Cougars dismiss defensive end Anoma after 6 months

Eyabi Anoma, a transfer from the University of Alabama who was expected to be an impact player on defense next season, has been dismissed from the University of Houston football program, the school announced Tuesday.

In a two-paragraph statement, the school said Anoma was dismissed for a “violation of team rules.” No other details were provided. The school said it would have no further comment.

The dismissal ends a sixmonth stay for Anoma, who spent last season on the scout team and leaves having never played a game for the Cougars. It’s also the latest chapter in a string of off-field problems for Anoma, who was the top-ranked player in the Crimson Tide’s 2018 signing class. The defensive end from Baltimore was a five-star recruit and the No. 3 overall prospect in the ESPN 300.

He played in six games for the Crimson Tide in 2018, registering nine tackles, and was named to the All-SEC freshman team.

Anoma was suspended and later dismissed from Alabama last summer. He entered the transfer portal, eventually deciding on Houston in what was widely considered a major coup for coach Dana Holgorsen.

“We’ve got good recruiters. We’ve got a lot of momentum,” Holgorsen said just before the start of preseason camp last August when asked about Anoma. “We’re gonna attract a lot of kids that have that kind of stature.

Those are program-changing recruits.”

While sitting because of NCAA transfer rules, Anoma received rave reviews from the UH coaching staff and teammates. Holgorsen called Anoma “the most disruptive defensive lineman I’ve ever seen.”

The Cougars will never get to see firsthand.

UH will have several key transfers eligible this season, many in the secondary, when spring workouts begin later this month. Even without Anoma, the pass rush is expected to be upgraded with the return of David Anenih and Payton Turner and the signing of D’Anthony Jones, a junior college All-American linebacker from Long Beach (Calf.) City College.

UH was among the worst defenses statistically in the nation last season, allowing 34 points and 467.5 yards per game during a 4-8 season that snapped a sixyear bowl streak.