The Houston Cougars have faced a tough time since joining the Big 12. But now, things are getting serious for them. The Cougars may have limped to a 4–8 record in 2024, but the ace up Willie Fritz’s sleeve isn’t even in uniform yet. His name? Keisean Henderson. The baddest five-star dual-threat to hit H-Town since Ed Oliver made it cool to stay home. And he’s not just here to compete. He’s here to lead, rebuild, and send a message—loud and clear.

Keisean Henderson had Houston fans on edge earlier this month. The 5-star QB commit announced he’d be making an official visit to Florida State. That set off alarms: Was FSU flashing NIL cash? Was Henderson second-guessing what Willie Fritz is building at Houston? But just days later, Henderson shut it all down.

“I felt the love from day one,” he told On3’s Hayes Fawcett. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be. #Kei2dacity.” With that, the Cougars’ future QB made it clear—he’s locked in.

The Elite 11 stage in California turned into a full-blown Cougars commercial the moment Henderson sat down with 247Sports’ Tom Loy. When asked why he stuck with Houston over bluebloods like Ohio State, Auburn, and FSU, Henderson didn’t flinch and gave big props to HC: “From day one, Coach [Willie] Fritz has believed in me and everything that I’ve done. Between him, Coach Shawn Bell (QB coach), Coach Slade Nagle (OC)—even when they was at different places, they all believed in me. It was just a blessing to have everybody come together, and it made it like an easy process for me. And at the end of the day, I feel like it was the best fit for me.” That wasn’t just a pitch. That was conviction.

Henderson didn’t just fall off the hype wagon. He built it. Started as a wide receiver freshman year and still posted 74 catches, over 1,100 yards, and 14 touchdowns. Then he switched to quarterback and instantly began dissecting defenses like he had cheat codes. Last fall? 2,689 yards through the air, 25 TDs, and another 7 rushing for the road. Not to mention, he became the first underclassman to win MVP at the Navy All-American Bowl, going 5-for-5 with a score.

And if there’s any doubt about what kind of presence he brings to Houston, Henderson spelled it out himself. “Player-wise, you can expect a leader, somebody who’s gonna stand up, take the blame for any occasion possible, somebody who wants to take that extra foot to learn and grow as a person. Charismatic, just bright personality.” 

Recruiting experts can’t stop drooling. Tom Loy straight up said, “[Keisean] is the real deal… I feel great about Houston keeping him in the class.” And if you’re Fritz, you better treat him like the holy grail because this commitment might be the most important recruiting win since Ed Oliver. Difference? This one’s going to touch the ball every play.

Anonymous Big 12 HC gives big props to Willie Fritz

Don’t get it twisted—Houston’s record might’ve been a mess last season, but folks inside the Big 12 are peeping the blueprint. And one anonymous Big 12 head coach didn’t hold back when Athlon asked him about Fritz’s program. “Fritz isn’t a guy who rushes anything,” he said. “I think this year is a step in the right direction, but they’re still a year off.” That isn’t a knock—it’s a heads-up. Fritz is playing chess while the rest are still playing connect-four.

If you’ve followed Willie Fritz’s career, none of this should surprise you. He’s turned five different programs into winners—some from literal football graveyards. And the Houston gig? It’s his Power Four trial by fire. Last year’s offensive numbers were brutal—just 14 points a game, 133rd out of 134 teams. Things were dire, so he went back to his proven methods.

“It’s all about the offense,” the coach continued. “Willie went back to what he knows, bringing Slade Nagle back onto the staff. They grabbed Conner Weigman… and they’re going to look a lot more like those Tulane systems from a few years ago.” In other words, Fritz is about to run it back with the same formula that cooked defenses in the AAC. It’s vintage Fritz, but now he has bigger weapons, like quarterback Conner Weigman.

Still, even the best blueprint needs sturdy bricks. And the biggest void? That offensive line. “This was the worst O-line in our league,” another coach said. “Easy to hassle the QB, not very tough up front.” Without some big-time growth there, even Henderson’s future could be in danger.

But defensively, they’re cooking. Houston’s D wasn’t just serviceable—it flashed real upside. “Defensively, they did a lot of stuff really well in the first year,” a Big 12 coach added. “And they’ve built on that in recruiting.” If the defense can keep games close, even a mediocre offense can steal some wins. Throw in a maturing roster and a confident QB pipeline? It’s not impossible to see this thing flipping sooner than expected.

The Cougars open 2025 with Stephen F. Austin on August 28. By September 12, they’ll face Deion’s Colorado squad in Big 12 play. Could be the beginning of a breakthrough—or just another growing pain.