Linebacker Kenny Seymour from Fort Bend Marshall has committed to the Owls. He’s the third member of the 2021 Rice Football recruiting class.
The commitment train has not slowed down for the 2021 Rice Football recruiting class. Rice had no commitments in the class entering March. Over the course of a week, they’ve picked up three. Offensive lineman Faaeanuu Pepe from Orange, CA was first. Defensive lineman Blake Boenisch from Needville, TX was next. The Owls’ third pledge in four days on Wednesday came with the commitment of Houston’s own Kenny Seymour from Fort Bend Marshall.
Seymour is the first linebacker in the class and one of the Owls’ most sought-after candidates at the position. Like the prior two commitments, Rice was the first FBS program to offer Seymour, extending him an invitation to come play at South Main in mid-January. He later received offers from Dartmouth, Penn and Air Force.
The effectiveness with which Rice football recruiting is able to land their targets is second to none. Seymour marks the third of the Owls’ first two dozen offers to commit to Rice. The bulk of those offers (and commitments) came in the last eight weeks.
Seymour’s draw to the program was strong from the start. He cited the trajectory of the program as one of the reasons he knew Rice was the place for him. “The mindset of the players [is] cohesive with the coaching staff,” he said. “The trajectory is going up… and fast.”
On the field, there’s a lot to like about Seymour’s game. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker moves like he was fired out of a canon. He’s a tremendous tackler in the open field and an aggressive pursuer. He has a knack for finding the ball carrier, and he has the size and strength to take him down. He’ll slide into one of the insider linebacker spots when he arrives on campus.
The Rice linebacker room is one of the deepest on the team. Adding the right pieces at the position, like Seymour, will make them a mainstay on the defense for years to come. Seymour welcomes the opportunity and the competition. “I have every bit of faith that the [coaching staff] will set me up for success,” he said. His knowledge of the game and ability to process plays quickly and confidently will both serve him well at the next level.
