When former head coach Dana Holgorsen was fired as head football coach at Houston in November 2023, the Cougars’ recruiting ranking was the worst in the Big 12. Now, in over a year and a half on the job, Willie Fritz has revitalized UH football and their recruiting process.
Brought in to help bring in local talent, Fritz specialized in and focused on heavily recruiting within the state of Texas. The effect was immediate, as Houston jumped 25 spots in recruiting within the first three weeks after Fritz was hired. The Cougars now rank fifth overall in the Big 12 for the 2025 class, according to 247sports. UH's current class also ranks 41st overall in the country, the highest mark since the 2016 class.
Cougars Are Poised for a Bounce-back 2025 Campaign
With big-time transfers such as senior quarterback Connor Weigman from Texas A&M, who returns to his hometown, the Cougars are ready for a turnaround in the 2025 season. Additionally, Houston has landed multiple flips in commitments from both the transfer portal and players coming out of high school.
Senior tight end Tanner Koziol stands out as a new offensive weapon ranked as the third-highest tight end in the FBS, who transferred from Ball State. The Cougars are now third in Big 12 transfer recruiting for 2025. Houston is also ready for a fresh start on offense with a new offensive coordinator from LSU, Slade Nagle.
The former tight ends/special teams coach with the Tigers spent a previous eight seasons with Fritz at Tulane, where he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2023. That ended up being a very successful year for the Green Wave, where seven offensive players earned all-conference honors.
“It’s been great. Obviously, I’m very familiar with what [Fritz] expects and that’s been a smooth transition,” Nagle said.
New defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong from Florida looks to continue the success of the Cougars defense that stood out last year in the midst of an awful offensive season. Fritz has set up Houston’s football program for a lot of success in the future.
Most notably, the 2026 class at UH is a standout and ranks no. 41 in the country. It features three recruits in the top 20, most notably five-star quarterback and Houston native Keisean Henderson as well as four-star two-way prospect Paris Melvin Jr. from Cypress.
Additionally, four-star wide receiver prospect Jayden Warren also committed to Houston as an Iowa Colony, Texas native. The Cougars have started getting some top talent close to home, which sets them up very well for consistent success in the years ahead. UH now has 65 players from Texas on their current roster.
Not only that, but the new Memorial Hermann Football Operations Center has just opened at TDECU Stadium, featuring fresh facilities for players and additional premium seating in the stadium.
A new football era has already arrived at the University of Houston.