5. Houston
Houston’s receiving group has the most productive receiver from 2016 returning in Linell Bonner. Bonner caught 98 passes last season at an overly efficient 73% catch rate. He’s dependable, strong, you can’t knock him off his route, and when gets the ball he goes north and south. Bonner does a lot of damage from the slot position. He benefitted from Chance Allen last season and he needs a deep threat to create space, but Houston has one or two of those as well.
Steven Dunbar’s season would have been the lead story for most teams, but his 54 catches finished 3rd on the team in 2016. He might get top billing when Bonner gets the kind of defensive attention that his 98 catches merit. Dunbar is long, lanky, and good downfield. He’s not great after the catch but he pressure the defense upfield.
After Bonner and Dunbar, the Houston receivers get pretty green. Talented on paper, but not much in terms of production.
Sophomore Keith Corbin was a highly recruited high school player who spent last year adjusting to the college game. From a tools standpoint there isn’t much he lacks, but he needs to take advantage of opportunities at a higher rate than last year’s 50%. Courtney Lark was a four-star recruit out of Bellaire who didn’t see the field much as a true freshman.
Marquez Stevens a sophomore from Shreveport battled injuries last season and appeared in two games. He was recruited by Mississippi State, Baylor, TCU, and several other Power 5s.
Lastly Arizona State transfer Ellis Jefferson comes over for his senior season. Jefferson played high school football at Denton Guyer and should be part of the rotation, in particular from the slot.
