Hello, CougarsDen my name is Marcus Gutierrez, and I have been a sports journalist for a decade and have spent the last six years working with the Houston Chronicle covering high schools' sports. I was laid off last summer, but I have a lot of connections with coaches and athletic directors in the Greater Houston area and wanted to pass along info that I have received from Texas High School coaches along with recruits and parents.

Houston's Five Star Quarterback leads the recruiting class

Houston remains alive in keeping some of its best high school talent in the city. Five-star quarterback Keisean Henderson committed to the Cougars last May and has been talking to some of the most talented players in the city to stay home with him and build something at Houston that has never been done before. Henderson is the No. 1 player in the state of Texas and the No. 6 player in the country. This could be like the Ed Oliver effect that we saw back in 2016. Houston head coach Willie Fritz has built a special relationship with Henderson and believed in him at the quarterback position before any other college decided to extend an offer. Henderson, who will compete in the Elite 11 in the summer, can make all the plays on the football field. What coaches love about Henderson is the young man that he is that goes beyond the football field. He carries himself in such a manner that it already feels like he's a college football player. But before he steps on the campus at Houston, He will prepare for his senior season at Legacy Spring The School of Sport Sciences.

Henderson has made it known who he wants to stay home with him. The five-star signal caller wants Willis' Jermanie Bishop (4-star ATH), Atascocita's Cardae Mack (4-star RB), Cy Springs' Paris Melvin Jr. (4-star ATH), Oak Ridge's James Scott (N/R), and Iowa Colony's Jayden Warren (4-star WR) to name a few. With official visit coming in June, I'm told that there could be a domino effect, and the Cougars could see a wave of commitments that can make Houston the No. 1 team in the Big 12 recruiting rankings.


Fritz making the rounds

After talking with several high school coaches in Houston, they're impressed with Fritz's commitment to get on the road and visit as many campuses as he can along with his staff. The Cougars' staff have been working hard ever since Fritz was named the head coach to develop relationships with the high school coaches in Houston. The staff has made impression on recruits and now that Houston is in the Big 12, high school kids in Houston don't have to go far to play big time football. Fritz's is trying to do what Tom Herman did in locking the city down and making sure the best talent in the city stays home and build a legacy that will last forever in Houston. Houston has seen several players drafted into the NFL and many recruits like the fact that they can stay close to home and be with their families while trying to live out their dream and make it to the NFL.

Other recruits in the 2026 Houston recruiting class

3-star DT Xavier Fleming (Lewisville High School)
3-star OL Aaron Wolford (PN-G High School)
3-star DB Yaheim Riley (LBJ High School)
3-star WR Keavon Roberts (Port Arthur High School)



P.S. I have been in talks with management about becoming the Publisher for this website and I do hope it happens. I have more information to give this message board but just decided to give a quick little roundup about what I know that is going on right now. Big things are going to happen for the Cougars on the football field and in the recruiting world as well. If the message board wants me to post more just let me know. Take care. Also, it's no secret what Kelvin Sampson is doing on Cullen Blvd., and more basketball recruits are on the way in the coming years.


Thanks
Marcus Gutierrez

Houston is set for a star-studded junior day. Here's more on the weekend to come

Willie Fritz says 7 guys have suffered from ACL injuries since the summer. DL Torren Coppage-El is the latest (Saturday).

WR Koby Young has a season-ending toe injury.

The 2026 class ranking has been expanded from 100 players to a full Rivals250: https://n.rivals.com/prospect_rankings/rivals250/2026

Ten highest debuts: https://n.rivals.com/news/rivals-rankings-week-ten-highest-ranked-debuts-in-the-rivals250

Adam Gorney goes position-by-position: https://n.rivals.com/news/tuesdays-with-gorney-new-2026-rivals250-released

TK Norman is heating up on the trail, too

A look right here:

Any thoughts on the game?

A look at all the hires:

According to Houston Athletics :

AVERY SHIMAITIS – OUTSIDE HITTER – PEPPERDINE – SUGAR LAND, TEXAS

Shimaitis joins the Cougars in her hometown following two seasons with Pepperdine. Overall, she played in 26 matches and 50 sets for the Waves, recording 73 kills and a .304 kill percentage. She also added 18 blocks.



As a freshman, Shimaitis played in 17 matches and averaged 1.66 kills per set. She also helped the team reach the NCAA Tournament in both of her seasons with the Waves.



A graduate of George Ranch High School, she tallied 1,364 kills and 290 blocks. In her senior year, she earned VYPE Hitter of the Year honors and was named an AVCA All-American First Team member while also being placed on the AVCA’s Best and Brightest First Team and to the AVCA High School All-Region First Team.




PAIGE BERNSTEIN – SETTER – GARDNER-WEBB – THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS

Bernstein comes back to her hometown after playing 37 matches across two seasons with Gardner-Webb. She’s tallied 413 assists, averaging 3.93 per set, while also recording 156 digs and 50 kills.



In her sophomore year, Bernstein played in 24 of the team’s 27 matches, leading the Runnin’ Bulldogs with 359 assists.



Bernstein attended The Woodlands College Park High School, the same high school as fellow setter and four-year Cougar Annie Cooke. In 2021, Bernstein was placed on the Under Armour All-American watchlist and earned a spot on the AVCA’s Phenom List in all four years of high school. She also earned 2018 USA Volleyball High Performance honors.

Cedric Melton, an offensive tackle, and former 3-star in the Saw action in the class of 2020

10 games for the Rebels, primarily on special teams in 2022 before redshirting.

Barbay's wife followed the Rivals Houston account before I posted the article so I am assuming the rumors are true.

Jaelyn Lay, a former Clemson TE (Four-star), told me he is working on getting an offer with Houston and has been reaching out to various coaches. If Houston offers that's a 100% commitment and a good grad prospect.

Head Coach Willie Fritz was on campus at Conroe high school today.
Also I have seen about three kids pick up offers from Fritz already today; I'll get more information on that.

Gary Patterson and Willie Fritz are still on the list of what I have heard so far... As of now, we can put Kliff Kingsbury to the side, it seems to be more of a rumor.
I get new developments each day so I'll post all texts and messages I receive.

Don't be surprised to see Houston challenge Holgorsen's buyout due to off the field issues. I'm being told Houston feels good about their chances because of the information they have. Having covered Dana and his staff at West Virginia I can tell you that he seems different today and not on a good path on a personal level. This one could get ugly.

Vernon
Publisher
WVSports.com

Five targets for the next head man to prioritize:

Class of 2025 running back Jaquise Martin was on campus this weekend for an unofficial visit.
Martin is a three-star with an offer from Texas Tech and Nebraska. Martin is from Bryan, Texas.

After yesterday's game and the firing of Jimbo Fisher many are saying the believe Holgorsen's buyout can be made possible as well.
Let's look at some hard facts... Give me your thought's let's chat this out.


The end of his contract- December 31, 2027
On average of $4,500,000 per year.
He is owed 100% of his salary/non-salary compensation in 2023, 2024, and 2025 and then 60% of the final two years.
If he was to be let go now he would be owed $14,838,000.

Houston is ranked nationally at #96 which is almost last amongst Power House Five's.
Is it time to put Dana Holgorsen and staff in the hot seat yet?

It’s not the win loss at the end of the year that should cause problems plus it is their first year in the big 12. But everything is moving a little too slow for the talent the program already has. BYU is currently the only new person to the league that’s doing a little better so there is that.

Refs made a call that marked Houston short on the 1st and 10 causing Houston to lose. But I believe it was an incorrect call what are you guys thinking?

Current score is 21-21 with nine minutes left in the third and I must say I didn't see this coming.

A look around the country: