With Dana Holgorsen out as Houston’s head coach, changes are coming for the Houston Cougars. Houston has a number of players who could hit the transfer portal, and they’d get plenty of offers should they choose that path.
Houston Players Who Could Enter the Transfer Portal
Parker Jenkins, RB
Parker Jenkins wasted little time making his name known both within the program and in the Big 12. A crowded backfield limited his touches at the beginning of the season, but he ended up leading the team in rushing with 464 yards.
Given that he’s a freshman, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him look elsewhere for his future play. His skillset would attract plenty of attention, and the new Cougars head coach would have to work hard to keep him in Houston.
Matthew Golden, WR
Holgorsen already said that Matthew Golden was being offered “six figures” to play in the SEC, and it’s easy to see why. He produced 404 yards receiving and averaged 35.7 yards per kick return in 2023, and his early production would make him a highly coveted player in the portal.
Golden is a yards-after-catch monster who does his best work in the open field. Houston found ways to get him the ball in space, and the results spoke for themselves. His best ball is ahead of him, and it’s just a matter of where he’ll play in 2024.
Samuel Brown, WR
Samuel Brown is a fiery competitor who had a breakout year for the Cougars in 2023. The former West Virginia transfer became Donovan Smith’s top target this year, leading the team with 62 receptions and 815 yards.
MORE: CFB Transfer Portal Tracker
At 6’2″ and 200 pounds, he brings good size out wide and has shown the ability to make difficult catches in traffic. If he can keep a cool head, he’ll be one of the more explosive receivers in college football.
Demetrius Hunter, OC
One of the best signing in the Holgorsen era, Demetrius Hunter could be on his way out with the coaching change. He saw the field this year behind Jack Freeman and could blossom now that Freeman’s out of eligibility. Thus, it’s possible he will stay, but the right coach needs to come to campus and give him the chance to start.
Chidozie Nwankwo, NT
This is highly dependent on defensive line coach Brian Early’s status. Early remains one of the best position coaches in college football, but he needs to stay if Houston’s top talent is expected to stay with the Coogs.
Chidozie Nwankwo is an undersized nose tackle, but he brings a ton of power in his frame that makes him a menace to block. Double teams don’t do much to move him out of his gap, and he plays the game with great leverage. If Early stays, Nwankwo stays. If he leaves, it would be tough to see his star tackle remain with Houston.
Jamaree Caldwell, DT
Another breakout player in 2023, Jamaree Caldwell came seemingly out of nowhere to have a big season for the Cougars up front. He is another player whose status is dependent on his position coach, but it’s easy to see why teams would want him on their team.
Caldwell comes in at 6’1″ and 325 pounds but has shown underrated athleticism and a solid blend of pass-rush moves to get after the quarterback. He has developed under Early, and the film shows a guy who should get plenty of attention if he hits the portal.