I’m assuming Koziel will be among the first TEs taken in the draft, right?
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That’s my guess. I think he was invited to the Senior Bowl so that’s a good start.
The best case scenario is, he stays, and with an even better o-line, takes UH to even higher heights. He’s a “Baller”.
Couldn’t ask for a better scenario in the QB room, IMO…
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Can’t think of one who would be drafted ahead of him, off the top of my head…
I don’t know if Keisean is going to voluntarily redshirt, and I don’t think Weigman is going to want to take the risk of potentially wasting his final year of eligibility for a competition battle.
Typically, a 5-year QB shouldn’t be still in the competition phase for a roster spot (especially someone as that level)
if Keisean was a 4 star, then I could see Weigman staying. We’re talking about the number one overall recruit (all positions) in the country.
Understand those concerns, but…
I believe they are negated by…
Both Weigman and Henderson aren’t just “committed” to UH, they are “committed” to HCWF.
Willie has buy in from his recruits. He’s dealt with countless guys who are exceptional talents and shown them the advantages of sticking with the plan.
The good news is, I don’t believe either of them wants to sit in the bench and I expect them to compete… hard.
The better news is… it’s a GREAT problem to have, and Keisean would benefit from being mentored by Connor and Coach Fritz, getting bigger and stronger, getting reps in games that are “well in hand”, and, Lord forbid, stepping in if Connor gets hurt. The way he is used in the run game, it’s a reality that has to be taken into account…
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I think Weigman expected to have a better season. We did great don’t get me wrong, but he wasn’t really utilized to generate draft prospects. He was utilized to win games.
His stats are very run-heavy, which isn’t really going to show high-level, NFL interest. Weigman is built like a pocket passer, but he hasn’t been able to sling it like I think he wanted to.
That being said, he could still opt for the draft or to try and get a spot as an UFA, show out at a pro-day, and perhaps have a great bowl game. No matter what, I think Weigman will garner some type of interest for a backup spot / practice squad spot if really wanted to.
If that isn’t the route he takes, then I think Weigman transfers to another Big 12/ACC school that is in desperate need of a QB.
UH isn’t really at luxury to tell Keisean what to do. I think Keisean committed to UH for Fritz (and Fritz’s connection to Keisean’s dad), but UH isn’t really a destination where a 5 star QB, highly ranked recruit will redshirt.
If Keisean committed to Alabama or Ohio State, then it makes more sense to redshirt because there is likely a starting QB that’s already at Keisean’s projected level.
Weigman isn’t necessarily a threat to Keisean, but Keisean IS a threat to Weigman.
I think you “may be” projecting their thoughts into your scenario.
I believe it’s more likely they see the advantages of being loyal, to a team (players and coaches who believe in them and will develop them), while, at the same time, make sure they benefit from their NIL “opportunities”.
Being the starter, in year 1 is something I don’t believe was EVER promised to Keisean.
Heck, Bo Jackson wasn’t even promised that, and I believe it turned out pretty well for Bo…
I guess we can agree to disagree. But thanks for not “flaming” on me and allowing me to share my perspective.
I know I can come across as annoying, especially only having been a fan for 2 years.
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Bo Jackson played at an SEC school.
It’s not that Keisean is “promised” the starting job.
It’s more so that Weigman isn’t assumed to hold the starting job, and that alone may be too risky for him to stay another year.
Weigman is not going to transfer.
Write that down and don’t be stupid.
Hot takes are overrated.
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Agreed! I don’t think he wants to start over for 1 season. Even if he lost his starting job somehow.
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The positive thing about Weigman is that he performed better than the other 5 star QB from A&M Kyle Allen who flopped here.
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Yes but Kyle Allen is in the NFL
I never hated that move, I think Applewhite was over his head trying to figure out the Allen/Postma/King situation.
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Okay…
A couple of points…
Again, just my perspective, for what it’s worth…
Bo came to Auburn when Freshmen “rarely” played their first year, let alone started. Teams, across the country almost universally redshirted all their freshmen. But suffice it to say, there was absolutely no denying he was a man among boys.
The 80s were only a decade removed from a time when Freshmen weren’t even “allowed” to play Varsity; a term that has almost non-existent in the vocabulary of today’s college football fan.
Regarding the SEC, it has always been a strong football conference. But back when I went to school there, the SEC was Alabama, and then everyone else.
Every conference had those teams. Heck, we used to call the Big 8… the Big2+6. Oklahoma, Nebraska, and 6 High School teams.
Then You had the Michigan’s, the USCs, the Notre Dames, etc…
But let’s just agree that was then, this is now.
The real issue here, I derive from your last post, is, you doubt Connor will be here. While that’s a “possibility”, I don’t believe it’s a “probability”.
If he’s not… it’s Keisean’s job to lose. Pretty sure you and I can agree on that.
But unless Connor isn’t here, it’s HIS job to lose, and unless there are some unforeseen issues, I think Willie will see it the same way. And I don’t believe Keisean would “bolt” because if it.
I would agree with your opinion, but there’s a single caveat that is essentially the basis of my argument.
Eligibility.
2026 is Weigman’s last year to play college football. It’s a pivotal year for him especially if his NFL prospects are not good after this season.
If he commits to Houston, he cannot transfer if he doesn’t get QB1. He’s pretty much forced to sit on a bench for 12 weeks, and it will tank his draft stock even further.
We don’t have tape on Keisean, obviously. However, Keisean is the number one overall recruit in the country. He is the highest rated QB in the country. People point to the division/district he plays in at the HS level, but that’s not the only thing that determines a recruiting ranking. It’s camps. It’s invitationals. It’s film. It’s mechanics. It’s intelligence. It’s height/weight. It’s speed.
I’ll reiterate. It’s not that I personally believe that Keisean is “promised” the QB1 spot. What I am arguing is that Weigman has not necessarily shown that he is guaranteed to be QB1 against Keisean.
Typically, a fifth year senior has enough experience to solidify himself as a QB1 - I don’t think Weigman has achieved this at UH. That’s not to say he can’t immediately get a QB1 spot at another school that doesn’t have a QB competition going on.
This is a very unique situation for a school like UH, which typically does not EVER get 5 star QBs at the Freshman level.
Put yourself in Weigman’s shoes.
Fair enough…
Since we’re projecting how Connor “may be” looking at things, consider this…
Keisean is an absolutely gifted football player, with all the stats and measurables to have totally earned his place as the #1 recruit in the country, but…
…he hasn’t played a single down of college football. He also didn’t play at the highest levels of football in the State of Texas, so the jump to college will be a little further than for a young man who played at the 6A level. Not saying he wouldn’t have excelled there, but the jump in competition level remains the same, regardless.
Keisean, like Connor, is fully aware that things could go a number of ways…
- He could come in and fully “redshirt”, memorize the playbook, and prepare himself, physically for the rigors that lie ahead in 2027.
- He could come in, compete, be QB2, and get valuable playing time, perhaps saving his redshirt in the process, and be even more ready in 2027.
- He could come in and Win the job, outright, and do all of the above, and be the next Trevor Lawrence or Johnny Manziel and take his lumps along the way.
Put yourself in Kiesean’s shoes.
Any of these are possibilities, but, I see #2 as the “most likely”. It is also the option that is the best, long term, for Keisean, Connor, and UH Football.
None of those options are bad for Keisean or UH. Only option 3 is a negative for Connor. But I don’t believe Connor will bolt because he is afraid he will get beat out for the position. Does he think it “could” happen? I’m sure he does, but I don’t think he believes it “will” happen.
Even if Keisean is the better player, physically, from day 1, it would take a full season for him to gain all the nuances of being a successful Division 1 Quarterback to be on the level he will, eventually, need to fulfill his God-given potential.
Again, it’s not just about what we’d like to see happen, or even what is likely to happen. It’s also about what is the “best” thing that could happen. We don’t get to decide that. The Coaches also don’t get to decide that, right now.
Connor and Keisean will decide that in Spring and Fall practices in 2026, with what they show the coaching staff.
Isn’t this a really good problem to have?
Don’t you think there are over 100 other programs that would love to have this “problem”?
…and I DO think Connor has demonstrated he is QB1 and, I know it’s difficult to comprehend, but it’s very likely he will have an even better cast of players around him next Fall than he had this year.
Unless you think Willie just got “lucky” last year in the portal. In which case, Keisean would suffer just like Connor would, if the players around him, on offense, regress.
Personally, I don’t think Willie got “lucky”…
I predicted 6-6 with an 8-4 ceiling. I was wrong and I’ll gladly eat my crow! We have a shot at a double digit win season. Last power conference double digit win season we had was 35 years ago!
Everything you’re saying makes sense, but if Keisean would ever consider redshirting, why would he do it at UH?
He has offers from the top programs in the entire country, and those offers are for Quarterback.
He’s not coming to UH to play bench. I promise you that. UH is also not playing the game of wait and see. UH wants results now, and Keisean could be the KEI to those results. Is it guranteed? No, but Weigman hasn’t really shown that he will gurantee UH a championship either.
Weigman is a a 4th year QB. The jump from year 4 to year 5 is not going to be as dramatic as you think.
Like I said, I agree that Keisean hasn’t played against the toughest HS divisions, but that’s not the only determining factor in recruit rankings. There are many high ranked recruits that don’t play in the toughest divisions.
To respond to your last point - Connor did not have a lot of options coming out of the portal when he announced the decision at A&M. He had schools like Auburn and Wisconsin, but he chose Houston because he probably felt he would shine the brightest in a somewhat easier level of competition. It’s not like Connor was getting offers from Bama and Ohio State while in the portal.
Weigman got elite offers out of high school, but his career didn’t pan out the way many pundits thought it would → whether due to injuries, inconsistency, etc… It just didn’t.
Keisean, on the other hand, IS getting offers from those tiers of schools, and unfortunately, UH has to play a little politics to keep Keisean.
UH is simply not at the luxury to tell a 5 star QB recruit what to do. Only the elite of the elite can do that.
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