Willie Fritz has signed impressive local talent in his 2026 recruiting class. The month of November was fruitful, especially with getting players to flip their commitments to Houston. A look at a few of those guys:
Noah Abebe, Friendswood OL
My day job is working for Catapult Sports as a scout here in Texas. We provide weekly spotlights during the season on under-recruited players. Abebe was the first player I selected last November. He had limited film, just a few random clips from games, but it caught my attention. The former TE moved well, and I believed he could play at the next level. Ultimately, he made the transition to OL, with more film to present to schools, and didn’t look back.
By the start of his senior season, he had 15 offers and was committed to Tulane. The Coogs stayed on him, and after a coaching change in the Garden District, they flipped his commitment and kept him home. He has massive potential, having only played full-time OL for one season. He’s nearly 6’4” and still filling out physically. He hasn’t posted any film from this past season. But here’s a taste of his athleticism:
Tyler Covar, Magnolia LB
Covar was another player that I spotlighted late last December. It was a surprise to see him without any offers, and his offer list is still lacking, given his talent. In March, he received an offer from the Naval Academy and would later commit to the Middies. His offer list was: Navy, Army, Air Force, and Kennesaw State. In August, Houston made him an offer.
The Magnolia LB plays the game with good instincts. He has decent size at 6’2” / 215 lbs and is a solid athlete. Covar competed in the 100m and 200m, as well as shot put and discus. He makes the most of his athleticism with good diagnosis and angles to the ball. I expect to see him continue to add weight, and the staff to use him in pass rush as well. Versatility will be a theme with this defense going forward.
Isaiah Broughton, Cy-Ridge DL
Another local flip, this time from UNLV. Immediately upon watching his film, you see his frame. Broughton is listed at 6’3” and 300 pounds, and those seem like old measurements because he towers over his opponents. It’s no wonder that top programs like Florida, Vanderbilt, Auburn, Texas Tech, and Miami offered him. At least 13 offers in total for the younger brother of former NFL player Vernon Broughton.
Broughton previously played OL as well, but his athleticism at his size has landed him at DT. He possesses great strength and easily shrugs off double teams at the HS level. He has very long arms that allow him to create leverage and control blockers. This is a massive get for the Coogs, not just for the talent, but getting size to compete with the top programs in the trenches.
James Henderson III, Cy-Falls, DB
Henderson initially committed to Rice before flipping to the Coogs early in November. Henderson is a very good student, with offers from Northwestern, Vanderbilt, and at least six Ivy League schools. One of several UH targets from Cy-Falls, as Houston continues to build a local pipeline.
Henderson has good length and an overall frame. He can mirror receivers in coverage with his quick feet and often runs the route for them. His physical nature matches what the Coogs see from their current CBs, and it’s likely a big reason why they are so happy to add him. He also made several plays on special teams, blocking multiple punts.
