The dust has finally settled on the 2025 season, and honestly, the vibe around TDECU Stadium hasn't been this high in years. After that 38-35 thriller against LSU in the Texas Bowl, Willie Fritz has officially silenced the skeptics. But here’s the thing: while everyone is still rewatching Conner Weigman’s MVP performance, the roster is shifting underneath our feet. If you’re looking at the university of houston football depth chart and expecting to see the same faces from last month, you're in for a surprise.
College football in 2026 is basically a game of musical chairs played with millions of dollars and a transfer portal that never seems to close. Fritz has been busy. Very busy. He’s essentially rebuilding the trenches while trying to keep the core of a 10-3 team intact. It's a delicate balance, and most people are completely overlooking how much the offensive line is about to change.
The Quarterback Room is Weigman’s Kingdom
Let’s start with the obvious. Conner Weigman is the guy. Period. After throwing for over 2,700 yards and rushing for another 700 in 2025, he’s established himself as the undisputed leader of this offense. His decision to return for 2026 is the single biggest win of the offseason.
Behind him? It’s a bit of a ghost town. Zeon Chriss-Gremillion and Austin Carlisle have both hit the portal, looking for starts elsewhere. That leaves redshirt sophomore Indiana Wijay as the primary backup. Wijay has a massive arm, but he’s barely seen the field. The coaching staff is also high on incoming freshman Keisean Henderson, though the plan is almost certainly to redshirt him so he can take the keys in 2027. If Weigman stays healthy, this is a non-issue. If he doesn't, the drop-off is potentially steep.
Rebuilding the Wall: A New Offensive Line
This is where the university of houston football depth chart gets really interesting. Most fans don't realize that the Cougars are losing almost every significant contributor on the line except for Alvin Ebosele and McKenzie Agnello. Fritz knew he couldn't go into 2026 with a bunch of freshmen protecting his star QB, so he went shopping.
He snagged Shadre Hurst from Tulane—a guy he knows personally—and Drew Terrill from Miami (Ohio). Terrill is a massive get; he was an All-MAC second-teamer and played over 700 snaps last year. Then you've got Hayden Wright coming in from Northwestern and Anthony Boswell from Toledo. It’s a "patchwork" unit on paper, but it’s a patchwork unit made of seasoned veterans.
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The Projected Starting Five
- Left Tackle: Alvin Ebosele (The returning anchor)
- Left Guard: Shadre Hurst (The Tulane connection)
- Center: Anthony Boswell (Experienced, physical)
- Right Guard: McKenzie Agnello (Solid returning starter)
- Right Tackle: Drew Terrill (Instant impact transfer)
It’s a lot of new names to learn, but honestly, it might be an upgrade in terms of pure mass and experience.
Replacing the Playmakers
Losing Dean Connors and Tanner Koziol hurts. There’s no way around it. Connors was the heartbeat of the run game, and Koziol was Weigman’s security blanket in the red zone.
To fill the void in the backfield, Houston landed Makhi Hughes. He’s a former Tulane and Oregon back who essentially redshirted last year but has two years of eligibility left. He’s fast, low to the ground, and fits the Fritz system like a glove. Re'Shaun Sanford is still around too, though his injury history makes him a bit of a wild card.
At wide receiver, Amare Thomas is back, which is huge. He was the team's leading receiver and is probably the most underrated player in the Big 12. With Stephon Johnson’s eligibility appeal being denied, look for Oregon State transfer Trent Walker and Texas Tech transfer Tyson Turner to get immediate looks. Turner is a name to watch; he didn't do much at Tech, but he’s a 6-foot-something freak who just needs targets.
A Defensive Identity Shift
On the other side of the ball, the university of houston football depth chart is dealing with some high-profile departures. Corey Platt Jr. leaving for Texas Tech was a gut punch. He was arguably the most consistent linebacker on the roster last year.
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However, the secondary might actually be better in 2026. Jalen Mayo (from Stephen F. Austin) and Javion White (from Tulane) are both ball hawks. Mayo had the highest coverage grade in the Southland Conference, and White is a guy who just finds himself near the ball constantly. They’ll join Latrell McCutchin Sr. to form a defensive backfield that should be significantly stickier than what we saw in 2024.
The Defensive Front
The defensive line is where the beef is. De'Marion Thomas (Oklahoma State) and Ejiroghene Egodogbare (Yale) are expected to be day-one starters. Egodogbare is a fascinating story—an All-Ivy League guy who’s 300-plus pounds and plays with a massive chip on his shoulder. Pair them with Khalil Laufau, and the Cougars should be much better at stopping the run, which was an occasional headache last season.
Special Teams Stability
Liam Dougherty is back at punter, which is a relief. He’s a weapon. The placekicking situation is more up in the air with Ethan Sanchez moving on. Keep an eye on the battle between redshirt freshman Jonathan Dimas and any late portal additions Fritz might bring in. In the Big 12, where games are won by three points every other Saturday, this is more than just a footnote.
Why This Matters for the Big 12 Race
Houston is no longer the "new kid" in the conference. After a 10-win season, they have a target on their back. The 2026 university of houston football depth chart reflects a program that isn't just trying to survive; they’re trying to build a sustained winner.
Fritz’s strategy is clear: keep the elite quarterback, rebuild the lines with veterans, and sprinkle in explosive transfers at the skill positions. It’s a high-floor, high-ceiling approach. The biggest risk is chemistry. When you have this many new starters, especially on the offensive line, things can be clunky in September. But if they mesh? This team is a legitimate contender for a Big 12 title.
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What to Watch During Spring Ball
If you're heading out to watch the Coogs this spring, don't just stare at Weigman. Watch the rotation at guard and tackle. Look at how the new transfers, especially Tyson Turner and Makhi Hughes, are being integrated into the RPO game.
Check out the communication in the secondary. With several new starters back there, seeing how they hand off receivers in zone coverage will tell you everything you need to know about their ceiling.
The university of houston football depth chart is a living document. It’s going to change between now and August, but the foundation Fritz has built is undeniably solid. The Cougars are relevant again, and for the first time in a decade, that relevance feels sustainable.
Keep an eye on the remaining portal window in April. If Fritz adds one more veteran linebacker to replace the production lost with Platt, this roster might be the most complete one we've seen in Houston since the Peach Bowl days.
The next move is to mark the Spring Game on your calendar. It's the first real chance to see if these portal additions are the real deal or just names on a screen. Watch for the chemistry between Weigman and Trent Walker early—if that connection clicks, the Big 12 is in trouble.