Monday night was a ‘scrimmage’ once again, this time with more scrimmage-like periods. Austin Carlisle hit a few nice throws, and every time a quarterback completed a long one, it seemed like running back Stacy Sneed was the guy on the receiving end—something to watch.
Linebacker Corey Platt continues to do some work one-on-one with DC Austin Armstrong while most of the team focuses on special teams. Platt tore his left Achilles in Tulane’s opener in 2023 and, after transferring to UH and sitting out spring practice, tore his right Achilles in a non-contact workout in June of 2024.
In a stacked tight end room, Wyatt Herbal is the fastest of the bunch. I’m curious to see how OC Slade Nagle uses him this year.
One of my favorite parts of practice is when the team does PBR (punt block/return). WR coach Derrick Sherman works with the returners, and he’s constantly drilling them on the intricacies of returning punts. Sherman has been working hard with Carlisle, who had never returned a punt until two weeks ago. Sherman wants him to keep his feet active and work on crouching less as the ball comes to him. Both will aid him in popping explosive returns.
I expect the Cougars to be more aggressive this season in punt return. Houston has returned only about one-third of punted balls the last two years, and has ranked 91st (2023, Dana’s final year) and 79th (2024) in return yard average. To compare, Baylor averaged nearly 8 yards more per return.
Last Thursday, I told you the OL looked set – it seemed the same five were getting the first team reps. At every practice since then, the staff has platooned at three positions. It appears RT Dalton Merryman (#75) and LG Jason Brooks (#73) are set. But there’s been some movement at the other three spots.
In the iteration I wrote about, the three other spots were:
LT – David Ndukwe (#77)
C – Demetrius Hunter (#59)
RG – Matthew Wykoff (#74)
Ndukwe had seemed a lock at LT since the spring, but Baylor transfer Alvin Ebosele (#79) has been getting some first-team reps since Friday. In most 11-on-11 work since then, OL coach Eman Naghavi has slid Wykoff to center and put McKenzie Agnello (#66) at right guard. At this point, I expect Hunter to start at center in the opener, but I’m not sure how long he’ll stay there. Agnello, the New Mexico transfer, started Fall Camp as the backup at center, but has had almost all of his work since then at RG.
Agnello appreciates how much more focused UH is on training offensive linemen both on and off the field:
Last night’s scrimmage saw some communication issues at the skill positions – between players and between the coaching staff and players. Conner Weigman had his worst practice throwing the ball – seemed behind most guys all night – but that happens to every QB at about this point of Fall Camp. Today’s day off (and it’s a total day off – no meetings or anything for players) came at a great time. Everyone can reset and approach the last four days of camp refreshed.
