It also set a UT single-game record with 715 total yards, including 359 on the ground and 356 in the air, against New Mexico State. Offensively the Houston offense ranked third nationally in completion percentage as three different quarterbacks threw for at least 300 yards in a game during the season. Under his guidance, Alabama improved its offensive output by nearly 40 yards per game (335.9 to 373.8) and increased its scoring from 22.9 points per game to 27.1. Brown being named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press. Newton. In 2012, the running backs combined for nearly 2,000 rushing yards, including 701 by freshman Johnathan Gray who earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors. • King etched his name in The American’s record books as he totaled 50 touchdowns in his 10-and-half games, breaking the previous record of 45 set by UCF’s McKenzie Milton in 2017. Houston has fired coach Major Applewhite after two seasons with the program, the school announced Sunday. Newton combined with junior Vondrell McGee, Johnson and Whittaker, who each had at least 50 carries. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. • Five members of the Houston program earned postseason honors as defensive tackle Ed Oliver, linebacker Austin Robinson and receiver Marquez Stevenson earned first team all-conference honors from The American Athletic Conference. The group did not lose a fumble during the entire season and showed its versatility by combining for 65 receptions for 640 yards and three TDs, led by Ogbonnaya, who set the UT single-season record for receptions by a running back with 46. • Oliver became the first three-time All-American in program history as he earned first team honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the FWAA while receiving second team honors from Sports Illustrated. •?­In Applewhite's one year at Alabama, the Crimson Tide bounced back from a losing season in 2006 to post a 7-6 record under first-year coach Nick Saban. 10 national ranking as a senior. 3 Big 12). 14 in passing offense with 300.9 yards per game and No. Ogbonnaya, McGee, Whittaker and Johnson stepped in and combined to rush for 1,371 yards and 20 TDs, including 12 TDs by Johnson, which tied the UT freshman record. 12 Michigan in the Rose Bowl and earned a No. a redshirt freshman, emerged to lead the team in rushing, helping fill the void of Ogbonnaya, who was drafted by the St. Louis Rams. Following a team evacuation to Austin concluded and a cancellation of the season-opener at UTSA, Applewhite rallied his team to a seven-win season and a program-record fifth straight bowl game appearance, finishing second in The American West. J. Dan Brown Family Player Development Center. In Applewhite’s one year at Alabama, the Crimson Tide bounced back from a losing season in 2006 to post a 7-6 record under first-year coach Nick Saban. • Robinson led The American in tackles, totaling 116 stops on the year, two of four Houston players in the league’s top four as Roman Brown was fourth with 105 stops. He capped his career by throwing for a UT record 473 yards and a Longhorn-bowl-game best four TDs en route to Offensive MVP honors in a 47-43 victory over No. The versatility of the offense was evident with seven different players recording rushing touchdowns and eight players pulling in receiving touchdowns. Stoops, who was Arizona’s head coach from 2004 to 2011, was most recently Oklahoma’s defensive coordinator from 2012 until being fired in October. His offense generated 256 yards passing and 388 total yards to cap the year with a 30-24 win over Colorado in the Independence Bowl. • Applewhite, who has 15 years of coaching experience including seven as an offensive coordinator, has coached in 13 bowl games, four of which have been the New Year’s Six variety including the 2010 BCS National Championship. • Applewhite returned to his alma mater after spending the 2007 season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama, where he was the youngest coordinator on the FBS level. Matt Zenitz is an Alabama and Auburn reporter for the Alabama Media Group. • Houston was led by the Earl Campbell Award winner - junior quarterback Greg Ward Jr., who was one of only two players nationally to rush for over 1,000 yards and throw for over 1,400 yards, finishing the regular season with 1,108 rushing yards and 2,828 passing yards. The explosiveness of the offense was also evident as Houston ranked No. Four different backs recorded five or more rushing touchdowns and four players had over 300 rushing yards, led by Malcolm Brown (707 yards, 5 TD), who missed five games due to injury in 2012, and Bergeron (454 yards, 5 TD). •?The running backs rushed for 1,665 yards and 24 TDs in 2009. The 2006 Rice offense produced a 109-point improvement in scoring over the previous season. The Tide has also hired Mike Stoops this offseason. 5 nationally with 89 plays of at least 20 yards and No. Joe Bergeron also posted 16 rushing TDs, which was second in the Big 12. • Houston was one of only six programs nationally with three players pulling in at least 675 receiving yards led by Linell Bonner who became Houston's 19th 1,000-yard receiver with 98 receptions for 1,118 yards, ranking fifth nationally with an average of 8.2 receptions per game. •?In 2008, Applewhite guided a running backs unit that had to replace Jamaal Charles, who went to the NFL. Coogs’ Corner Podcast– Featuring Chris Pezman, video platform powered by CBS Sports Digital, Houston, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks, Texas, Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks, Texas, Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs, Texas, Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs, Alabama, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks. 20 in rushing offense with 227.7 yards per game. Brown was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press. He was 25-2 as a starter. • Despite facing five of the nation’s top-20 scoring offenses, Houston finished the year second in The American in scoring defense while sophomore defensive tackle Ed Oliver won the Outland Trophy and was a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy. • Bonner, Steven Dunbar (53 receptions) and Chance Allen (56 receptions) were also one of just eight trios nationwide with 50 receptions each and one of two in The American Conference, joining Tulsa in accomplishing the feat. Newton combined with junior Vondrell McGee, Johnson and Whittaker, who each had at least 50 carries. During Applewhite's tenure, the current Texas RBs who have started at least one game in their careers fumbled only 12 times and lost only three. Houston parted ways with Applewhite Dec. 30. The group did not lose a fumble during the entire season and showed its versatility by combining for 65 receptions for 640 yards and three TDs, led by Ogbonnaya, who set the UT single-season record for receptions by a running back with 46. Before his stint at Rice, Applewhite joined former Longhorn defensive coordinator Greg Robinson at Syracuse where he served as quarterbacks coach in 2005. The 1999 co-Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year set then-UT records for career (8,353) and season (3,357/1999) passing yards, as well as career TD passes (60). He was tabbed an honorable mention prep All-America by USA Today after leading Catholic High to a 13-1 record and No.