In a significant move for the program, former Houston quarterback Austin Carlisle has announced his commitment to the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) as of January 12. Carlisle is recognized as one of the fastest quarterbacks in the nation, and his addition aims to provide a much-needed boost to ULM”s offense.
During his freshman season at Houston, Carlisle managed to maintain his redshirt while participating in four games, including the Cougars” victory in the Texas Bowl against LSU. Throughout this limited action, he was primarily deployed as a running back and wide receiver, taking occasional jet sweeps and handoffs. He concluded his freshman campaign with six carries totaling 44 rushing yards, with his longest run being a 13-yard gain on a jet sweep against West Virginia.
Interestingly, Carlisle”s only snaps at quarterback came during the final drive of Houston”s 39-17 win over Oklahoma State on October 11, where he did not attempt any passes. His versatility was showcased further as he also practiced as a punt returner. Houston utilized his exceptional speed, which was clocked at 23.7 miles per hour by a GPS tracking system. This impressive speed earned him a ranking as the fastest quarterback in the nation in the EA Sports College Football 26 video game, where he was given an overall speed rating of 92.
At Houston, Carlisle served as a backup to both Conner Weigman and Zeon Chriss-Gremillion. Weigman is set to return, while Chriss-Gremillion has transferred to Tulane. Adding to the competition, Houston recently recruited the top quarterback prospect in the class of 2026, Keisean Henderson, creating a crowded quarterback room.
As Carlisle transitions to ULM, he joins a team striving for its first bowl appearance since 2012, the longest drought in the Football Bowl Subdivision, excluding UMass. ULM returns its main starter from 2025, Aiden Armenta, along with backup Landon Graves. Last season, the Warhawks struggled offensively, ranking 130th in scoring, 118th in total yardage, and 124th in passing yards. As they look to improve in 2026, Carlisle”s presence will add competition and potentially increase his playing time as a redshirt freshman next fall.
