Three Things to Watch in Houston's Final Week of Fall Camp
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Houston football's regular season is rapidly approaching as fall camp continues to head into its final week. While most of Houston's team has already been settled, there are a few storylines to keep an eye on for the next seven days.
The Cougars didn't really have any major competition for starting spots, given how the settled the roster is in general. With 12 returning starters and a transfer portal class that brought in players to address specific areas, Houston's starters for the most part are known.
Here are three things to watch in Houston's final week of camp.
Kicking Competition
The kicker was one of the few starter spots that was up for grabs in camp, and it will be interesting to see how it is ultimately decided. Coach Willie Fritz mentioned a few days earlier that redshirt sophomore Jonathan Dimas is with the first team right now, and that is a bit of a surprise.
Dimas hasn't gotten a starting opportunity, but this could really be the year for the Houston native and Westfield High School product. The Cougars acquired redshirt freshman Evan Noel in the portal from Florida, and he was the No. 1 overall kicker in his class. Noel has a strong leg, but it looks like Dimas is delivering at the moment.
Even senior kickoff specialist Zac Yoakum was the kicker on the No. 2 team. Given the expectations for Houston this season, having a reliable kicker will be very important for this team to win close Big 12 games. Ethan Sanchez was excellent for UH for the most part last season and he had multiple game-winning field goals, as a Lou Groza Award semifinalist.
Wide Receiver Depth
It's obvious that senior Amare Thomas will be the top target on this team and senior transfer Trent Walker will have a big role. It looks like redshirt sophomore Koby Young has earned more playing time as well, given how he's been one of the standout players at camp.
After those three, there are a couple of different options that could be used at the No. 4 spot. Sophomore Jaquise Martin has made his presence felt, while redshirt sophomore Tyson Turner has been seen making some catches.
Additionally, Houston also has returning senior Harvey Broussard III. If he has a good finish to camp, that spot could end up his. Once transfer sophomore Muizz Tounkara returns after missing what's supposed to be a couple of weeks, he could also get that role given how impressive he was in the spring.
Offensive Line Depth
Houston's starting offensive line is full of strong veterans, but it has been the second-team offensive line that has been critical to watch. The Cougars currently have two freshmen on that line, including right guard Noah Abebe and center Aaron Wolford.
The rest of the group features sophomore left tackle RJ Lee, redshirt junior left guard Larry Crawford, and redshirt sophomore right tackle Ronnell McLain. Every team needs depth on the o-line, and Houston's second options will need to be watched closely.
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Maanav Gupta is a staff writer for Houston Cougars on SI. He graduated from the University of Houston in the summer of 2025 with his bachelor’s in journalism and a minor in Spanish. Gupta spent three years at the student newspaper, The Daily Cougar, and also covered the 2025 Final Four and National Championship as Houston beat writer for College Basketball Review. He also has his own YouTube channel, Maanav’s Sports Talk, where he has interviewed professional athletes and broadcasters like Jim Nantz, Jose Altuve, J.J. Watt, Rich Eisen, and Alperen Sengun. Gupta was also a contributor to the Houston athletic program as a student. You can find Gupta on X, Instagram and TikTok @MGSportsTalk.