Houston returns a strong mix of veteran experience and youth, along with some key portal talent, at linebacker.
Departures
Last year, Jalen Garner had a breakout season in his last year of college football. He started all 13 games for Houston and led the position group with 665 snaps. His 22 pressures and 17 hurries were both second on the team.
Despite recording only 2 sacks, his pass-rushing efforts were impactful, and his production will need to be replaced. Defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong confirmed that Garner was one of the better pass rushers on the roster last season.
The program also saw Corey Platt move on to Texas Tech. Platt was a solid reserve who recorded 3 sacks in 12 games (357 snaps). His departure also creates an opportunity for someone to step up.
“Starting Rotation”
Four linebackers played over 300 snaps last season, and two return this year: Sione Fotu and Carmycah Glass. Fotu played 543 snaps, and Glass played 350 snaps. Each played in all 13 games for the Coogs.
“(Fotu and Glass) represent everything Coach Fritz wants, not really represent; they’re the reality of it,” defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong said. “Both of them have had a lot of production this camp; they understand how we want them to play. They take charge.”
I expect both will continue to play major roles in their second year in the system. It’s only preseason practice, but they have seemed to carry themselves differently.
“Last year was a lot of growth spurts and growth pains. I think this year it’s just being more comfortable, being more confident,” Fotu told me. Both Glass and Fotu emphasized becoming more well-rounded, specifically by improving in coverage.
Jayden Yates transferred in from Ole Miss and should be the third starter in the middle. “He’s a guy that is all ball, all the time,” defensive analyst Will Weaver told me. “He’s a quarterback on the field; he’s got a lot of experience. And you could tell that from day one.”
Yates played 371 snaps last season across 15 games, including getting some college football playoff experience. The season before, at Marshall, he played 891 snaps and started 13 games. Houston recruited Yates when he left Marshall and was happy to bring him to Houston when the opportunity presented itself again.
“He played in a similar system (at Ole Miss). ‘Blue’ may mean ‘black’ here, but it’s the same thing,” Armstrong said of Yates’s comfort in their system. “I’m tremendously excited about his trajectory moving forward.”
Staff members and teammates have raved about Yates’s instincts on the field. The trio of Yates, Fotu and Glass will get the bulk of the snaps at linebacker this season. Who starts may depend on the opponent, but I anticipate Yates and Fotu will be out there on the first defensive snap.
Depth
The next players up at linebacker appear to be Christian Brathwaite and Richmond Ugochukwu. Both were on the team last season, only playing 16 combined defensive snaps between them. Armstrong emphasized the experience that Ugochukwu gained by getting lots of snaps with the first team in the spring of 2025, saying it has been great for his development.
Brathwaite came over last season from LSU. He dealt with some injuries in 2025 but is getting comfortable in his role now. He has also made an impact in recruiting, helping to bring his former Cy Ranch teammate Ashton Porter back home to Houston (which Brathwaite recently told Camryn Alberigo.
Tristan Jackson and Miller Malone are pushing to earn defensive game reps, and both are putting in work on special teams. Malone played 342 snaps in 11 games last season at Western Kentucky.
“Tristan Jackson has made some leaps this year. He was a scout guy last year, and he’s making some big leaps,” Glass said of his teammate.
Outlook
The trio of Yates, Fotu and Glass have played a lot of football and are comfortable in the scheme. Their leadership is valuable and will help develop the younger guys behind them. I think the staff is satisfied with the depth, too. The potential rotation will help keep players fresh as the season goes on. It will also allow the staff to maximize each player’s strengths.
