Newcomers to play big roles
Playmaker Mews, edge rusher Cooper among 10 additions who could provide spark for Cougars
The University of Houston wrapped up its first spring under new football coach Willie Fritz with Saturday’s Red & White Game.
Fritz said the offense played “catch up” with the defense this spring, which is understandable with three members of his defensive staff, including coordinator Shiel Wood, accompanying him from Tulane to UH.
What’s next for the Cougars? The next wave of enrollees will join the program in June for the start of the conditioning program, followed by preseason camp in early August.
Even then, Fritz said, it will take time to start the season before the Cougars settle on a depth chart.
“It’s going to take next season, two or three games to figure out how much guys should play or how much guys shouldn’t play,” Fritz said. “I think we have a pretty good idea of the depth chart and what guys can do well and what they don’t do so well.”
Here are 10 newcomers to watch as the Cougars prepare for the 2024 season:
Mekhi Mews
A transfer who began as a walk-on at Georgia, Mews is an interesting addition to the Cougars with the ability to be used as a pass-catcher and in the return game. Mews was an electric player on special teams for the Bulldogs last season, averaging 26.8 yards on kick returns and 10.3 yards and a touchdown on punts. “He just wanted to go someplace where he not only was going to be able to be used in the return game, but also on the offensive side with speed sweeps, reverses, as a receiver,” Fritz said. “He gets the ball out in space, he’s dangerous.”
Zeon Chriss
With incumbent Donovan Smith limited this spring following shoulder surgery, Chriss got most of the first-team snaps at quarterback. There is no reason to believe Smith won’t be ready for the start of the season (he’s ahead of schedule and could begin throwing at the end of April) or that he won’t be the starter when the Cougars open the season Aug. 31 against UNLV. What Chriss provides is a security blanket with FBS game experience after a breakout redshirt freshman season at Louisiana, where he completed 66.7% of his passes for 1,222 yards with 11 touchdowns in eight games and ran for nearly 500 yards and six more scores.
Keith Cooper Jr.
There will be a new look on defense as the Cougars shift to a 3-4 scheme. A big part of what UH does starts on the edge, and Cooper is no stranger to Fritz. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound senior registered five sacks and 8 ⁄2
1 tackles for loss at Tulane last season. Could he be the next in a long line of impact edge rushers to come through Cullen Boulevard?
Maliq Carr
At 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, Carr passes the eye test. A former four-star prospect who had Division I basketball offers, Carr began his career at Purdue and later transferred to Michigan State, where he moved from wide receiver to tight end and played for Tom Izzo’s basketball team. Carr will be used in a pass-blocking role and offers a big target in the passing game. He had 46 catches for 561 yards and five touchdowns the last two seasons. “Just show everything I’m actually capable of,” Carr said.
Latrell McCutchin
A change in the transfer rule forced McCutchin to sit out last season following a transfer from Southern California. Now eligible, McCutchin is expected to make an immediate impact at the cornerback spot opposite Isaiah Hamilton. “Going through what I had to go through last year, a lot of people would see it that I wasted a year,” McCutchin said. “I used the year to grow, work on my technique and grow a bond with my teammates. I couldn’t control the fact I couldn’t play, but I could control the fact that I didn’t fall off. I practiced had every day.” McCutchin played in all 14 games (two starts) for USC during the 2022 season, registering 22 tackles.
Demetrius Hunter
While he’s been on the roster, Hunter has been in the shadows the past two seasons as he waited his time to take over the starting job at center. That time is now for the 6-foot-2, 310-pound center sophomore who was among the nation’s top prospects in the Class of 2022.
Michael Batton
Fritz said the linebacker corps had a “very good spring” and that there’s depth at the position. With Jamal Morris, UH’s thirdleading tackler from last season, at the middle linebacker spot, Batton is expected to start on the weakside. He had 80 tackles to lead Louisiana Monroe last season.
Brandon Mack
This is a reset season for Mack, the Mississippi transfer who played in two games before suffering a torn lat in his left shoulder area. The 6-3, 245pound senior is listed atop the depth chart at the “Dog” position, which is the edge rusher spot in Fritz’s defense, and he could team up with Cooper to give the Cougars a formidable pass-rush duo. “The sky’s the limit,” Mack said. “If I’m blessed to have a healthy season, I know this is going to be the year for me.”
Hershey McLaurin
A transfer from West Virginia, McLaurin is the top candidate at the “Anchor” spot, which is a type of nickel back that can be used in coverage, blitzes and to defend the flat. McLaurin played in 24 games for the Mountaineers, including eight starts last season, and finished with one of the top grades among Big 12 safeties, according to Pro Football Focus.
Liam Dougherty
Dougherty is UH’s latest Australian import at punter after successful careers by Dane Roy and Laine Wilkins. The leftfooted Dougherty arrives this summer and is expected to immediately take over the job.