Holgorsen sees roster as half full
Restocking on defense has worked, but offense needs a depth charge
Almost from the moment he arrived at the University of Houston, Dana Holgorsen began to address deficiencies with his football roster.
Depth, which allows for competition and serves as a security blanket, was thin across the board. Among the players he inherited, some, particularly on the offensive line, were forced to play sooner than expected rather than sit out a redshirt season and develop.
As Holgorsen enters an important Year 3, depth on the defensive side is finally where he wants it.
As for the offense?
“Our depth is what scares me on offense,” Holgorsen said this week as the Cougars prepare to hold the first of two open scrimmages at 6 p.m. Friday at TDECU Stadium.
“I’m not worried about depth at all on defense. We’re not actively out there pursuing anything that we feel like we need. I cannot say that about our offense. We are out there actively recruiting people about at every spot possible, including the quarterback spot.”
Holgorsen said he continues to be pleased with the progress of Clayton Tune, who has been the starter at quarterback for parts of the past three seasons. Where things get dicey is surrounding Tune with playmakers, especially at wide receiver with the offseason losses of Marquez Stevenson (graduation/NFL draft) and Keith Corbin (transfer portal).
UH returns Nathaniel Dell, who had a team-high 29 receptions and 428 yards during an abbreviated eight-game COVID-19 season, Tre’Von Bradley, Jeremy Singleton and Bryson Smith. Holgorsen added Ke’Sean Carter, the second-leading receiver at Texas Tech, and has been pleased with the development of redshirt freshman Ke’Andre Street.
UH’s top playmaker on offense is Christian Trahan, a 6-3, 245-pound tight end who will continue to see an expanded role in the passing game.
Before the start of practice in late March, Holgorsen said it would be an important spring for young receivers such as Dylan Robinson, Khiyon Wafer and Darius Edmonds.
“We’ve got some work to do,” Holgorsen said. “I’m not comfortable with what our receiver depth is right now. Just young guys (that) need to develop that really, quite honestly, have not developed yet. We’ve got to find some more guys. That’s not going to get it done right there. That’s not enough depth.”
There is a strong possibility UH could look to add at least two more receivers through the transfer portal before preseason camp begins in August.
“I’m happy with the top guys, but we need more depth,” Holgorsen said. “We may need to go out there and find some (receivers).”
UH has options in the backfield, including sixthyear players Mulbah Car and Chandler Smith and Texas Tech transfer Ta’Zhawn Henry, who sat out last season. Kelan Walker (5-11, 230 pounds) offers a bigger option, walk-on James Fullbright III has been productive in limited playing time, and Terrell “Smoke” Brown is coming off knee surgery but is expected to be cleared by summer camp. Oak Ridge’s Alton McCaskill, one of the nation’s top running backs in the class of 2021, will arrive on the UH campus in June.
Devastated by injuries the past two seasons, the starting offensive line should be improved with the addition of center Kody Russey, a two-time All-C-USA center at Louisiana Tech, and left tackle (Patrick Paul) and right tackle (Dennis Bardwell) appear set. Tank Jenkins, a 6-3, 350-pound transfer from Texas A&M, is the leading candidate at right guard, with Max Banes and Cam’Ron Johnson the candidates at left guard. Holgorsen would also like to add a couple more offensive linemen to a group that includes Reuben Unije, Jack Freeman, Derek Bowman and Jordan Boatman.
While Tune has received work under center in the spring, reps have been split between freshmen quarterbacks Sofian Massoud and Maddox Kopp. Walk-on Ike Ogbogu, who has been in the system for three years, is not getting reps this spring to allow the Cougars to take an extended look at Massoud and Kopp.
“We have to figure out what they can do,” Holgorsen said. “They look like freshman quarterbacks to me. They’ve got to get as many reps as they possibly can.
“We’ve got to be OK if something happens with Clayton Tune. That’s just the reality in college football. If we feel like these young guys can continue to improve, great. If not, we’re always going to be looking for somebody else out there.”