UH running back John Hebert was hurt on kickoff coverage in Saturday’s win after scoring a pair of touchdowns earlier this season.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
University of Houston freshman running back John Hebert is expected to miss the remainder of the season, coach Willie Fritz said Monday.
Hebert suffered an apparent lower leg injury on kickoff coverage late in Saturday’s win against UCF.
“He was really playing well for us,” Fritz said.
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Hebert was scheduled to be evaluated by team doctors Monday afternoon.
“They may tell me something different,” Fritz said. “From preliminary indications, he’s going to be out for the year, unfortunately.”
Hebert, a record-setting running back with more than 8,000 career rushing yards at Strake Jesuit, had his best game in Week 2 against Southern, scoring two touchdowns. He had a 20-yard touchdown reception from Keisean Henderson and scored on a 7-yard run. He averaged 25 yards on four kickoff returns this season.
D.J. Butler is the likely candidate to replace Hebert on kickoffs. Myles Rowser, who was ruled eligible before Saturday’s game, got some reps on kickoffs.
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“We had him running down the field on kickoffs,” Fritz said.
Linebacker Jaden Yates injured
Linebacker Jaden Yates’ status for Saturday’s game at Kansas State is unclear after he was injured against UCF.
Yates was injured in the first half and spent the rest of the game on crutches.
Yates was scheduled to be evaluated late Monday. Fritz said he will be included on the Big 12 availability report, which is released Wednesday.
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“I’m not sure if he’s going to be able to go or not,” Fritz said. “I’m going to wait until the doctors give me the final word.”
Yates is tied with safety Kentrell Webb for the team lead with 29 tackles.
Sione Fotu and Carmycah Glass will assume the starting duties at the two linebacker spots, while Richmond Ugochukwu and Christian Brathwaite fill the backup spots.
Playing time for Myles Rowser and Stephon Johnson
Safety Myles Rowser and wide receiver Stephon Johnson are expected to see their most significant playing time of the season Saturday at Kansas State. The two players received a temporary restraining order late Friday that made them eligible.
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Both had been ineligible for the first four games while awaiting rulings on their requests for a fifth year of eligibility.
“We’re excited about having those guys fully available,” Fritz said after Saturday’s game.
Fritz was asked about playing the two players amid the uncertainty surrounding the court rulings.
“This process has been a little different,” Fritz said. “Obviously, it’s never happened in my career. We’re hoping it all works out properly, but right now we’ve got them and we’re going to play them.”
Fritz said Johnson “has an advantage” because he knows the system after playing the last three seasons at UH. Rowser, who signed with UH in late August, received a few snaps on the Cougars’ kickoff coverage unit.
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Rowser spent two seasons at Arizona State, where he was a two-year starter and an All-Big 12 selection.
Kicker Jonathan Dimas honored
Kicker Jonathan Dimas was named the Big 12’s special teams player of the week on Monday.
Dimas made field goals of 40 and 46 yards in the fourth quarter and all of his extra-point attempts in the Cougars’ 27-17 win over UCF. The 46-yarder was a career high for Dimas, who is the first UH player this season to receive a Big 12 weekly honor.
Dimas, who won the placekicking job in preseason camp, is 6-of-6 on field goals and 25-of-26 on PATs.
A prime time start
UH’s Oct. 17 game against Oklahoma State is set for prime time.
The Top 25 showdown at TDECU Stadium will kick off at 6:30 p.m. and air on Fox, the Big 12 announced Monday.
The No. 22 Cougars (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) play at Kansas State on Saturday. No. 18 Oklahoma State (3-1, 1-0) hosts UCF.
The last time both teams were ranked for a game at TDECU Stadium was Dec. 5, 2015, when No. 17 UH hosted No. 20 Temple in the American Athletic Conference championship game.
It will be only the second Big 12 home game the Cougars have played at night since 2024.
Only six of UH’s 16 conference home games since joining the Big 12 in 2023 have been at night.
Athletic director Eddie Nuñez told the Houston Chronicle last week that the Cougars had “earned the opportunity” to host night games.