Rice Football Recruiting: WR Artis Cole commits to Owls

The 2025 Rice Football recruiting class just picked up more offensive reinforcements. Former Louisiana-Monroe wideout Artis Cole has committed to the Owls.

The spring additions to the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class have come from near and far with several new faces taking multiple stops along their college football journey before arriving on South Main. The latest pledge is no different, hoping to make his mark in his lone season with Rice. Louisiana-Monroe wide receiver Artis Cole has committed to the Owls.

Cole went the junior college route out of high school before transferring to Fresno State prior to the 2023 season. He redshirted that year with the Bulldogs, not appearing in any games before transferring to Louisiana-Monroe and seeing his first FBS action in 2024. He caught 13 passes for 168 yards and one touchdown, appearing in 12 games for the Warhawks.

Now the 6-foot, 190-pound receiver is heading to Rice, where he’ll join an offensive skill group that has picked up a few pieces in the spring transfer season so far. Prior to Cole’s commitment, the Owls received commitments from Coastal Carolina slot receiver Max Balthazar as well as Kennesaw State quarterback Lucas Scheerhorn.

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There’s not a ton of tape on Cole, but the highlights that are out there give a good feel for the type of weapon he could be on South Main. He’s a big, physical receiver who is hard to bring down on first contact and has some innate playmaking ability. Adding that type of player this late in the cycle is a low-risk addition with upside to bolster the receiver room this fall.