Coach Willie Fritz and Houston football signed over a dozen new high school athletes to its 2026 recruiting class beginning on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period for college football programs.
Houston’s 2026 recruiting class, as of Friday afternoon, ranks 42nd nationally, but could see a slight jump following the signing of four-star athlete Paris Melvin Jr. earlier in the day.
Here is a closer look at all of the new Cougars:
Keisean Henderson – Quarterback
Houston has never, in the history of its program, signed the No. 1 player in the nation.
That all changed on Wednesday, when the Cougars officially inked a deal with Keisean Henderson, a five-star quarterback from Legacy, the School of Sport Sciences.
Henderson, who received a total of 40 offers from schools, officially committed to Houston in May of 2024 and has never wavered.
He only visited the Cougars among the many programs who gave him offers, as he posted an official visit with the program in June.
The local Spring, Texas native posted 3,741 passing yards in his senior season, alongside 44 passing touchdowns to only six interceptions.
Henderson has also been effective as a dual-threat quarterback, recording 591 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
Paris Melvin Jr. – Athlete
Melvin is the No. 17 player in Texas and the No. 6 athlete nationally (a player with the skills to perform multiple roles), making him one of the top two-way playmakers in the country.
Houston’s top four-star recruit from Cypress, Texas, the 5-foot-11 Melvin played cornerback, running back and wide receiver in 2025 for Cy Springs High School. He also previously played quarterback in 2024, completing three of five passes for 52 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
He totaled 754 rushing yards on 89 rushing attempts, 10 rushing touchdowns, coupled with 446 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. Melvin needed only 18 receptions to record his receiving total, averaging 24.8 yards per reception.
Melvin was highly sought after, receiving 35 offers and visiting five programs outside of Houston, including Texas, Ole Miss, Baylor, Arizona and Arizona State.
John Hebert – Running Back
Hebert is a 5-foot-10, 185-pound four-star running back out of Houston, landing No. 8 nationally at his position per 247 Sports.
In his senior year for Strake Jesuit, Hebert ran for a staggering 3,668 yards and 42 touchdowns in 13 games, averaging 282.2 yards per game. Hebert spent limited time as a receiver, bringing down seven catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
For his season, Hebert was honored as a Navy All-American Bowl invitee. The annual high school all-star game recognizes the nation’s top 100 high school players, and takes place in San Antonio.
Hebert received offers from Cornell, Rice, Montana State, Dartmouth, Yale, Air Force, Army, UTSA, Washington State and Houston.
Jaivion Martin – Tight End
Martin was initially committed to Arkansas, making the decision on May 2, then de-committed on Sept. 23, before ultimately committing to Houston on Oct. 7, whom he had previously visited in June.
The 6-foot-5 tight end from Willis, Texas found the end zone 14 times in 2025, while totaling 1,047 receiving yards in 13 games as a senior.
With his height and weight of 260 pounds, Martin was also used as a defensive end, recording 31 total tackles, including four tackles for loss, and a sack and a half.
Before Willis High School, Martin had attended Pflugerville for his freshman-junior seasons.
Aside from Houston and Arkansas, Martin officially visited only one other school: Maryland. Maryland, Jackson State, Tulsa, Arizona, Texas Tech and California gave him offers, among others.
Keavon Roberts – Wide Receiver
Roberts, the top-ranked wide receiver in Houston’s 2026 class, and a 6-foot-4, 175-pound three-star wide receiver, is on the taller end as a wide receiver, giving him a height advantage over most defensive backs.
From Port Arthur, Texas and playing for Port Arthur Memorial High School, Roberts has been committed to Houston since June of 2024, when then-offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay offered him.
He officially visited Houston in June of this year, marking the only program he visited while being a recruit.
Kaleb Walker – Defensive Lineman
Walker, a 6-foot-1, 250-pound defensive lineman from Lindale, Texas, is a three-star recruit and the No. 87 high school player in the state of Texas, per 247.
Across his sophomore and junior seasons, Walker tallied 134 tackles, 34 tackles for loss and 19 sacks. During those same years, Walker was also a track and field athlete, participating in shot put, and recording a junior-best throw of 46-0.5.
Walker chose Houston over Tulsa, New Mexico, Washington State and Sacramento State.
Isaiah Broughton – Defensive Lineman
Broughton is Houston’s second three-star defensive lineman of the 2026 recruiting class, and is from Cy Ridge High School, in Houston, Texas.
He’s far from the only sibling with an athletic background.
His brother, Vernon Broughton was a former defensive lineman for the Texas Longhorns, where he was eventually selected in the third round (No. 71 overall) by the New Orleans Saints.
Broughton’s sister, Asia Broughton played Division I basketball at Southern Mississippi and later Nicholls State.
Originally a UNLV commit in July, Broughton decommitted from the program in October, before choosing to play for Houston on Nov. 18.
Jeremiah Bushnell – Wide Receiver
One of the few non-Texas natives, Bushnell is a three-star receiver from the neighboring state of Louisiana, where he played for Iowa High School.
In his senior year for Iowa, Bushnell hauled in 885 receiving yards on 44 catches, while recording 11 receiving touchdowns.
Bushnell’s quickness also allowed him to play snaps at running back, rushing for 141 yards on 24 carries for three touchdowns.
He was a multi-sport athlete in high school, previously competing in track and field and basketball.
Among the schools that offered him were Arkansas State, Central Arkansas, Lamar, Tulane, UTSA and Southern Miss.
Aaron Wolford – Offensive Tackle
As a high school sophomore in 2023, Wolford helped lead Port Neches-Groves to the Texas 5A D-II State Championship.
Wolford is a three-star, 6-foot-4 290-pound recruit from Port Neches, Texas and committed to Houston in February of this year.
Houston was the only school he visited among the nine that gave him an offer.
Rhett Gray – Offensive Tackle
Another three-star flanking lineman, Gray hails from Weatherford, Texas and played for Weatherford High School.
Standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing 290 pounds, Gray’s height makes him one of the taller linemen in the class of 2026.
Gray previously played basketball, and as a junior in 2024, started at left tackle on the offensive line.
He committed to Houston on July 26, after decommitting from fellow Big 12 school TCU that same day.
Houston, TCU and Northwestern University were the only schools that Gray visited.
Bryson Castile – Linebacker
A 6-foot-3 195-pound linebacker from Arlington, Texas, Castile is the No. 82 at his position nationally, and the no. 143 player in the state.
As a senior with Arlington Bowie High School, he recorded 123 tackles, including 78 solo tackles. Castile also was a disruptor in the pass rush, totaling 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, while also snagging an interception.
He previously attended two schools prior to Bowie, both in Arlington: Seguin and Sam Bowie High School.
Among the schools besides Houston that gave him an offer were Wake Forest, UTSA, Tulsa, South Florida, Arizona and UNLV.
Troy Pless – Offensive Tackle
Pless is Houston’s third offensive tackle of its 2026 class, and stands at 6-foot-6, weighing 310 pounds.
The Killeen, Texas, native played at Shoemaker High School, starting 10 games as a senior.
At Shoemaker, Pless also competed in track and field events, particularly discus throws.
Pless has been committed to Houston since April 25, and officially visited the program on June 5.
James Henderson III – Cornerback
Henderson, at 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, is Houston’s first and only cornerback in its 2026 class.
He is a three-star cornerback from Cy Falls High School in Houston, Texas.
Henderson had previously committed to crosstown and Bayou Bucket rival Rice on June 19, and received an offer from Houston on Oct. 7.
Several weeks later after his visit with the Cougars, Henderson decommitted from Rice and visited Houston three days later on Oct. 31. He committed to the Cougars the following week, on Nov. 4, over Michigan State, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt among others.
Xavier Fleming – Defensive Lineman
The No. 171 high school player in the state of Texas and No. 128 defensive lineman, Fleming played for Lewisville High School in Lewisville, Texas.
Fleming has multi-sport experience like many of his other class of 2026 counterparts, participating in track & field, and doing discus reps as a junior and sophomore.
He committed to Houston on Feb. 14, and visited the school earlier this summer on June 12.
Javen Holmes – Safety
Holmes is the second player from Louisiana, attending Madison Prep Academy in Baton Rogue, Louisiana.
As a senior, Holmes notched 61 tackles, 40 solo tackles and had a tendency for negative plays, totaling 10 tackles for loss.
He also recorded four interceptions in his 12 games, and forced two fumbles.
Alongside football, Holmes ran track, running an 11.01 season-best 100-meter time as a junior, while posting a 23.38 200-meter time.
Holmes was originally committed to the Louisiana Rajin’ Cajuns, before decommitting on 23, and later committing to the Cougars on July 4.
Tyler Covar – Linebacker
Covar is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker from Magnolia, Texas and played for Magnolia High School.
As a senior, he recorded 133 total tackles, 55 solo tackles and added eight tackles for loss alongside nine sacks.
Covar also forced five fumbles while recovering four of them, including one score. His season earned him 2025 District 15-6A Defensive MVP honors, and an All-District First Team spot.
Interestingly enough, Tyler isn’t the only Covar who is a 2026 prospect, as his twin brother Tanner, a safety, has also committed to Houston.
Mudassir Abdullah – Safety
Roughly one week after Abdullah was given an offer by the Cougars on June 28, he committed on July 4.
He is a six-foot, 160-pound safety, equipped to play numerous offensive positions, including running back and wide receiver. Abdullah is from West Columbia, Texas, and attends Columbia High School.
A three-star recruit, Abdullah is the No. 150 safety in the nation, who tallied 51 total tackles in 2025, alongside two interceptions.
Abdullah rushed for 431 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, while recording 484 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.
Noah Abebe – Interior Offensive Lineman
A Houston-area native, Abebe is from Friendswood, Texas, and played for Friendswood High School.
Abebe has experience playing tight end, catching eight passes for 101 yards and a touchdown during his sophomore season.
Among the schools that gave Abebe an offer were Tulane, Colorado State, Tulsa, New Mexico and UTSA.
The story will be updated as additional signees are confirmed.
Author
Discover more from Cougar Sports
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.