Belk, Cougars defense face high expectations

The pressure is on for the University of Houston defense.

A new defensive coordinator ( Doug Belk) and improved depth should help boost the Cougars’ ability to get consistent pressure after tailing off late during 2020’s COVIDshortened season.

After a physical start, coach Dana Holgorsen said the defense “ended the season pretty soft” as the Cougars finished 3-5 for a second straight losing season.

UH will return nine starters on defense when the season kicks off Sept. 4 against Texas Tech in the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff at NRG Stadium.

While they must replace projected NFL draft pick Payton Turner (teamhigh five sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss), the Cougars return three starters – Derek Parish, Logan Hall and David Anenih – on a defensive line that was described as “disruptive” this spring. The coaching staff called Parish “unblockable” at times, while Holgorsen said the 6-6, 260-pound Hall is a future “Sunday player.” Latrell Bankston, a 6-foot, 300-pound transfer from Iowa State, has been “as good as advertised.” Anenih was second on the team with 4.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss.

Defensive line coach Brian Early said the Cougars can rotate eight or more players on the defensive line with no drop-off.

“We’ve got really good competitive depth, really good quality depth right now,” Early said. “I feel like I’ve got two units of starters.”

The secondary returns intact, highlighted by Marcus Jones, a thirdteam All-American, and Damarion Williams at cornerback.

The biggest boost for the defense could be the return of middle linebacker Donavan Mutin, who was limited to three games due to injury. Deontay Anderson spent the spring making the transition from safety to weakside linebacker.

After wrapping up spring practice Friday night, the Cougars will reconvene for preseason camp in August.

Team adds two transfers

UH continued to load up through the transfer mark with the addition of Seth Green and Jaylen Erwin.

A versatile playmaker from Minnesota, Green is listed as a tight end but was used at wide receiver and as a wildcat quarterback in goal-line situations in five seasons with the Gophers. The 6-4, 240pound Green had 15 rushing touchdowns in 33 career games.

Erwin began the 2020 season as a starter at UCLA before missing the final five games due to COVID-19 issues. He was one of the Bruins’ most productive receivers the previous season with 32 catches for 339 yards and two touchdowns. Before UCLA, Erwin spent two seasons at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College.

Green and Erwin will be granted an additional season of eligibility in the wake of the pandemic and will be eligible immediately, a big boost for a UH receiving corps in need of experience.

Wilson out for season

Mark Wilson, a freshman safety from Clear Lake, will miss the upcoming season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

“Surgery went well and I’m now on the road to recovery,” Wilson, an early enrollee, posted on Twitter. “I’m a strong believer in God giving his toughest battles to his toughest soldiers, and I know God wouldn’t give me anything I couldn’t handle. This is nowhere near the end but only the beginning.”

Wilson was rated among UH’s top signees for the class of 2021, according to 247Sports.

Odds and ends

Redshirt freshman running back James Fullbright was carted off the field late in Friday’s scrimmage with an apparent left knee injury. There was no immediate word on his condition. Fullbright played in four games as a backup in 2020. …

Less than four months after transferring from Missouri, Tre Williams re-entered the transfer portal on Friday. He was expected to provide another edge rusher for the Cougars.