STARS OF 2008:

QB Case Keenum -- The rising redshirt sophomore completed 68.5 percent of his throws with 14 TDs and 10 INTs last season after winning the QB battle with Blake Joseph.

DE Phillip Hunt -- The 6-2, 250-pound rising senior led the conference with 10.5 sacks last season and also had 18 tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He will demand double-teams.

RB Terrance Ganaway -- The rising sophomore has a bruising running style and showed flashes of his potential in limited carries last season. Ganaway ran for 550 yards on 109 carries (5.0 average) and scored six touchdowns.

TOP NEWCOMERS

RB Justin Johnson -- The 6-1, 230-pound rising redshirt freshman can get the tough yards between the tackles.

DB Jackie Hinton Jr. -- The 5-11, 187-pound freshman could return kicks immediately.

LB Jarvis Smith -- The 6-2, 215-pound freshman has good speed and ideal size for Houston's scheme.

LB Anthony Lewis -- The 6-1, 200-pound freshman was a one-man wrecking crew as a high school senior, with seven sacks, seven forced fumbles and 100 tackles. He could help immediately.

ROSTER REPORT

--OL SirVincent Rogers, a 6-4, 315-pounder who missed most of 2006 and all of 2007 with a knee injury, is 100 percent and is expected to start.

--WR L.J. Castile, a rising redshirt sophomore, is a terrific athlete who used to play quarterback. He will be counted on at receiver due to the departures of Donnie Avery and Jeron Harvey. The biggest question is whether he can limit his drops.

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