Houston has done an excellent job of addressing needs in the transfer portal. No position group needed an influx of starter talent more than the offensive line. Over 3,000 snaps walked out the door from the 2025 season. But help is coming in a big way.
Last portal season, the Coogs put together an OL that became a reliable unit by the end of the year. Two starters return from the 2025 group, Alvin Ebosele and McKenzie Agnello, and the staff added all-conference talent to fill in the gaps. One of which the staff is very familiar with.
Shadre Hurst (Tulane)
Hurst comes over from Tulane and brings with him back-to-back 1st Team All-AAC selections at left guard. He played for Willie Fritz, offensive coordinator Slade Nagle, and OL coach Eman Naghavi at Tulane in 2023. He also helped lead the way for new Coog RB Makhi Hughes’ best two seasons. Hurst is a Georgia native who brings an aggressive, athletic style of play.
Listed at 6’2” and 293 lbs, Hurst has made 26 starts in the last two seasons at left guard (he started one game at left tackle in 2025). He can punch above his weight class on the inside and moves well laterally. He’s an excellent pulling guard, which will be a huge asset to what Slade Nagle wants to do on offense. But he’s not a one-trick pony: In 1,224 pass blocking reps, Hurst has only given up one sack. He had a pass blocking grade of 90.5 this season, per PFF.
Hurst won the Georgia state wrestling title (heavyweight) as a senior after finishing runner-up as a junior.
Anthony Boswell (Toledo)
With Demetrius Hunter’s departure before the Texas Bowl, there was an important hole to fill at center. The staff was able to replace him with Freshman All-American Anthony Boswell from Toledo. Boswell started all 13 games this year and didn’t allow a sack. He has 3 more years of eligibility.
Boswell has good feet and body control, he never looks out of position, and has good lateral agility. In the clips below, you can see him cover ground quickly at the snap to get outside. He also shows the ability to get to the second level and open up lanes for ball carriers.
Boswell goes by the nickname “Bronco.” He spent one year at Purdue as a redshirt before transferring to Toledo.
Drew Terrill (Miami-OH)
None of the offensive linemen that UH brought in last season had experience playing right tackle. This season, they brought in Drew Terrill, who is comfortable playing on the right side. Terrill was a 2nd Team All-MAC selection in 2025.
Similar to the previous two linemen, Terrill moves well and held his own against Wisconsin. Off the line, he covers ground with his pass set and pushes the pass rusher upfield past the quarterback. He uses his length well and anchors to hold his ground, leaving a clean pocket.
Hayden Wright
Willie Fritz and staff have also added Northwestern transfer Hayden Wright. Wright has not taken any snaps at the college level and will have four years of eligibility remaining. He went to Kingwood HS and is now 6’6” and 285 lbs, according to his high school OL coach. I expect him to be a reserve this season, and potentially starting in front of Keisean Henderson in 2027.
Projected Starting Offensive Line (Maybe too soon, but why not?):
LT Alvin Ebosele
LG Shadre Hurst
C Anthony Boswell
RG McKenzie Agnello
RT Drew Terrill
Between Hurst, Boswell, and Terrill, the Coog offensive line gains 2,487 snaps from the 2025 season. Hurst was elite in the American, and Boswell is a freshman All-American. That’s a good amount of experience and talent to replace the players who moved on. Another positive note, Wright and Boswell are not just rentals. Each could potentially be here through the 2028 season. But, in the portal era, best to take it year by year.
