Former Texas A&M quarterback and 5-star recruit Kyle Allen is headed to Houston, Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle first reported Tuesday. Allen will spend the 2016 season redshirting behind Greg Ward Jr., a 2015 dark horse in the Heisman Trophy race and early name surfacing for the 2016 award, giving head coach Tom Herman a smooth transition into 2017.
Houston’s less than a week removed from completing one of the best seasons in program history, and the Cougars’ #HTownTakeover is just getting started.
Kyle Allen arrives along with a 2016 recruiting class, currently ranked No. 25 in the nation per 247Sports’ consensus metrics. The Herman Effect was already evident before Houston’s new coach ever trod the sidelines, but now that the Cougars have a wildly successful season in his tenure, the good times are just beginning.
Houston’s rise to 13 wins, an American Athletic Conference championship and Peach Bowl defeat of Florida State is one of the primary case studies for my in-depth look at building up college football programs. The Cougars are at a new height, but can continue to set the standard higher.
Stellar recruiting classes are one obvious part of the equation, and a mix of both local preps and high-potential transfers, like Allen, have Houston heading in the right direction long-term. The retention of coaching staff helps, too, and the Kyle Allen news coincides with offensive coordinator Major Applewhite spurning the head-coaching vacancy at Texas State to remain in Houston.
Major Applewhite will not interview at Texas State and says he’s happy at UH: https://t.co/JSl9VZIXdI #HTownTakeover #GoCoogs
— CardiacCoogs.com (@cardiaccoogs) January 4, 2016
#HTownTakeover is fast becoming a #TexasTakeover. Herman and Co. are taking advantage of a prime opportunity to stage a Lone Star State coup, with each of the two most historically prominent programs suffering downturns.
Houston’s now a direct beneficiary of A&M’s struggles thanks to Allen’s transfer. Aggie head coach Kevin Sumlin went from being one of the profession’s hottest names, to occupying one of its hottest seats in seemingly record time. Sumlin split with offensive coordinator Jake Spavital Monday, less than a week after A&M’s bowl-game loss to Louisville.
Charlie Strong’s challenges at Texas are well-documented, and the Longhorns’ problems predate their current head coach by a few years. Both Texas and A&M suffering through periods of stagnation present prime opportunity for other programs to flourish.
Baylor’s taken advantage. So has TCU. Houston appears to be third in line to seize the opening Texas’ two heavyweights left.
