Even with the upcoming Texas Bowl on December 27, it is the perfect time to look ahead to transfer portal season. GoCoogs will have ongoing coverage of portal moves, and to start, I’ll try to predict potential losses and look at where the staff will likely seek to improve or replace, based on snap count.
Offensive Line
No position group is losing more snaps (2,936) than the offensive line. Between graduation and the departure of starting center Demetrius Hunter, the staff will have to rebuild the trenches again. Mackenzie Agnello (686 snaps) and Alvin Ebosele (870 snaps) are the only returning players in the group with more than 24 snaps played this season.
David Ndukwe suffered a season-ending injury after playing in just two games and may be eligible for a medical redshirt. But there’s no certainty, and UH would still need to add several quality players from the portal. I’d expect another year of bringing in veterans on a short-term basis.
Cornerback
Will James is having a great first season as a Coog with a coverage grade of 87.4 per PFF, which is third in the Big 12 and 17th in FBS. But outside of James, there is not much returning for next season. He makes up 516 of 572 returning snaps for the group.
The departures of players like Latrell McCutchin, Marc Stampley, and Wrook Brown will leave massive shoes to fill. The four players mentioned all transferred in, so the staff has shown it can evaluate this position well. They’ll have to prove that they can do it again this cycle. UH will also lose safeties coach Joshua Christian-Young to Kentucky.
Defensive Line
Carlos Allen and Eddie Walls will leave large, literal and figurative, holes in the defensive front. Allen seemed to singlehandedly control the opposing team’s run game, while Walls was the most productive pass rusher for the UH this season.
Khalil Laufau makes up 649 of the returning 997 snaps along the defensive line. There are 8 players listed as true or redshirt freshmen, so next season could be their chance to earn playing time. But I expect the staff to look in the portal for impact players to replace Allen and Walls.
Running Back
This position group is interesting. The Coogs will only return 225 snaps, with DJ Butler leading the way with 157 of those. But Re’Shaun Sanford will be looking to bounce back from another season-ending injury. Ja’Marion Burnette also dealt with injuries.
Overall, there is a talented group returning, and 4-star incoming freshman John Hebert joins them. The staff brought in Dean Connors this past season to add another veteran in the room, and it proved to be a difference-maker. They may be looking for a similar situation in 2026.
Offensive Production
Conner Weigman’s announcement that he intended to return for another season was big news. With Weigman back, Keisean Henderson can play a little but mostly learn for a year before taking over.
Weigman’s return also signals that the Cougars are likely to keep Amare Thomas as well. He had a fantastic year, leading the Coogs with 906 yards and 10 touchdowns. It would be foolish to assume that teams around the country aren’t trying to find a backchannel to him, or that he wouldn’t be interested in the next level after such a big year.
Outside of Thomas, Houston’s offense is losing 121 catches, 1232 receiving yards, and 10 TDs, with half of that production coming from Tanner Koziol. Amare is the only returning player with more than 10 catches or 200 yards. The UH staff will need to replace production with pass catchers, regardless of the skill position.
These departures are based on each player’s class according to the Houston team site, but with NCAA rules constantly changing, who knows? Some of these players may stick around for another year. Still, this is where I’d expect the staff to attack the portal in January.
Three Potential Targets
Players leave for a variety of reasons: getting closer to home, a chance at more playing time, or looking for a staff to develop them. Another reason is a relationship from a coach’s previous job(s). I’ll go out on a limb and predict a few targets.
Braylon Conley, CB, USC
The former Atascocita Eagle went west to begin his college career. He committed to USC and ended up playing for former Houston DC Doug Belk, who is currently the Trojans’ Secondary Coach. He will have 3 years of eligibility remaining. Conley played 182 of his 201 defensive snaps this season on the outside at CB.
What stood out in high school was his willingness to tackle and help in the run game, a biggie with this coaching staff. The Coogs have a lot of experience to replace on the outside, and this could be a match. It would be a comfortable, familiar landing spot for Conley.
Ahmad Breaux, DL, LSU
Breaux is from Louisiana, where he was a 3-star prospect out of Ruston HS. He notably had an offer from Willie Fritz at Tulane. He attended Tulane’s Junior Day in 2023.
Junior Days are recruiting events in which programs bring their top targets to campus to show them a good time, touring facilities, and meeting with coaching staff. According to 247, it was the only junior day he attended, and Tulane offered him a week later. There was mutual interest if Breaux took the time to attend.
He will have 2 years of eligibility after playing in 24 games over two seasons. Breaux had seven pressures this season, playing almost exclusively in the B gap.
Bryant Williams, OL, Louisiana
Williams is a big-body offensive tackle, listed at 6’7″ and 335 lbs. He would bring a ton of experience, having played in 35 games in the last three seasons. In 2025, he played 711 snaps (346 drop-backs) at left tackle and did not give up a sack. He is from Lake Charles, and three teams offered him out of Grand Lake HS: Colorado, Louisiana, and Tulane.
Another situation where the Louisiana connection could help the Coogs. They need experience, and Williams would get an opportunity to play P4 football in his last year of eligibility. A player of his size and experience will have plenty of suitors, but Houston should be in a good spot if they intend to target him.
