The 2026 Rice Football Recruiting class received an influx of talent over the past few weeks. Where do the Owls stand right now and what’s next for this haul?
Roughly a month after the 2025 season ended, the 2026 Rice Football recruiting class is starting to come together. Rice has signees at every level of the sport and all across the nation. including nine Power Four transfers (with one from Notre Dame), eight group of five additions, five from the FCS ranks and two JUCO players.
Beyond the numbers, though, what needs did this class address and what’s left, if anything, for the Owls to do before the 2026 season arrives?
Houston, We have a Quarterback
The sudden departure of starting quarterback Chase Jenkins prior to the Owls’ bowl game made quarterback the number one priority for the 2026 Rice Football Recruiting class when the Transfer Portal opened. Finding a workable solution was a necessity, but the Owls would manage much better than just a passing grade.
In UCF transfer Jacurri Brown, Rice lands a blue-chip player with the type of measurables and athleticism that don’t often set foot on South Main. On paper, he’s the prototypical player for head coach Scott Abell’s scheme. Traits alone don’t make a quarterback, but Brown will instantly become one of the most talented players to take a snap in this scheme as soon as he sets foot on the practice field this spring.
Jenkins with a year of experience under his belt would have been nice, but the upside swing on Brown, who is more athletically gifted than Jenkins, would have been worth the shot even if Jenkins was still on the roster. And that’s not all, Rice landed UNLV transfer Gael Ochoa as a potential long-term option to groom behind Brown this season.
Minimal Meaningful Attrition
Even when accounting for the departure of Jenkins, Rice football did relatively well when it comes to roster defections in this transfer cycle. Of the players with eligibility remaining who would have been expected to start next season, Rice lost linebacker Ty Morris (Rutgers) and safety Marcus Williams (Mississippi State).
Both Morris and Williams got power conference offers and took them. In Williams’ case, as a grad transfer, the staff had to account for his potential loss already. Morris was the only player the Owls were building a future around that left for elsewhere.
Other portal departures included receivers Drayden Dickmann and Semaj Pierre. Both were intriguing pieces who each had some moments on the field this year, but neither had solidified themselves as a go-to option moving forward. Then there’s punter Alex Bacchetta, who was good this year, but far from irreplaceable.
Many of the Owls’ peers suffered much more extensively in the portal, and that includes programs with head coach continuity and more NIL cash to throw at their existing roster.
Key Talent Gaps Addressed
With the quarterback swap accounted for and only a handful of additional roster gaps created through departures, the Rice football staff was able to execute on their most pressing needs coming into this cycle: the defensive secondary and offensive skill talent.
Outside of Jerrick Harper, the corner position needed a full reset. The safety room wasn’t far behind, retaining Daveon Hook but not much else in terms of experienced talent. To address those needs, Rice signed EIGHT (!) transfers this winter, spanning a variety of experience levels and pedigrees.
Sacramento State transfer safety Koa Akui looks like a prime candidate to step into a starting role immediately. Then there’s the addition of AJ Brown (UAB), Caden VerMaas (Nebraska) and Dylan Stephens (JUCO). The defensive staff just needs to find one more starter and will have much more capable depth from that mix.
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The same story is true at corner, where the Owls added Jamir Benjamin (UCLA), Kyren Condoll (Duke), Tariq Watson (UAB) and Zach Cody (Coastal Carolina). Those four and Harper give Rice five capable options from which they’ll need to select two starters.
Given the timing of the coaching transition, Rice couldn’t cast as wide a net in the portal. Aaron Turner was a great find, but the secondary got in trouble when Khary Crump was suspended for his actions in the UTSA game. This time, Rice doubled and tripled down at their positions of greatest need. The numbers should help significantly.
The same goes for the skill positions where the Owls assembled a wide swathe of varying body types and skillsets with one overarching theme: speed. Rice football got significantly faster in this cycle and will benefit from the injection of talented potential ball carriers.
Max Mosey (Holy Cross) and Davis Lane (Virginia) are both veteran players with a lot of snaps under their belts who can play all over the formation. Lane was a running back with the Hoos while Mosey primarily played receiver after being recruited as a dual-threat quarterback. Both will be instant impact pieces to the Rice offense.
Michael Sifford (Army) brings experience in an option offense and multiple years to develop with the Owls, while Ben Grice (Wake Forest) has tantalizing athleticism and can be a plug-and-play option on special teams, at a minimum.
Smaller Holes Filled
Offensive line is one spot where Rice didn’t get numbers, but they did add two proven pieces in Leo Bluhm (Yale) and Scott Becker (Princeton). One of them likely fills the void at center left by departing David Stickle, while the other will compete for a starting job on a unit that needs to increase its physicality. Veteran experience should help on that front.
The same approach was given to the linebacker position, which has to replace the departing Andrew Awe and aforementioned Morris. The staff really likes the young talent behind them, but adding a veteran piece or two here was the right move. Austin Harnetiaux (Nevada) is more of a known commodity while Jesus Machado (Houston) is a high upside swing. If he can prove he’s recovered from injuries, he’s a potential all-conference piece for the Owls
Last, but not least, Rice took one player at tight end, punter and long snapper. Punter Charlie Durkin (Kent State) and long snapper Phoenix Derichsweiler (Tulane) are straightforward fills for departing players. Preston Zinter (Notre Dame) is more intriguing. A defensive end and linebacker for the Irish, the Owls are putting him back on offense where he played in high school. It’s somewhat of an unorthodox bet, but one you can take when you have a returning player you trust at the position already like James Falk.
The Finishing Touches
It’s hard to land on an exact number of available roster spots, but it’s safe to say the Owls are in the home stretch when it comes to finalizing their 2026 roster. If there are gaps in their incoming haul so far, adding more players in the trenches would be a nice cherry on top, particularly on the defensive line.
As it stands, JUCO transfer Brock Reddic is the most experienced defensive add up front. Edge Tariq May is an athletic prospect, but not the polished pass rusher Rice has become accustomed to importing from the Ivy League. Those players aren’t as abundant as the Owls have made it seem, though, and just about every program in the country wants another pass rusher. Landing another impact piece here might be tough, but it sure would be nice.
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On the other side of the ball, one more stab at a prototypical outside pass catcher would be interesting. They’ve added a lot to the slot room, but Cincinnati transfer Barry Jackson is probably the only outside receiver in this class. The Owls proved that piece wasn’t a necessity to run the offense, but if we’re talking nice to haves, that would be one more wish list item.
As it stands, Rice will probably be relying on at least a few internal reinforcements on both lines and trusting its 2026 high school class to step in and contribute. Unlike last year, there is no portal window after spring football, so the candidate pool Rice has to pick from right now is as wide as it will be before the season begins.