INSIDER SCOOP: News, Notes from Houston Summer Magazine Stop

Courtesy of Houston Athletics

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Houston won four games in the first year of the Willie Fritz era, matching the win total in the final season under Dana Holgorsen. The Cougars enter their third year as Big 12 members with a 5-13 conference record. Fritz replaced both coordinators and added roughly 40 new faces to the roster through the transfer portal and traditional recruiting. 

On our stop in Third Ward for the 2025 summer magazine, we spoke with Fritz, offensive coordinator Slade Nagle, and defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong about the Cougars as spring practices come to a close. 

Previous stops: Baylor | North Texas | SMU | TCU | Texas Tech | Texas State | UTEP 

OFFENSE 

  • New OC Slade Nagle described his philosophy as building from the inside out. He wants the Cougars to play a physical brand of football because championship teams can run the football when they want to. Creating explosive plays is a focal point. 
  • Transfer quarterback Conner Weigman was described as a good decision maker and leader who is picking up the offense well. Nagle said he was surprised by how well Weigman can move. 
  • Zeon Chriss, who started multiple games for the Cougars last year, was limited some this spring after a minor knee surgery in the offseason but he’s participated since Week 3 of spring ball. 
  • Stephon Johnson is the team’s most experienced receiver and the odds-on favorite to be WR1 in Third Ward. He’s a big, strong receiver who can play inside and outside. Nagle called him a good route runner who is strong to the ball. 
  • Koby Young was one of the first names mentioned at wide receiver along with Johnson. The redshirt freshman missed time last year with an injury but he’s impressed this spring and can be a legitimate vertical threat. Transfers Amare Thomas (UAB) and Harvey Broussard III (Louisiana) should also contribute in 2025. Thomas “has a good feel against zone coverages and has the strength to separate in man coverage”. Broussard is an instant red zone threat with his height and ability to high point the ball. Mekhi Mews is out in the spring with an ankle injury but is expected to contribute in the fall. 
  • Tulsa transfer Luke McGary and Jayden York are the top two names at tight end. McGary is a Plano native who was described as a “good every down player who is really smart and has really good hands.” Nagle likes what he’s seen from York in the back half of spring and thinks sophomore Traville Frederick Jr. has a bright future. 
  • Running back is the deepest position on offense, per Nagle. He wants to figure out how to use all of them. Rice transfer Dean Connors is a versatile weapon who is good as a receiver out of the backfield as a runner. Re’Shaun Sanford II has big-play ability and is a good pass protector. Stacy Sneed has had a really good spring and J’Marion Burnette, who is nicknamed “Fat”, is 230 pounds and can handle a heavy workload. DJ Butler is another young running back who received praise from the staff. JayShon Riddle moved to RB from wide receiver. 
  • Houston brought in five transfers along the offensive line and at least three of them probably start in Week 1. The two returning starters are left tackle David Ndukwe and center Demetrius Hunter. Hunter and New Mexico transfer McKenzie Agnello are battling it out for the starting job at center. Ndukwe is the likely starter at left tackle with Baylor transfer Alvin Ebosele and Texas Tech transfer Dalton Merryman competing for the starting spot at right tackle. 
  • At guard, Oklahoma State transfer Jason Brooks Jr. and Cal transfer Matthew Wykoff were two of the first names mentioned. Agnello could also play center if he doesn’t win the starting job at center. Most of the Houston interior offensive linemen cross train at both guard and center. Cayden Bowie is a player the staff likes but he’s been out during the spring.  

DEFENSE 

  • New defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong says his defensive philosophy comes from the Bill Belichick and Nick Saban tree that is very popular in the Southeast for obvious reasons. He says “the multiplicity of the defense gives you the illusion that a lot is going on even when a lot isn’t going on.” Some years he’s run a three-man front, other years it has been more of a four-man front, depending on his personnel and what matches up best with the opponent. 
  • In the nickel defensive base that Armstrong deploys (regardless of it is a 4-2-5 or a 3-3-5) the boundary defensive end is called the Jack, short for jack-of-all-trades. That player is asked to rush the passer and drop back into coverage at times. Brandon Mack and Latreveon McCutchin are competing at that spot and Armstrong is high on both. Sheldon Rice and Chance Bryant are two freshmen with bright futures at that spot. 
  • The field defensive end position is a hybrid spot that plays inside in a three-man front and on the edge in a four-man defensive line. Armstrong says when his defenses have had success in the past, this position was one of the main reasons. Redshirt freshman Darius Washington is a legit 6-foot-6 and is a high upside player who is battling with Quindario Lee for starting snaps, though both will play a lot. Reshard Sterling is another name to know. 
  • Inside, veteran Carlos Allen is a focal point of the front seven in his second year on campus. Zavian Tibbs provides depth behind Allen at the defensive tackle spot. Washington State transfer Khalil Laufau and Everitt Rogers are nose tackles in the Armstrong system. Guys like Xavier Stillman and App State transfer Joshua Donald are also names to know. 
  • Corey Platt Jr. is a former Tulane transfer who is expected to start at the Will linebacker spot as he competes with the likes of Christian Brathwaite and Richmond Ugochukwu. Louisiana transfer Carmycah Glass and Utah transfer Sione Fotu are battling for the starting Mike linebacker spot alongside Jalen Garner.
  • LSU transfer Jordan Allen is the favorite to take A.J. Haulcy's spot at boundary safety. Haulcy transferred after spring practices and leaves a giant void. Kentrell Webb is playing the field safety position along with C.J. Douglas and Jonsley Barbas. 
  • The nickel position is called “Star” in Armstrong’s defense and the spot is tasked with multiple responsibilities in the run and pass game. Auburn transfer Keionte Scott provides experience and toughness to the position. Georgia Southern transfer Marc Stampley II will also play a lot of snaps at Star. 
  • Latrell McCutchin Sr. return as the favorites to start at cornerback. Southern Miss transfer Will James can play all five spots in the secondary and should get snaps at corner. JD Rhym is another cornerback who earned praise in the spring. The loss of star cornerback Jeremiah Wilson following the spring game was a huge loss. 

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