Houston football will add Troy cornerback Marcus Jones as a transfer as part of the 2019 signing class. Jones will have to sit out the 2019 season, but will have two years of eligibility remaining afterwards.

Jones was named All-Sun Belt second team defensive back as a true sophomore in 2018 after posting 34 tackles and nine pass breakups for the Trojans. Two of his best performances came against Boise State and Nebraska, as he combined for 10 tackles and five pass breakups in those games.

However, Jones is even better as a returner. The Enterprise, Ala., product was named an third-team All-American by Phil Steele as a freshman after posting 30.3 yards per kickoff returner with three touchdowns. Against Coastal Carolina in 2017, he had two touchdowns on three kickoff returns. He added another return touchdown against the Chanticleers in 2018.

Jones will be a welcome addition to the mix when he’s eligible in 2020. The Cougars ranked No. 123 nationally in pass defense in 2018. Six of the eight players listed as cornerback or nickelback on the bowl game depth chart were upperclassmen.

Houston opens the Dana Holgorsen era on Aug. 31 with a road matchup against the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, Okla.