Rice football did not see any players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, but former offensive lineman Brant Banks has since signed with the Green Bay Packers.
Banks began his collegiate career at Nebraska before transferring to South Main before the 2023 season. There, he became a multi-year starter for Rice football, leading the entire team in offensive snaps in his first season, anchoring a line that experienced a myriad of shifting parts along the way.
Following the conclusion of his eligibility, Banks returned to Nebraska for his Pro Day workouts in hopes of catching on with an NFL team either via the NFL Draft or afterwards. The latter came true on Saturday when Banks signed as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers following the end of the draft. That news was first reported by Packers’ insider Zach Jacobson.
His former teammate, Josh Pearcy, signed with the Los Angeles Rams.
Rice Football recent NFL Draft history
Luke McCaffrey was a second-day selection of the Washington Commanders last season, coming off the board at No. 100 overall. He was the first Owl drafted since the Houston Texans selected Christian Covington in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Prior to Covington’s selection, the Owls had sent a steady flow of pros to the next level. From 2009 to 2015 eight Rice football players were selected: Jarret Dillard (2009), James Casey (2009), Cheta Ozougwu (2011), Scott Solomon (2012), Vance McDonald (2013), Luke Wilson (2013), Phillip Gaines (2014), Christian Covington (2015). McDonald was the highest selection, going No. 55 overall to the San Francisco 49ers.
** Photo credit: Maria Lysaker **
