Houston Cougars on the Prowl for 2022 Recruiting Class

With the advent of the College Football Playoff system and a seemingly endless number of postseason bowl games after the regular season, many fans forget that one of the real reasons for the myriad of bowls is national exposure to a particular college program.

In the case of the Houston Cougars, an 11-2 regular season capped off with the AAC championship game topped off with a Birmingham Bowl win over Auburn means great exposure on the national level for the University of Houston football program.

Head coach Dana Holgorsen has amassed another solid early signing 2022 recruit class, and these young players will no doubt be looking for their opportunity to make an impact this coming season.

WR Matthew Golden

WR Matthew Golden leads the way at the top of the 2022 recruiting class. Coming out of local Klein Cain HS in Houston, Golden garnered 3,242 receiving yards in high school, including 32 TD’s, and had two 1,000-yard seasons as well.

Golden is 6’ and 190 pounds and during this past season posted solid numbers with 74 receptions, 1,416 yards total, and 12 TDs. Golden also is a solid kick returner and was an Al-District player as both a WR and a special team player. Golden was originally committed to TCU, but after the departure of Gary Patterson, he reopened his commitment list and landed back in his hometown.

CB Moses Alexander

CB Moses Alexander is another solid 2022 recruit, and the athletic, 6’3” 185 pounder is a JUCO transfer from Kilgore College. While at Kilgore, Alexander was named as a first-team Southwest Junior College All-Star and had a breakout season in 2021 with 21 tackles, five pass breakups, and one INT in ten games this past year. Alexander is another Houston area recruit originally hailing from Galveston Ball HS.

Joining Alexander in the secondary will be Dorian Friend out of Spring HS. A friend was a three-star recruit, and he had an outstanding senior year as the 5’9” corner registered 30 tackles and seven passes defended during the 2021 season. A friend was also offered scholarships by Memphis, Texas A&M, and Oregon.

DE Nadame Tucker

JUCO transfer Nadame Tucker should be able to compete for a defensive end position this spring and should have a solid impact on the Houston D line. Tucker spent 2021 at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, and the 6’3”, 245 pounder was credited with 50 tackles, 12 sacks, and two forced fumbles in eleven games.

Tucker started at Independence Community College, and the New Jersey native chose UH over Arizona State, Memphis, UTSA, Kansas, and other programs.

DT Asi Langi

Another JUCO addition is Asi Langi from Independence Community College. The Lihue, HI native is a 6’6”, 310 lb. defensive tackle, and Langi had a good 2021 season with 27 tackles and five tackles for loss.

Maryland, Tennessee, and Nebraska all gave Langi scholarship offers, but he chose to come and play for UH.

LB Treylin Payne

Shoring up the defensive recruit class is LB Treylin Payne from Judson HS in Converse, TX. Payne is a 6’, 200-pound speedster who was a three-star recruit. Payne was able to post great numbers in his senior season with 95 tackles and three sacks in seven games this past year.

In his junior year, Payne also posted an impressive 100 tackles and two INTs. Payne was heavily recruited by Boston College, Coastal Carolina, Navy, Army, and other programs, and he should be ready to compete for a starting position beginning in spring football drills.