Defensive Standouts to Watch for Houston Football in 2025
- Dante
- Jul 21
- 2 min read
The Houston Cougars enter the 2025 college football season with a quietly confident defense that showed promise in 2024. Under the guidance of head coach Willie Fritz and defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong, the Cougars fielded a top-50 FBS defense last year despite struggles on the offensive side of the ball. With four starters returning and several high-potential transfers stepping in, three defensive players stand out as key contributors for Houston’s defensive hopes in the upcoming season.
One of the most intriguing additions is defensive end Eddie Walls III, a fifth-year player who transferred from Florida International University (FIU) after starting his career at Bethune-Cookman. In 2024, Walls registered five sacks, six tackles for loss, and three quarterback hurries for FIU. While pressure stats were not fully recorded, his physical presence (6-foot-4, 250 pounds) makes him a formidable edge rusher (Postins). With the Big 12 demanding elite pass rushing to counter high-powered offenses, Walls could be a difference-maker in Armstrong’s defensive scheme.
Jesus Machado, a linebacker who followed Fritz from Tulane, returns from a knee injury that sidelined him in 2024. Before his transfer, Machado made a name for himself with the Green Wave, where he played in 45 games and totaled 150 tackles, including a career-high 98 tackles in 2023. His leadership and proven production at the FBS level provide a stabilizing force for the Cougars' linebacker unit. Machado’s experience in high-stakes games, such as the 2022 American Athletic Conference title win and Cotton Bowl victory over USC, make his return a potential turning point for the defense.
Another name to watch in the secondary is cornerback Latrell McCutchin Jr., who originally transferred from USC and had to sit out a year due to previous transfer rules. In 2024, he started all 12 games for Houston and delivered a career-high 37 tackles along with three pass breakups and a blocked kick. McCutchin also proved his value on special teams, earning an 80.9 Pro Football Focus grade—eighth among all Big 12 players in that category. With former starting corner Jeremiah Wilson departing, McCutchin will be tasked with anchoring a rebuilt secondary aiming to stay among the top 30 in pass defense nationally.
As the Cougars look to take another step forward under Fritz in year two, the defense appears to be a foundation they can rely on. With impact players at each level—edge rush, linebacker, and secondary—Houston could surprise Big 12 opponents and make a push for a bowl game.
