The 2024 Rice Football recruiting class has picked up another offensive playmaker. Former Florida wideout Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman has committed to the Owls.
The last few weeks have been somewhat quiet on the Rice Football recruiting front because the Owls have had been carefully selecting what amounts to the finishing touches on their 2024 roster, taking what they perceive to be the most impactful players available to them from the Transfer Portal. They landed another high-upside option this week when they gained a commitment from former Florida wide receiver and Top 100 recruit Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman.
Chiaokhiao-Bowman was a highly regarded member of the 2022 recruiting class and considered a top 10 JUCO wide receiver recruit in the nation and a top 100 JUCO player overall. He had his fair share of suitors at that time before ultimately spending the spring at Independence CC and transferring to Florida in the fall. The Minneapolis, MN native got on the field as a true freshman with the Gators, operating as a receiver receiver and a special teams player. He caught seven passes for 138 yards, averaging a healthy 19.7 yards per catch.
Injuries slowed him this past season, limiting him to two games in a redshirt season. He’ll have three years of eligibility remaining when he arrives on South Main. That’s a lot of football ahead for the 6-foot, 200-pound receiver who should provide an instant infusion of talent and further amp up the competition in the receiver room.
Chiaokhiao-Bowman joins Brown transfer Graham Walker and freshman Owen Carter as the most prominent additions for Rice football at the receiver position in this current recruiting cycle. That’s a lot of talent for a roster tasked with the arduous challenge of replacing Luke McCaffrey.
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As for Chiaokhiao-Bowman, the traits are there and jump off his film. He’s uber-athletic and already seems to run refined routes. He’s produced within an SEC offense and showcased ball skills and speed when given the opportunity. When it comes to Power 5 transfers, this is the kind of player worth betting on. He’ll be a great addition to the Owls’ pass catching stable that continues to grow.
Thai Bowman Film @ The University of Florida (6’1, 200 WR, 3 Years of Eligibility, 3.78 GPA). Pt. 1 pic.twitter.com/imRel9iIRB
— Kham “Thai” Chiaokhiao-Bowman (@ThaiBow4909) December 4, 2023
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