Since 2013, the Houston Cougars have signed five players from John Tyler. And by February, Lions 2019 wide receiver and Houston commit Ke’Andre Street will be the sixth.

Greg Ward, Tyus Bowser, Braylon Jones, Bryson Smith, and Dekalen Goodson blazed the path for Street.

“Obviously we have a connection, but I like their playbook, it’s similar to JT,” Street said. “They run a spread offense and also like giving the receivers the ball.”

But Street’s connection to the Cougars goes beyond that.

“I’ve also been on the Houston campus numerous times and the love they showed me is just unbelievable,” he said. “And also the relationship I have with (receivers coach Kenny Guiton) played a huge role.”

Street (6-3, 200) is No. 9 on ETSN.fm’s East Texas 25, a list of the area’s top recruits in the 2019 class.

The JT playmaker chose Houston over several others, including Boston College, North Texas, Southern Miss, and Syracuse.

The road to Street’s commitment wasn’t always enjoyable.

“At first the process was hard for me to trust,” he said. “Because many coaches will tell you what you want to hear, and I didn’t know which was real or fake. But as I got recruited I realized if just play ball my talent will not go unrecognized.”

Street’s talent was on full display last season. John Tyler was breaking in several new impact players on offense, including at quarterback. But Street’s numbers not only didn’t suffer, they improved.

He finished 2017 with 36 catches for 873 yards and 11 touchdowns — all team highs.

“I matured a lot over the summer,” Street said. “And I knew someone had to step up and play a big role knowing there wasn’t going to be any more Bryson Smith or Damion Miller. So was I was telling myself, ‘why not me?”

Street credits his football IQ as one of his biggest strengths.

“Knowing the defense coverage because once you know what type of coverage they’re in it helps you on knowing how to run your routes and get open,” he said.

That certainly gives Street a leg up, but he knows there is more work to be done.

“I’ve gotten faster but ain’t no such thing as being just fast enough,” he said. “So that’s one thing I’m working on improving.”

For now Street, who has yet to set his official visit date, doesn’t plan on signing until February and will enroll at Houston next summer.

East Texas 25 Class of 2019

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