas suffered a tough loss on the recruiting trail in the transfer portal.

Texas will not be bringing in the impact tackle it hoped for through the transfer portal. Houston defensive tackle transfer Ja’Maree Caldwell is headed to Oregon.

The Texas defensive tackle room has been a major topic of discussion since the Longhorns’ season ended on Jan. 1. The team lost two elite tackles in T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy both of which could see their name called early in the NFL draft. Replacing them is easier said than done.

The team is set to return the highest graded returning defensive tackle among SEC players in Alfred Collins. He put up an impressive 80.6 grade according to Pro Football Focus. Who will play alongside Collins is up for question after the presumed first option is headed to Oregon.

It’s hard to fault Caldwell for choosing the Ducks. Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi has a background in defensive line coaching at the NFL level. Texas doesn’t yet have a defensive line coach of its own following the departure of Bo Davis to LSU. The Tigers’ poaching of the Longhorns’ top defensive position coach came at just the right time to send Caldwell to Oregon.

Coaching changes make the portal difficult to navigate. It could be the reason Caldwell won’t be a Longhorn. Even so, another coaching change could help Texas address a different need in the portal with an impact player. The team will look to inch closer to a more complete squad than it is presently before the 2024 season.

Oklahoma Sooners 2024 football schedule

A look at the Oklahoma Sooners full schedule for 2024, their first in the SEC.

The SEC unveiled its schedule for the 2024 season, so now we know when the Sooners will play their new conference foes next season.

The schedule was always going to be daunting. You don’t move to the SEC without an understanding that you’re playing the best of the best nearly every week. But there are some positives in the Sooners’ schedule, such as the bye week before the Red River Showdown and another before the closing two-game stretch against Alabama and LSU.

The Sooners start with four consecutive games at home before going on the road to Auburn, Alabama, for their first SEC road game in their new conference.

Here’s a look at the Oklahoma Sooners’ full 2024 football schedule.

Houston WR Matthew Golden worth watching for Texas in transfer portal

Golden adds another potential transfer receiver option for Texas after entering the portal.

Houston Cougars wide receiver Matthew Golden plans to enter the transfer portal. He should have plenty of suitors.

Golden had a massive season for the Cougars in 2023. The once highly rated recruit caught 76 passes for 988 yards and 13 touchdowns in two seasons at Houston. He adds another dimension in the return game as well.

It’s well documented that the Longhorns are in on elite receiver help in the transfer portal. The team is already in the running for Purdue speedster Deion Burks and South Carolina receiver Juice Wells. Yet given the impact that a likely departing receiver Xavier Worthy has made in the return game, Golden could be worth consideration for the team.

Texas will likely find a top receiver in the portal for 2024 regardless of which players it is. In 2021, Xavier Worthy transferred from Michigan after signing with Michigan in December of 2020. The following offseason, the Longhorns brought over Wyoming receiver Isaiah Neyor. Then they secured a commitment from Georgia transfer Adonai Mitchell for 2023.

The portal has treated Texas well at the receiver position. The next few months will reveal if Golden or another receiver become the next elite portal wideout to join the team.