Fall Previews 19 of 63: Houston

Houston:

Head Coach: Tom Herman
2014 Record: (8-5, 5-3 AAC)
Basic Offense: Multiple
Basic Defense: 3-4
Starters Returning: 14 (6 Off., 5 Def., 3 Spec.)
Starters Lost: 11 (5 Off., 6 Def., 0 Spec.)

Greg Ward Jr. (177-263/2,010/12TD) took over the starting job at quarterback in 2014 after making the mid-season move from wide

Greg Ward Jr.

receiver where he started the first five games of the season. Ward is a true dual threat player with 573 yards and five touchdowns on the ground in addition to his impressive passing skills for a player making the position change. Houston won six of their eight games with Ward in charge. Ward does get the advantage of running back Kenneth Farrow (186/1,037/14TD) in the backfield with him. Farrow has been named to the preseason watch lists for the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and the Doak Walker Award. Wide receiver Demarcus Ayers (33/335/2TD) was a special teams force in 2014 but must step up on offense and help replace 72 catches from 2014 leading receiver Deontay Greenberry who was lost to graduation. Senior Zach Johnson returns from an ACL injury and should take over the left tackle position with Ben Dew (13 starts in 2014) at left guard, Josh Thomas at right guard and 13 game starter Alex Cooper at right tackle.

Adrian McDonald

The Cougars were the best team in the nation at forcing turnovers in 2014 and look to continue that practice behind senior strong safety Adrian McDonald (75 tkl, 5 INT, 3 FF, 3 FR). McDonals had a hand in eight turnovers last fall and was named to the 1st team All-AAC team. Houston's strength is clearly in the secondary with all four starters returning from the 2014 season that includes McDonals, cornerback and 2nd team All-AAC honoree William Jackson (37 tkl, 2 INT, 10 PBU), Brandon Wilson (33 tkl, 1 PD), and Trevon Stewart (56 tkl, 2 tfl, 3 INT). Steven Taylor (76 tkl, 9 tfl, 4 sacks) leads the way at linebacker after finishing the 2014 season second on the team in tackles. Defensive B.J. Singleton leads (22 tkl, 3 tfl, 1 sack) the defensive line with fellow junioe Cameron Malveaux (15 tkl, 1 tfl, 0.5 sacks) that should stand up fairly well in AAC play.

Houston returns both of its kicking specialists from 2014 with kicker Kyle Bullard leading the way. Bullard, a senior, was 16-22 on field goal attempts with a long of 51 yards and 5-6 from 40-49 yards. Five of his misses came from the 30-39 yard range. Logan Piper will handle punting duties after averaging 39.3 yards per punt in 2014 as a junior. 13 of Piper's punts landed inside the opponent's 20 yard line.

Projected Depth Chart: (Subject to change daily)

OFFENSE
WR-X 14 Johnson, Isaiah RS FR.....48 Bonner, Linell SO
WR-H 10 Ayers, Demarcus JR.....82 Brooker, Romello RS FR
WR-Z 88 Dunbar, Steven SO.....21 Allen, Chance JR
LT 71 Johnson, Zach SR.....75 Oliver, Marcus SO
LG 63 Dew, Ben SR
OC 73 Freeman, Colton RS FR.....65 Wall, Carter SR
RG 79 Thomas, Josh SO.....64 Marrs, Kyle JR
RT 60 Cooper, Alex SR.....56 Parris, Damien SR/TR
TE 45 McCloskey, Tyler JR
QB 1 Ward Jr., Greg JR.....12 Schulz, Adam SR/TR
RB 35 Farrow, Kenneth SR.....22 Jackson, Ryan SR

DEFENSE
DE 93 Singleton, B.J. JR.....95 Mark, Tomme SR
DT 91 Thurman, Nick SO.....99 Holland, Melvin SR
DE 94 Malveaux, Cameron JR.....90 Vaughan, Zach RS FR
LB 81 Bowser, Tyus JR.....12 Hines, D'Juan SO
LB 09 Adams, Matthew SO.....37 Stice, Luke SR
LB 44 Roberts, Elandon SR.....55 Thomas, Davonte JR
LB 41 Taylor, Steven JR.....36 Fruge, Nomluis SO
CB 26 Wilson, Brandon JR.....6 Wilson, Howard SO
SS 16 McDonald, Adrian SR.....30 Foster, Earl SR
FS 23 Stewart, Trevon SR.....2 Williams, Khalil SO
CB 03 Jackson, William SR
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
P 31 Piper, Logan SR
PK 39 Bullard, Kyle SR.....47 Cummings, Ty JR