Houston Football: 2017 Cougars season preview, predictions

Offense

This year, the offense will start and stop depending on whether or not the running game can pick up the slack of losing a dynamic dual-threat quarterback. Duke Catalon and Dillion Birden will headline a ground attack that should be more prominent in 2017. Both could feature more on both traditional carries as well as catching passes out of the backfield.

A veteran offensive line returns as well in 2017. The rotation at the line of scrimmage brings back the same starting five that held down the jobs at the end of last season. That includes All-America candidates Will Noble at center and Josh Jones at left tackle.

Houston also has the majority of its receivers returning. Other than Chance Allen, who graduated after last season, the team returns both Linell Bonner and Steven Dunbar from last year’s starters. They will be pushed by a group of talented youngsters who will be worked into the rotation.

Who replaces Greg Ward Jr.?

Losing a multi-year starter at quarterback is never easy. Greg Ward Jr. was a catalyst for Houston’s offense, a three-year starter who would make plays with his arm or his legs. But even with Ward’s graduation, Major Applewhite has a problem few coaches would envy.

Does he start the touted transfer quarterback with starting experience, or one of last year’s key backups? The frontrunner to take over at quarterback is Kyle Allen, who boasts two years of starts at Texas A&M before falling out of favor and transferring. He should get the bulk of the snaps ahead of Kyle Postma and D’Eriq King.