Houston Cougars Have a Legit Defense—Now It Needs to Carry the Load

The Houston Cougars football team had a defensive unit in 2024 that ranked among the Top 50 in FBS, despite the offense struggling to score points.

Here was how the Houston defense ranked last season in FBS:

Points allowed per game: 22.9 (No. 40)

Rushing yards allowed per game: 135.9 (No. 44)

Passing yards allowed per game: 188.8 (No. 28)

Total yards allowed per game: 324.8 (No. 25).

Cougars defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong — who was last at Florida — has four returning starters to work with as Houston sets its sights on a bowl game in Year 2 under head coach Willie Fritz.

Here are three defensive players to keep an eye on for the Houston Cougars.

DE Eddie Walls III

The FIU transfer could have a significant impact on the Houston pass rush. After three seasons with FCS school Bethune-Cookman, he transferred to FIU for the 2024 season.

There, he finished with five sacks. FIU did not keep track of quarterback pressures, but he did have six tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries.

He has the build (6-foot-4, 250 pounds) to be a real problem for Big 12 tackles on the edge. Even if Lindy’s numbers are overshooting the mark, Walls can get into the backfield and exert pressure. Houston must have that early and often from the fifth-year collegiate.

LB Jesus Machado

Machado was one of several players who followed Fritz to Houston from Tulane after the 2023 season. With the Green Wave, Machado was a standout linebacker.

He played in 45 games for Tulane, as he had 150 total tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. He recorded a single-season high of 98 tackles in 2023. The year before, he had a career-high seven tackles against UCF in the 2022 American Athletic Conference title game, a win that propelled Tulane to the Cotton Bowl and a win over USC.

So why haven’t Big 12 fans heard much about him? He missed last season with a knee injury. Fritz had hoped Machado would be a key piece of the puzzle last season. Now, he returns to try and help continue the turnaround for the Cougars.

CB Latrell McCutchin Jr.

McCutchin had to transfer to Houston the old-fashioned way. He left USC after the 2022 season, and he had to sit out a season as it was his second transfer (this was before unlimited transfers).

Last season, his first for Houston on the field, he produced a solid season. He started all 12 games, and he posted single-season highs in tackles (37), pass breakups (three), and blocked kicks (one).

He also excelled on special teams. His 80.9 PFF special teams grade ranked eighth in the Big 12 last season.

Now, with cornerback Jeremiah Wilson out the door, it’s up to McCutchin to work alongside transfers and returning backups to try and post another Top 30 pass defense.

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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