The 2027 Rice Football Recruiting class has grabbed another defensive stopper. Linebacker Connor Rooney has committed to the Owls.
The Sunshine State has secured its first pledge in the 2027 Rice Football recruiting class, landing a rangy, middle-of-the-field general to its ranks as the summer marches on. Linebacker Connor Rooney has committed to the Owls.
Rooney had more than a dozen offers at the time of his decision to commit to Rice. He picked the Owls over offers from Syracuse, Southern Miss, South Alabama, Charlotte, Army, Navy, Air Force, Middle Tennessee and others.
Following a burst of pledges on the offensive side of the ball, Rooney is just the second defender in the class so far. The first was corner Jacob Lee, who made his announcement in favor of the Owls roughly a month prior. In total, the class has grown to eight future Owls, and counting.
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Rooney’s athleticism and versatility are quickly apparent when you turn on the tape. He moves well in open space, reads plays well and has a penchant for finding the ball and making plays. He plays with good burst and finishes well. Rice football has developed a host of quality linebackers in recent years. Rooney looks like he might just be the next in that lineage.