Houston Targets Gladewater Tight End Michael Sanchez

Michael Sanchez hit the FBS level of NCAA Division I recruiting Sunday with an offer from the University of Houston.

The Cougars program is the second to take an interest in Gladewater's enormous senior tight end. It follows Alcorn State, which granted its scholarship opportunity about a month ago, into the ring.

Sanchez (6-5, 327) is a blocking specialist in Gladewater's run-oriented, I-formation offense. However, he did surprise opposing defenses with four catches for 126 yards and one touchdown en route to an area round appearance in the 2016 Class 4A Division II state playoffs and a final record of 8-3.

Some universities might see Sanchez as a lineman at the next level, but Baylor broke the tight end mold in 2015 with LaQuan McGowan, a six-foot-seven and 390-pound former offensive lineman.

McGowan caught two passes, both touchdowns, his senior season and gave Baylor a unique hybrid along the offensive line.

Houston already has a commitment from East Texas' senior class in John Tyler defensive end and linebacker hybrid DeKalen Goodson. It has another 10 offers out for local seniors aside from Sanchez.

The Cougars are transitioning away from Tom Herman to Major Applewhite this offseason. Herman exited for the head coaching position at Texas after amassing a 22-4 record with Houston in two seasons, including a 9-3 regular season in 2016.

Applewhite served as Herman's offensive coordinator both years, has 10 years of coordinator experience in total and another two years of positional coaching experience between stints at Syracuse, Rice, Alabama, Texas and Houston.

Four East Texans will be on Applewhite's first team. Houston's starting quarterback from last season, Greg Ward Jr., and a starting linebacker, Tyus Bowser, also came from the region.

Both former starters are beginning NFL careers.

Sanchez will become eligible to sign with any Division I program that offers him in December.

2018 East Texas Football Players With Division I FBS Offers

• Tre Allison, John Tyler, OLB, 6-2, 211 — committed to SMU; additional offers from Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, Texas State, Tulane, ULL (7)
• Chance Amie, Tyler Lee, QB, 6-3, 190 — offers from Arkansas State, Bowling Green, Central Florida, Cincinnati, Colorado State, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, Houston, Iowa State, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Texas, Rutgers, Southern Miss, Syracuse, Tulane, ULL, Virginia (18)
• Xavier Benson, Pleasant Grove, LB, 6-0, 200 — offers from Arkansas State, Army, Memphis, North Texas, Rice, SMU, Southern Miss, Texas State, Texas Tech, Tulane, ULL, ULM, Wyoming (13)
• Drake Centers, Tatum, OL, 6-3, 296 — offers from SMU, Southern Miss, Texas State (3)
• Kylar Cooks, Liberty-Eylau, OL, 6-5, 252 — offers from Arkansas State, North Texas, Texas State, ULL (4)
• Jeremiah Davis, Lufkin, CB, 5-10, 194 — committed to ULL (1)
• Kris Dike, Van, OL, 6-6, 283 — offers from Colorado, Houston, Memphis, North Texas, Oklahoma State, SMU, TCU, Tulane (8)
• Dekalen Goodson, John Tyler, DE/OLB, 6-2, 209 — committed to Houston; additional offers from Mississippi State, SMU, Texas State, Tulane, ULL (6)
• Trae Hall, Henderson, QB/ATH, 6-3, 185 — offers from Florida Atlantic, New Mexico State, Tulane, ULL, ULM (5)
• Conner Henson, Harmony, OL, 6-3, 243 — offers from ULL, ULM (2)
• Chasen Hines, Marshall, OL, 6-3, 353 — committed to LSU; additional offers from Arizona, Baylor, Louisiana Tech, Minnesota, North Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Rice, Southern Miss, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech (16)
• Tevailance Hunt, Texas High, WR, 6-2, 180 — committed to Kansas; additional offers from Arkansas State, Bowling Green, Florida Atlantic, Houston, Iowa State, Louisiana Tech, Marshall, Memphis, Nevada, North Texas, Oklahoma State, Southern Miss, Tulsa (14)
• Dewaylon Ingram, Carthage, WR, 6-0, 160 — offer from Arkansas State (1)
• Keaontay Ingram, Carthage, RB, 6-0, 198 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Colorado, Florida State, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, LSU, Memphis, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Oregon State, TCU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UCLA, USC, UTSA (27)
• Malik Jackson, Lufkin, WR, 5-8, 163 — offers from Arkansas State, Houston, Texas State (3)
• Kameron King, Marshall, OL, 6-2, 275 — offers from Memphis, North Texas, Tulane, ULM, Southern Miss (5)
• Trevor Lawrence, Whitehouse, DE, 6-4, 245 — offer from ULM (1)
• DeMarvion Overshown, Arp, S, 6-4, 196 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Clemson, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State, LSU, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, SMU, South Carolina, Southern Miss, Stanford, TCU, Texas A&M, UCLA, USC, UTSA (30)
• Leonard Parks, Texas High, DE, 6-5, 230 — offer from ULM (1)
• Michael Sanchez, Gladewater, TE/OL, 6-5, 327 — offer from Houston (1)
• Jonathan Shepherd, Kilgore, WR, 6-3, 196 — committed to Oklahoma State; additional offers from Colorado State, Florida Atlantic, Houston, Kansas State, ULM, Missouri, New Mexico, Memphis, North Texas, Oregon State, Southern Miss, TCU, Texas State, Texas Tech (15)
• DaRyan Williams, Nacogdoches, 5-10,199 — offer from Texas State (1)
• Tyree Wilson, West Rusk, LB, 6-5, 225 — offers from Houston, Kansas, Memphis, Mississippi State, New Mexico, Oklahoma State, SMU, Southern Miss, TCU, Texas State, Tulane, ULL, ULM, Washington State, Wyoming (15)