Football Previews: Houston

The Cougars finished the season at 10-4 and made their fifth straight appearance in a bowl contest in 2009. 

   Offense - As the nation’s No. 1 team in total offense (563.4 ypg.), passing offense (433.7 ypg.) and scoring offense (42.2 ppg.) in 2009, the Cougars return nine starters from this record-breaking squad, including senior quarterback Case Keenum, who finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting and was a finalist for several other national honors.

   Keenum, enters his senior season as a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate and is on the cusp of setting every Houston, Conference USA and NCAA total offense and passing marks. In 2009, Keenum became only the second quarterback in NCAA history to throw for at least 5,000 yards twice (Texas Tech’s Graham
Harrell is the other), tossing for a career-best 5,671 yards and 44 touchdowns. His 5,671 yards were over 1,400 more than the second place finisher and he has amassed 13,741 total yards in his Cougar career.  His 12,905 passing yards are about 4,000 less than all-time leader Timmy Chang. Keenum has thrown a touchdown pass in 30 straight games. 

   Not many teams in America can boast they have back-to-back Freshmen of the Year in their backfield.  The Cougars tout sophomore Charles Sims (2009 winner) and junior Bryce Beall (2008 winner) at running back, and both could be considered first-team running backs in Conference USA. Last season Sims burst on to the scene by rushing for 698 yards and nine touchdowns while hauling in 70 passes for 759 yards,
while Beall—once year removed for rushing for 1,247 yards and 13 scores—added 670 yards and seven touchdowns and had 32 catches for an additional 311 yards.

   The Cougars became only the fourth team in NCAA history to have three wide receivers with over 1,000 yards receiving. Throw in Keenum’s 5,000- plus yard passing and UH was only the third team to have the 5,000-yard passer, 1,000, 1,000, 1,000-yard receiving quartet. C-USA Newcomer of the Year James Cleveland led the Cougars in receiving with 104 catches for 1,214 yards and 14 touchdowns; this, despite missing two games with injuries. He is joined in the four-receiver set by juniors Tyron Carrier (91 catches, 1,029 yards, seven touchdowns) and Patrick Edwards (85 catches, 1,021 yards, six touchdowns) as well as senior Kierrie Johnson (16 catches, 237 yards).

   Defense - Brian Stewart assumes the role of Defensive Coordinator this year and plans to take advantage of the Houston speed and athleticism on defense to put non-stop pressure on opposing offenses with his new 3-4 scheme. Stewart has six returning starters to work with in 2010.

   Sophomore Zeke Riser and junior David Hunter return to battle for their spots. With the change in schemes, Riser holds on to one defensive end spot while Hunter shifts outside to man the other end spot.  Hunter finished the year ninth on the team in tackles with 57.  Of those eight and a half were for loss and four sacks.  He also contributed with four pass breakups as well as three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles, both of which were second on the team.  Riser had 36 tackles, three and a half for loss, two and a half sacks and two fumble recoveries.

   With 259 total tackles in two years as a starter, junior linebacker Marcus McGraw has developed into one of the premier defenders in C-USA. Inserted into the starting lineup as a true freshman in 2008, McGraw has started 27 straight games and should add to that streak in 2010. He will man one inside spot while redshirt
freshman George Bamfo is listed at the other. Bamfo should be a nice compliment to veteran in the middle.
Sophomore Phillip Steward is slotted in at one outside spot, and after a trial by fire a year ago he should be a top-line defender this year. Another sophomore, Kelvin King III, is listed as the starter opposite Steward,
making the move this spring from defensive end to linebacker.

   Houston has two returning starters in the secondary, senior cornerback Jamal Robinson and junior free safety Nick Saenz.  Saenz finished third on the team in tackles with 114 and should be the leader in the
secondary again this season. Robinson had 58 tackles, and a team-high five interceptions.  He also added eight passes broken up and five tackles for loss.  Heading into 2010, senior Loyce Means appears to have nailed down the other cornerback slot and his experience as a part-time starter over the past two seasons should help.

   Recruiting - The Cougars bring in 26 recruits in 2010, highlighted by two quarterbacks and four linebackers.  Terrance Broadway comes in from Louisiana as a rivals.com four-star player, as well as the fifth-best dual threat quarterback.  In his senior year, he threw for 2,140 yards and 20 touchdowns.  The other quarterback comes from Texas powerhouse Southlake Carroll.  In 2009, David Piland threw for 2,668 yards and 20 touchdowns.

   Efram Oliphant and Austin Wilson lead the four-man linebacker group.  Each was a three-star recruit by rivals.com and had over 100 tackles as seniors.  Oliphant finished his final season with 125 tackles, six sacks and 11 tackles for loss.  Wilson had 108 tackles (60 solo), 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and two interceptions.

   Schedule - Houston opens the year with four of its first five games at home.  The first two are against in-state rivals Texas State and UTEP.  The UTEPSMU and Memphis.  That's followed by two home games against UCF and Tulsa before finishing with road games at Southern Miss and Texas Tech.  In all, nine of Houston's 12 teams are in the state of Texas.