STORYLINES
Houston coach Tom Herman is in his first year on
the Cougar sideline after he helped Ohio State to
the 2014 College Football Playoff National Championship
as the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator
and quarterbacks coach.
The Cougars closed last season by beating
Pittsburgh, 35-34, in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Houston trailed 34-13 with less than four minutes
left before scoring three touchdowns and
recovering two onside kicks.
OFFENSE
QB Greg Ward Jr. went 6-2 as Houston’s starting
signal-caller last season. Ward completed 67.0
percent of his passes (175 of 261) and accounted
for 18 touchdowns (12 passing, six rushing).
RB Kenneth Farrow led the American Athletic
Conference with seven 100-yard games last season.
Farrow has been named to the preseason
watch lists for the Maxwell Award, the Walter
Camp Player of the Year Award and the Doak
Walker Award.
WR Demarcus Ayers, who was The American’s
Special Teams Player of the Year in 2013, is the
top returning receiver for 2015. Ayers had 33 receptions
for 335 yards and two TDs last season.
DEFENSE
Houston, which led the nation in takeaways
in 2013, finished 11th nationally in 2014 with 30
turnovers gained.
S Adrian McDonald had a had in eight turnovers
last season. He had five interceptions and three
fumble recoveries and was a first-team allconference
selection last year.
McDonald leads a secondary that returns all four
starters from last season.. CB William Jackson
had 12 passes defended last year on his way to
second-team all-conference honors.
LB Steven Taylor is the lone returning starter at
linebacker. Taylor was second on the team with
76 tackles to go with four sacks, nine tackles for
loss and three forced fumbles in 2014.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Houston returns both of its kicking specialists
from 2014.
K Kyle Bullard was fourth among American Athletic
Conference kickers in scoring last season
(6.9 points per game).
P Logan Piper averaged 39.5 yards per punt in
his first year as the Cougars’ punter.
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