Samuel’s knee injury leaves Cougars thin at corner

University of Houston cornerback Colin Samuel remains out with a knee injury, coach Dana Holgorsen confirmed Tuesday.

Samuel, a graduate transfer from UCLA who was projected as a starter, missed the entire preseason camp with the injury. No decision has been made on his availability for the season opener at Oklahoma on Sept. 1.

Without Samuel, the Cougars are thin at the position entering the season. Damarion Williams, a junior college All-American, will start at one of the spots, while a handful of candidates are vying for playing time in Samuel’s absence.

As the Cougars prepare to begin the season, Holgorsen said about 18 players are dealing with some sort of injury, although none is considered serious. He listed a few of the injuries as “hamstrings, a quad, a high ankle, a couple of concussions, lower body injuries.”

“Nothing long-term,” Holgorsen said. “All are guys we are expecting back. We’re going to try and get them back as soon as possible.”

Cornerback Javian Smith (knee) is the only player the school has ruled out for the season. We’ll figure it soon enough — obviously, in 11 days — when we line up against the Sooners. That will be a pretty good gauge where we are at.” offering a similar look the defense will face against Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts.

“(King) is pretty dynamic with the ball in his hands,” Holgorsen said. “I want to give some of that stuff for our defense because Oklahoma is going to do the same thing with the guy they have.”