The 2016 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 69th year of season play for Houston. They were led by head coach Tom Herman during the regular season and played their home games at TDECU Stadium in Houston. The Houston Cougars football team is a member of the American Athletic Conference in its West Division. They finished the season 9–4, 5–3 in American Athletic play to finish in a tie for third place in the West Division. They were invited to the Las Vegas Bowl where they lost to San Diego State.

On November 26, head coach Tom Herman resigned to become the head coach at Texas. He finished at Houston with a two-year record of 22–4. Houston was led by new head coach Major Applewhite in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Offseason Departures

Coaching departures After serving as wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Houston for one year, Drew Mehringer was named as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Rutgers on December 14, 2015.

Incoming transfers

2016 recruiting class

Walk-on recruits

National signing day was on Wednesday, February 3, 2016.

Returning starters

Offense

Defense

Special teams

Spring practice The Houston Cougars football team held its annual Red and White Spring Game on Saturday, April 16, 2016, at TDECU Stadium. The defense (White) defeated the offense (Red) 74–72.Ward Jr., Johnson shine in Houston spring game by Kevin Cook. Cypress Creek Mirror, 19 Apr 2016. Retrieved 2016-05-26.

Fall camp

Personnel

Roster 2016 Houston Cougars FootballQuarterback  1 Greg Ward – senior (5'11, 190)  3 Kyle Postma – junior (6'3, 205)  4 D'Eriq King – freshman (5'10, 170)  8 Hunter McCoy – senior (6'4, 220) 10 Kyle Allen – junior (6'3, 210) 12 Bowman Sells – freshman (6'2, 202) 13 Mason McClendon – sophomore (5'10, 190) 16 Bear Fenimore – sophomore (6'1, 215)

Tailback  2 Duke Catalon – sophomore (6'0, 210) 20 Kalig Kokuma – sophomore (5'11, 210) 25 Chandler Smith – freshman (5'7, 180) 28 Josh Burrell – freshman (5'10, 247) 32 Kevrin Justice – freshman (5'11, 190) 34 Mulbah Car – freshman (5'11, 194) 46 Patrick Carr – sophomore (5'10, 195) 48 Michael Dunn – sophomore (5'10, 200) 49 Blake Hirsch – sophomore (6'0, 220)

Wide receiver  5 Ra'Shaad Samples – junior (5'11, 190)  7 Marquez Stevenson – freshman (6'0, 175) *  9 Courtney Lark – freshman (6'1, 163) * 14 Isaiah Johnson – sophomore (6'4, 205) 15 Linell Bonner – junior (6'0, 202) 17 Terry Mark – freshman (6'1, 190) 18 Keith Corbin – freshman (6'2, 175) 21 Chance Allen – senior (6'3, 215) 23 Kinte Hatton – junior (5'10, 170) 27 Christian Luke – freshman (6'2, 215) 30 Tristen Gomez – sophomore (5'6, 166) 39 Keisland Smalls – freshman (5'9, 185) 80 Tren'Davian Dickson – freshman (5'11, 175) 83 Derek McLemore – junior (6'0, 197) 85 John Leday – junior (6'0, 200) 86 Colton Cerday – freshman (6'0, 216) 88 Steven Dunbar – junior (6'3, 200)

Tight end 45 Tyler McCloskey – senior (6'2, 245) 82 Romello Brooker – sophomore (6'4, 240) 84 Chris Johnson – junior (6'5, 235) 87 Alex Leslie – junior (6'5, 240) 89 Byron Simpson – junior (6'5, 260) 

Offensive Lineman 51 Na'Ty Rodgers – junior (6'5, 292) 52 Braylon Jones – freshman (6'3, 278) 53 Alex Fontana – junior (6'3, 310) 56 Dixie Wooten III – freshman (6'5, 322) 58 Ryan Hirsch – freshman (6'2, 280) 60 Kordell Snyder – freshman (6'3, 265) 61 Ryan Deshotel – freshman (6'4, 272) 62 Jarrid Williams – freshman (6'6, 290) 63 Marc Reid – junior (6'5, 279) 64 Grant Strimple – freshman (6'2, 277) 65 Colby Brignac – freshman (6'1, 290) 66 Cole Miller – freshman (5'11, 298) 69 Will Noble – sophomore (6'4, 290) 70 Mac Long – senior (6'4, 300) 72 Mason Denley – sophomore (6'4, 305) 73 Marcus Oliver – junior (6'3, 295) 74 Josh Jones – freshman (6'5, 280) 75 Jacoby Morrison – freshman (6'2, 251) 76 Kameron Eloph – sophomore (6'3, 294) 77 Keenan Murphy – freshman (6'2, 295) 79 Josh Thomas – junior (6'6, 332)

Defensive line 10 Ed Oliver – freshman (6'2, 290) 17 Chauntez Jackson – senior (6'5, 280) 27 D.J. Jenkins – freshman (6'2, 260) 50 Aymiel Fleming – freshman (6'2, 284) 52 Jerard Carter – sophomore (6'3, 297) 59 Zorrell Ezell – senior (6'1, 285) 90 Zach Vaughan – sophomore (6'4, 270) 91 Nick Thurman – junior (6'4, 290) 93 B.J. Singleton – senior (6'4, 314) 94 Cameron Malveaux – senior (6'6, 270) 96 Blaine Medland – sophomore (6'0, 246)

Long snappers 31 Jon Letter – freshman (6'3, 191) 48 Zach Faires – senior (6'2, 235) 57 Payton Pardee – freshman (5'10, 190) 97 Nick Wildberger – sophomore (6'1, 210)

Placekicker 41 Joel Scarbrough – freshman (5'10, 182) 44 Luke Hogan – freshman (6'1, 192) 47 Ty Cummings – senior (6'0, 185) 95 Mason Tobola – freshman (6'2, 205) Linebacker  8 Emeke Egbule – sophomore (6'3, 230)  9 Matthew Adams – junior (6'1, 230) 12 D'Juan Hines – junior (6'1, 225) 20 Roman Brown – sophomore (6'0, 220) 21 Ralph Harvey Jr. – senior (6'2, 245) 32 Khari Dotson – sophomore (6'1, 210) 33 Ja'Von Shelley – sophomore (6'1, 230) 36 Nomluis Fruge – junior (6'0, 225) 41 Steven Taylor – senior (6'1, 225) 43 Leroy Godfrey – freshman (6'3, 240) 46 Jordan Milburn – freshman (6'1, 225) 51 Rasheed Tynes – junior (5'11, 220) 54 Cameron Doubenmier – junior (5'11, 220) 55 Davonte Thomas – senior (6'1, 220) 81 Tyus Bowser – senior (6'3, 240) 86 Kobe Idumwonyi – freshman (6'2, 245)

Cornerback  4 Ka'Darian Smith – freshman (6'0, 172)  6 Howard Wilson – sophomore (6'1, 185)  7 Patrick Rosette – freshman (6'1, 195) 13 Joeal Williams – sophomore (5'10, 185) 19 Javian Smith – freshman (6'1, 165) 24 Jeremy Winchester – sophomore (6'0, 190) 25 Dillon Birden – junior (5'9, 172) 26 Brandon Wilson – senior (5'11, 200) 30 Andrew Robertson – sophomore (5'9, 176) 35 Andrew Mathis – sophomore (6'0, 204) 40 Alexander Myres – junior (5'10, 184)

Safety  1 Garrett Davis – sophomore (6'1, 200)  2 Khalil Williams – junior (6'0, 200)  5 Collin Wilder – freshman (5'11, 175) 18 Michael Eke – freshman (6'2, 205) 22 Austin Robinson – junior (6'3, 220) 23 Terrell Williams – junior (6'3, 210) 29 Darius Gilbert – freshman (6'2, 195) 31 D'Aundre Holmes-Wilfork – freshman (5'10, 183) 37 Caemen Mayfield – sophomore (5'10, 204) 42 Grayson Thorburn – freshman (6'2, 205)

Punter 38 Dane Roy – freshman (6'7, 230)

Coaching staff

Depth chart The list of starters is to be announced.

Schedule Houston played UCF, UConn, Tulane and Tulsa at home and Cincinnati, Memphis, Navy and SMU on the road. The conference schedule was released February 9.

Schedule source:

Game summaries

Vs. Oklahoma

Lamar

At Cincinnati

At Texas State

UConn

At Navy

Tulsa

At SMU

UCF

Tulane

Louisville

At Memphis

Vs. San Diego State (Las Vegas Bowl)

Rankings

References