Tag: houston cougars football

Houston Cougars: CFN College Football Preview 2021

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Houston season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Houston season with what you need to know.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Houston Cougars Schedule Analysis
– Houston Cougars Previews
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

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2020 Record: 3-5 overall, 3-3 in AAC
Head Coach: Dana Holgorsen, 3rd year, 7-13 (68-54 overall)
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 69
2020 CFN Preview Ranking: 101
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 56

Houston Cougars College Football Preview 2021: Offense

– The offense worked, but it was brutally inconsistent and had a wee bit of a problem scoring. The line wasn’t bad, the team controlled the clock, and the passing game was solid, but the 30-point-per-game average is misleading. The scoring production wasn’t enough throughout the year.

Houston was 3-0 when scored 37 points or more, and 0-5 when it didn’t.

With around eight starters returning from the New Mexico Bowl loss to Hawaii, and with a slew of dangerous parts coming in through the transfer portal, this should finally be the year when head coach Dana Holgorsen’s attack works.

– The Cougars have their quarterback in Clayton Tune. He finally worked his way into the job after D’Eriq King left early in 2019, and now he should know what he’s doing. He can run, and he’s got the skills to make the O go, but he needs to cut down on his picks and be more accurate. Now he has a full offseason to get ready, and he has a loaded receiving corps to throw to.

Marquez Stevenson might be gone, and good targets Keith Corbin (Jackson State) and Tre’Von Bradley (UTSA) might have moved on, but leading receiver Nathanial Dell is back after catching just 29 passes for 428 yards and three picks, there are plenty of other options, and there might be an overall upgrade to the corps. KeSean Carter is coming in from Texas Tech, Seth Green arrives from Minnesota, and Jaylen Erwin left UCLA for the Cougars.

– All the offensive line has to do is be okay. The passing game will do the rest and the backs are in place to do far more with the ground attack – more on that later. Four of the five starters are expected back up front, but the best of the bunch – OT Braylon Jones – is done.

Leading rusher Kyle Porter is gone, but the backfield might be better. Mulbah Car can handle the work and Chandler Smith is a speedy veteran returning for his super-senior year.

Texas Tech transfer Ta’Zawn Henry is finally ready after having to sit out last season, and coming in from the recruiting class is Alton McCaskell, a dynamite home run hitter with 6-1, 200-pound size, track star speed, and No. 1 back upside right out of the gate.

– What You Need To Know: Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Houston Cougars Schedule Analysis

NEXT: Houston Cougars College Football Preview 2021: Defense

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

Houston Football Schedule 2021, Analysis

Houston Cougars 2021 football schedule, analysis, and what American Athletic Conference teams they miss.

Houston Cougars 2021 football schedule, analysis, and what American Athletic Conference teams they miss.

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Houston Football Schedule 2021

– 2021 AAC Football Schedule

Sept. 4 Texas Tech (in NRG Stadium, Houston)

Sept. 11 at Rice

Sept. 18 Grambling State

Sept. 25 Navy

Oct. 1 at Tulsa

Oct. 7 at Tulane

Oct. 16 OPEN DATE

Oct. 23 East Carolina

Oct. 30 SMU

Nov. 6 at USF

Nov. 13 at Temple

Nov. 19 Memphis

Nov. 27 at UConn

Houston Cougars Football Schedule Analysis: COMING

American Athletic Conference Teams Missed: Cincinnati, UCF

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Report: Alabama is targeting Jay Valai as cornerbacks coach

Jay Valai could be off to his fourth job in the past month. According to AL.com, Alabama is expected to hire Valai to be their CB coach.

Since the moment Jay Valai was not retained by Steve Sarkisian, the former Texas cornerbacks coach has been on the move. First, he was hired by the University of Houston for the same position. Only 12 days later, it was reported that he would be accepting a coaching role with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Now, Valai could be off to his fourth different job within the past month.

According to Matt Zenitz of AL.com, Alabama is targeting and expected to hire Valai to be their cornerbacks coach. He will be replacing Karl Scott, who recently accepted the defensive backs position with the Minnesota Vikings.

Getting back in the college ranks will help Valai do what he is best at — recruiting. During his time in Austin, the cornerbacks coach was credited with landing five prospects, including J.D. Coffey, Ishmael Ibraheem (both 2021 class), and Jaylon Guilbeau (2022 class).

If Valai does accept the position in Tuscaloosa, it will be another coaching switch between the two programs this offseason. When Sarkisian was hired, A.J. Milwee, Jeff Banks, and Kyle Flood came to Texas from Alabama.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

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Why Josh Jones should replace Marcus Gilbert as the Cardinals’ starting RT

The perfect player to not only win the starting job but help the Cardinals’ offense flourish is Houston native Josh Jones.

With the Arizona Cardinals RT Marcus Gilbert opting out of the 2020 season, that means his position is anyone’s to take for the upcoming year. The perfect player to not only win the starting job but help the Cardinals offense flourish is Houston native Josh Jones, whom the Cardinals drafted in the third round this year. 

For the past few years, the Senior Bowl has been a game where draft prospects like Josh Jones have made a name for themselves and soared up the draft boards. Going up against the most elite talent in the country, Jones had coaches and scouts on the edge of their seats and his draft stock skyrocketed. Several analysts had him as a first-round talent after his Senior Bowl performance. The Cardinals were very fortunate to get Josh Jones in the third round, as many experts did not think he would fall past the first two. He may have been the most underrated offensive tackle in this draft. 

Jones plays with a lot of hustle and competitive toughness. He seeds in pass protection. The Cardinals’ offensive line showed quite a bit of improvement in their pass protection. With the addition of Josh Jones, the 6-foot-5 and 319-pound force, the Cardinals will have a big bolster in their pass protection for Kyler Murray, especially with a new weapon in DeAndre Hopkins. In his final year at Houston, Josh Jones allowed just one sack in the 13 games he started at left tackle, giving him a jaw-dropping 93.4 pass protection grade, according to PFF. Jones’ athleticism is extremely impressive for how big he is, and with his traits, he could potentially have a very high ceiling. 

Jones needs a bit of grooming in the run game, as there are times where he blocks too high and lets his technique get in the way of him. However, with his size and athleticism, he should have no problem developing that trait. There are times where he will start too high and will lose leverage at finishing. However, Jones has had sparks in his run blocking where he does a nice job getting low and finishing. If he can develop his bull rush, Jones will be a force to be reckoned with on the Cardinals’ offensive line. 

Without Marcus Gilbert for the 2020 season, that gives Josh Jones the perfect opportunity to win the starting job and solidify himself as their franchise tackle for years to come. 

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

Latest show:

Previous shows:

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and

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College Football News Preview 2020: Houston Cougars

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Houston Cougars season with what you need to know. – Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak – What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense – Top Players | Key …

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Houston Cougars season with what you need to know.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Houston Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

2019 Record: 4-8 overall, 2-6 in American Athletic
Head Coach: Dana Holgorsen, 2nd year, 4-8
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 77
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 101
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 55

NOTE: Obviously, no one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.

5. College Football News Preview 2020: Houston Cougars Offense 3 Things To Know

– That wasn’t how it was supposed to work. The Houston offense was expected to explode with head coach Dana Holgorsen coming in to coach up dynamic quarterback D’Eriq King and an O that put up 571 points in 2018 and … nope.

The offense never clicked, the offensive line allowed too many sacks, and King – now a Miami Hurricane – sat out the season after four games. On the plus side, last year turned into one big scrimmage to get everyone ready for the season.

Call it a tank, call it prep work, call it being self-aware of what success really is for a college football program of Houston’s caliber. Thanks to that, there’s a whole lot of experience returning.

CFN in 60 Video: Houston Cougars Preview
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– King is gone, but Clayton Tune was able to get in seven games of work and threw for 1,533 yards and 11 scores with nine picks. He’s not King when it comes to dynamic big plays, but he’s a 6-3, 215-pound passer who can move a little bit. For the moment, he’s it – sophomore Logan Holgorsen is the main backup – but with a transfer at some point expected to be added to the mix.

Tune is okay, and his receiving corps is great. Senior Marquez Stevenson and the top four targets from last year are back. They didn’t get enough work in overall, and they were far less productive than the 2018 corps, but there’s a whole lot of flash, size, and speed to rotate in.

– The offensive line loses OT Josh Jones at left tackle, but the rest of the front five is back. There’s terrific depth, but not a whole lot of bulk. Overall, this group has to be far, far better in pass protection – a huge injury issue across the board had a whole lot to do with that – but it’s going to be solid for what should be a good ground attack.

The top two running backs are great, but the developed depth is lacking. Leading rusher Kyle Porter – a former Texas transfer – is back after a 616-yard season, and 215-pound Mulbah Car returns after running for 375 yards and three scores as he spread out his four games to preserve another season.

NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Houston Cougars Defense 3 Things To Know

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

Houston QB D’Eriq King enters the transfer portal

Houston Cougars quarterback D’Eriq King is entering the NCAA’s transfer portal.

Houston Cougars quarterback D’Eriq King is entering the NCAA’s transfer portal. King announced his decision during the National Championship Game:

Based on the timing, King may have interest and would be a good fit at LSU. The Georgia Bulldogs would have considered targeting him, but instead Jamie Newman, the former Wake Forest QB, is transferring to UGA.

The Cougars controversially asked players to redshirt this season after the team got off to a slow start. Now, they’re paying the price for this tactic.

King will draw interest from every elite program looking for their next quarterback. The Oregon Ducks, Oklahoma Sooners, and LSU Tigers are all looking for a potential new quarterback. Where will King land next? His decision will shape the 2020 college football season. He may be the next transfer quarterback to compete for the Heisman Trophy.

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