Countdown to National Signing Day: Houston Cougars

[caption id="attachment_21029" align="alignnone" width="739"]Photo by Justin Armstrong Photo by Justin Armstrong[/caption] National Signing Day is Feb. 3. We’ll take a look at each recruiting class from the 12 FBS football programs in Texas as the day approaches. HoustonRivals.com rank: 28^thOverview Tom Herman wasted zero time putting Houston back on the map inside the state. The Cougars even made a dent on the national level after winning the AAC and beating Florida State in a bowl game. Herman, in his first year after being Ohio State’s offensive coordinator, brought excitement back to Third Ward. It started with a little hashtag and the #HTownTakeover movement on Twitter. Herman put breath back into the momentum lost by Houston in a 2014 season that included a loss to UTSA on the night Houston opened its brand new stadium. That seems so long ago now and the recruiting success is a product of Herman’s personality and his team’s success. Houston stands at 20 commitments and has better recruiting classes, right now, than Texas and Texas Tech. All someone needs to do is look back at the 2014 recruiting class. Houston hauled in the 78^th ranked recruiting class in the nation. It included 24 commitments, two of which were three-star or above. As it stands right now, Houston has commitments from a five-star, three four-stars and 10 three-star recruits. Strengths Herman wants speed and his recruiting class reflects that. Houston currently holds verbal commitments from four wide receivers and six secondary players. Athlete D’Eriq King from Manvel may end up in the secondary, as well. The top commitment in the Houston secondary is Katy defensive back Collin Wilder. The former Wildcat helped lead the Katy defense to a state championship. Foster High School product Patrick Rosette is an under-the-radar name that will be an impact safety. At wide receiver, two four-star prospects, Tyrie Cleveland and Courtney Lark, lead the way. Needs Houston doesn’t have a single commitment from a linebacker. The Cougars have commitments at every other position on the offensive and defensive side outside of linebacker. The class is pretty full at 20 athletes, but a linebacker to groom for the future wouldn’t hurt. It’s hard to find needs in a recruiting class considered maybe the best in school history. It’s a balanced class full of talent. Top Player Ed Oliver is a five-star defensive tackle out of Westfield High School in Houston. Gaining Oliver’s commitment was a big splash for Herman. Oliver signified the first five-star recruit to stay home in Houston instead of going to the normal destinations in the Big 12 or the SEC. More impressive may be Herman’s ability to hold on to commitments like Oliver. Many people felt guys like Oliver would eventually be persuaded to join recruiting classes at P5 schools, but the success on the field helped the Cougars hold on to recruits like Oliver.