QB competition, win projections are still in question
ARLINGTON — The University of Houston will make its first appearance at Big 12 media days Wednesday at AT&T Stadium.
UH’s contingent includes head coach Dana Holgorsen, left tackle Patrick Paul, center Jack Freeman, defensive end Nelson Ceaser and linebacker Hasaan Hypolite. Athletic director Chris Pezman is also expected to be on hand as the Cougars make their first public appearance since officially joining the Big 12 on July 1.
Here are three questions for the Cougars heading into the two-day event:
What are expectations?
Low, if you subscribe to preseason chatter. No UH players were selected to the All-Big 12 preseason squad. And the Cougars were picked to finish 12th in the 14-team league, just ahead of fellow newcomer Cincinnati and West Virginia. Perhaps some of that had to do with unfamiliarity in a new league. Or that the Cougars have some work to do before the Sept. 2 opener against UTSA.
“We’re ready to go in and compete,” Holgorsen said recently.
What would be considered a successful first year in the Big 12? A six-win season and bowl trip.
“Hopefully, once we get to six wins, we’ll stack a couple more on top of that,” Pezman said. “To think we’re going to win 10 or 12 games is ambitious. We all want to. It doesn’t mean we’re not trying. We’re realistic about it also. There are some really good teams in this league.”
A tough schedule awaits, beginning with UTSA at TDECU Stadium and continuing with home matchups against TCU (Sept. 16) and Texas (Oct. 21). A plus for the Cougars is they have eight games inside the city limits (the Bayou Bucket is at Rice) and leave the state only twice for games against Kansas State and Central Florida.
Getting to six wins won’t be easy. Most preseason projections have the Cougars in the four- to five-win range. They’ll need to pick up a win or two along the way to reach the postseason goal.
Who will start at QB?
UH has a good idea who the starter is, but a decision likely won’t be announced until a few weeks into preseason camp in August. At the end of spring workouts, Holgorsen said Donovan Smith, a transfer from Texas Tech, and sophomore Lucas Coley were in a tight battle for the job. Coley impressed the coaching staff last season, moving up the depth chart to the backup spot by mid-October, but Smith’s experience (21 games at Tech) is expected to be one of the deciding factors. Judging by how things have gone in recent years, it’s safe to assume both quarterbacks will be needed at some point.
What’s next for Golden?
Now a sophomore, Golden is considered next in line among UH’s great wide receivers. Golden is statistically the Cougars’ top returning receiver with 38 catches for 584 yards and seven touchdowns. He put up those numbers despite missing time with a rib injury. With All-American Tank Dell now playing across town with the Texans, the Cougars will need their corps of receivers to step up, starting with Golden.
“I definitely feel more confident having that first year under my belt,” Golden said. “I feel I can play that role. I can help this team out.”
UH was active in the transfer portal this offseason, adding Joshua Cobbs (Wyoming) and Stephon Johnson (Oklahoma State) to a group that returns Joseph Manjack IV, Samuel Brown and Peyton Sawyer. The Cougars also added three highly rates signees: Mikal Harrison-Pilot, Jonah Wilson and Ja’koby Banks.
Replacing Dell’s monster numbers — 109 catches, 1,398 yards and 17 touchdowns — will require a group effort. One difference in the passing attack, however, will be UH’s ability to spread the ball around to multiple targets after relying heavily on Dell the past two seasons.