Some thoughts heading into game week, which starts Saturday for the Cougars. The team will have Friday off before diving into SFA.
Houston went through 20 Fall Camp practices – a series of four-straight practices followed by an off day and repeating the cycle four more times. In the third practice of each sequence, the team practiced indoors, followed by a practice #4 at TDECU. On Thursday, in the 19th practice, Conner Weigman threw one of the highest, most perfectly-placed balls to the left corner that I’ve ever seen. He’s had an excellent camp.
Shameless plug: Conner joins us Sunday at 8 p.m. for Talkin’ Bout Them Cougars. We’ll announce another player for the show soon, and we’ll also use the show to introduce our new CATS co-host for the football season.
When the depth chart comes out Monday, Baylor transfer Alvin Ebosele will be the starter at left tackle. For the most part, he’s run with the first team in the second half of Fall Camp. Jason Brooks will be next to him at LG, Pancake Hunter at center, Matthew Wykoff at RG, and Dalton Merryman at RT.
Corey Platt will likely play in the opener and will be brought along. He has not played football in almost two years, so the staff wants to protect him. It will be cool to see him get into the SFA game.
Tanner Koziol laid out for a diving (flying?) catch last Thursday. I expect him to lead the team in receptions. Wyatt Herbal has impressed the offensive staff in camp and is the fastest guy in the room. He was the 79th-ranked TE in his class, but by 2026, he will be a significant part of the offense. Jacory Thurman has dazzled at times, last week catching a thirty-yard pass over the middle. Kaleb Thomas has delivered several pancake blocks.
Between Re’Shaun Sanford, Dean Connors, and Stacy Sneed, the Cougar running backs are going to catch a lot of balls.
The last few days of camp, much like last year, Willie focused on special teams. It appears Mekhi Mews will return punts and will be back on kickoffs with Dean Connors on the other side. Zac Yoakum will handle kickoffs, and I think Ethan Sanchez will kick for points.
OC Slade Nagle will be in the press box calling plays – he’ll be the only one of the 10 position coaches in the booth. Others expected to be in the box include assistants Robert Beacham, Brian Bell, and Dre Fusilier for the offense and Will Weaver from the defense.
Devan Williams has impressed me all camp. He will get a lot of snaps this year.
Who else has impressed? Jalen Garner. I think he’ll have a breakout year.