Houston Cougars Early Signing Day Tracker: Every Player Coming to the Program in 2026
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The Houston Cougars have put together an impressive turnaround in just two years of the Willie Fritz era, going from just four wins a season ago to ending the 2025 regular season with a 9-3 record and earning bowl eligibility.
While the Cougars have not officially wrapped up the season, with a bowl game still left to play, the Coogs can now shift their eyes to 2026 with the arrival of early signing day on Wednesday. Houston is set to officially sign its 2026 class, which may shape up to be one of the best in program history.
Follow along as the Cougars builds its 2026 recruiting class during the Early Signing Period. This real-time tracker features every official signee, individual breakdowns, position group insights, and how the class stacks up nationally.
Follow along below:
Full List of 2026 Early Signees
Name | Position | Height/ Weight | High School | Hometown | 247Sports Rating | Rivals Industry Rating | ESPN Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Keisean Henderson | QB | 6-3/185 | Legacy the School of Sport Sciences | Spring, TX | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★+ | ★★★★★ |
Paris Melvin Jr. | ATH | 5-11/170 | Cy Springs | Cypress, TX | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ |
John Hebert | RB | 5-10/185 | Strake Jesuit | Houston, TX | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ |
Jaivion Martin | TE | 6-3.5/250 | Willis | Willis, TX | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Keavon Roberts | WR | 6-4/175 | Port Arthur Memorial | Port Arthur, TX | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Kaleb Walker | DL | 6-1/250 | Lindale | Lindale, TX | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Isaiah Broughton | DL | 6-3.5/300 | Cy Ridge | Houston, TX | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Jeremiah Bushnell | WR | 6-1/185 | Iowa | Iowa, LA | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Aaron Wolford | IOL | 6-4/290 | Port Neches-Groves | Port Neches, TX | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Rhett Gay | OT | 6-7/290 | Weatherford | Weatherford, TX | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Bryson Castile | LB | 6-2.5/195 | Arlington Bowie | Arlington, TX | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Troy Pless | OT | 6-5/295 | Shoemaker | Killeen, TX | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
James Henderson III | CB | 6-0/170 | Cy Falls | Houston, TX | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Xavier Fleming | DL | 6-0/300 | Lewisville | Lewisville, TX | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Javen Holmes | SAF | 6-0.5/200 | Madison Prep Academy | Baton Rouge, LA | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Tyler Covar | LB | 6-2/215 | Magnolia | Magnolia, TX | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Mudassir Abdullah | SAF | 6-0/165 | Columbia | West Columbia, TX | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Noah Abebe | IOL | 6-3.5/275 | Friendswood | Friendswood, TX | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Full Class
Keisean Henderson, QB - Legacy the School of Sport Sciences (Houston, TX)
● Height/Weight: 6-3/185
● Star Rating: ★★★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 1
● Notable Offers: Alabama, Georgia, LSU
○ Strengths: Strong arm, dynamic athlete
○ Comparison/System Fit: Jordan Love
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
Paris Melvin Jr., ATH - Cy Springs (Cypress, TX)
● Height/Weight: 5-11/170
● Star Rating: ★★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 6
● Notable Offers: Texas, Texas A&M
○ Strengths: Natural playmaker, two-way prospect
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
John Hebert, RB - Strake Jesuit (Houston, TX)
● Height/Weight: 5-10/185
● Star Rating: ★★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 8
● Notable Offers: Washington State, UTSA
○ Strengths: Explosive, highly productive runner
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
Rhett Gray, OT - Weatherford (Weatherford, TX)
● Height/Weight: 6-7/290
● Star Rating: ★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 78
● Notable Offers: TCU, Northwestern
○ Strengths: height and above average move in pass protection
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
Jeremiah Bushnell, WR - Iowa (Iowa, LA)
● Height/Weight: 6-1/185
● Star Rating: ★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 115
● Notable Offers: Florida Atlantic, North Texas
○ Strengths: Multisport Athlete
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
Aaron Wolford, OT - Port Neches-Groves (Port Neches, TX)
● Height/Weight: 6-4/290
● Star Rating: ★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 64
● Notable Offers: Baylor, Memphis
○ Strengths: Tall and Rangy
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
James Henderson III, CB - Cy Falls (Houston, TX)
● Height/Weight: 6-0/170
● Star Rating: ★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 105
● Notable Offers: Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State
○ Strengths: Ball tracking skills
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
Troy Pless, OT - Shoemaker (Killeen, TX)
● Height/Weight: 6-5/295
● Star Rating: ★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 109
● Notable Offers: Arkansas, Baylor
○ Strengths: Powerful, people mover
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
Kaleb Walker, DL - Lindale (Lindale, TX)
● Height/Weight: 6-1/250
● Star Rating: ★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 62
● Notable Offers: Tulane, Kansas State
○ Strengths: Large frame, sudden power
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
Keavon Roberts, WR - Arthur Memorial (Port Arthur, TX)
● Height/Weight: 6-4/175
● Star Rating: ★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 74
● Notable Offers: Texas Tech, UCF
○ Strengths: Multi-Sport Athlete
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
Javen Holmes, DB - Madison Prep Academy (Baton Rouge, LA)
● Height/Weight: 6-0.5/200
● Star Rating: ★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 126
● Notable Offers: Mississippi State, Tulane
○ Strengths: Track Athlete
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
Noah Abebe, IOL - Friendswood (Friendswood, TX)
● Height/Weight: 6-3.5/275
● Star Rating: ★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 117
● Notable Offers: Tulane, UTSA
○ Strengths: Position Flexibility
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
Jaivion Martin, TE - Willis (Willis, TX)
● Height/Weight: 6-3.5/250
● Star Rating: ★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 21
● Notable Offers: Arkansas, Arizona
○ Strengths: Pass-catching bully, strong and sneaky athletic
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
Bryson Castile, LB - Arlington Bowie (Arlington, TX)
● Height/Weight: 6-2.5/195
● Star Rating: ★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 82
● Notable Offers: Oregon State, Arizona
○ Strengths: Hard hitter
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
Mudassir Abdullah, DB - Columbia (West Columbia, TX)
● Height/Weight: 6-0/165
● Star Rating: ★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 150
● Notable Offers: Texas State, Washington State
○ Strengths: Three-phase player
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
Tyler Covar, LB - Magnolia (Magnolia, TX)
● Height/Weight: 6-2/215
● Star Rating: ★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 136
● Notable Offers: Army, Navy
○ Strengths: Good tackler
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
Xavier Fleming, DL - Lewisville (Lewisville, TX)
● Height/Weight: 6-0/300
● Star Rating: ★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 128
● Notable Offers: North Texas, Louisiana Tech
○ Strengths: Big and physical
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
Isaiah Broughton, DL - Cy Ridge (Houston, TX)
● Height/Weight: 6-3.5/300
● Star Rating: ★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 78
● Notable Offers: Florida, Auburn
○ Strengths: Big human
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Signed
Kah'ni Watts, DB - Iowa Colony (Iowa Colony, TX)
● Height/Weight: 6-1/170
● Star Rating: ★★★ (247Sports), Position Rank: No. 110
● Notable Offers: Wisconsin, Wyoming
○ Strengths: Position Flexibility
○ Comparison/System Fit:
● Coach's Quote:
● Enrollment Status: Flipped to Wisconsin
Position-by-Position Breakdown
Offense
The Cougars worked extensively on the offensive side of the ball in the 2026 recruiting class, landing some future cornerstones of the program offensively. The Coogs landed the top quarterback in the nation in five-star quarterback Keisean Henderson, who is the prized gem of the 2026 cycle for the Coogs.
They also landed four-star athlete Paris Melvin Jr., who can legitimately play on both sides of the ball and should likely be an offensive weapon once he arrives on campus, with the ability to play multiple positions. Additionally, the Coogs added four-star running back John Hebert, who could find his way into the running back rotation early.
The Cougars added multiple pieces along the offensive line, adding four three-star prospects in interior offensive linemen Aaron Wolford and offensive tackles Rhett Gay, Troy Pless, and Noah Abebe.
Defense
On the other side of the ball, the Cougars emphasized the trenches and the secondary, landing seven players at those respective positions. Houston added three defensive linemen to beef up the line, with three-stars Kaleb Walker, Isaiah Broughton, and Xavier Fleming.
In the back end, the Coogs brought in two safeties in three-stars, Javen Holmes and Mudassir Abdullah, while also adding three-star cornerback James Henderson III. Houston didn't ignore the linebacker spots in the class, adding three-star linebackers Tyler Covar and Bryson Castile.
Top Commitments in the Class
Henderson is the obvious crown jewel of the Cougars' 2026 recruiting class, as the five-star quarterback becomes the highest-rated recruit in program history.
Henderson is ranked as the No. 1 player in the entire class, and for good reason, as the newest Cougars signal caller finished his senior season of high school football with 3,741 passing yards with 44 touchdowns and six interceptions. And an additional 591 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. If Henderson is as advertised, he could very well become one of the best players to put on a Houston uniform.
One of the other top comments from the Coogs' 2026 cycle is four-star running back John Hebert, who finished with very productive junior and senior seasons of high school football, rushing for 3,500 yards in both seasons and for over 8,000 rushing yards in his high school career.
Hebert has a rare combination of having breakaway speed and being a strong runner. With his abilities, it would be no surprise to see the running back earn some playing time as a freshman next season.
Recruiting Surprises, Flips & Misses
In the final few days before the start of early signing day, the Coogs worked extensively in flipping some of their priority targets, successfully flipping the commitments of a few players who signed on Wednesday.
Three-star linebacker Tyler Covar was one of those, with the linebacker having been committed to Navy, whom Covar had been pledged to since the summer. The Coogs flipped his commitment last Wednesday, and a week later, the linebacker is officially a Coog.
Another player Houston managed to secure was three-star offensive lineman Noah Abebe, who the Coogs flipped from the Tulane Green Wave. Abebe committed to Tulane back in June of this year; however, the offensive linemen changed his pledge to the Cougars on Tuesday and is now penciled in as a Cougar.
Historical Context & Class Ranking
With Fritz's second recruiting class at Houston and his first, where he was able to build the class throughout the year, turned out to be one of the best recruiting classes in the Cougars' history. The 2026 class ranked as the No. 36 recruiting class in the country and No. 7 in the Big 12.
Houston Recruiting Classes in the Past Five Years
• 2022 - 53rd (4th AAC)
• 2023 - 49th (11th Big 12)
• 2024 - 52nd (9th Big 12)
• 2025 - 41st (5th Big 12)
• 2026 - 36th (7th Big 12)
