The 2019 Rice football recruiting class continues to grow, adding high-caliber players from across the nation. Defensive end Joshua Pearcy is the newest Owl.
More: Complete list of 2019 Rice football commits after the early signing period
It’s been a good month for Rice football recruiting. The Owls continue to add to what’s shaping up to be a second impressive class under head coach Mike Bloomgren. The latest addition, defensive end Joshua Pearcy, further confirms the Owls are heading in the right direction.
A New Jersey native, Pearcy was in high demand across the country. At the time of his commitment to Rice, he held offers from Army, Temple, UMass, Harvard, Yale and others. Pearcy is the only defensive end in the 2019 class thus far, making his addition all the more important.
Although he’ll most likely line up with his hand in the dirt for the Owls, Pearcy’s athleticism offers plenty of versatility on the field. He’s quick with great ball skills, even showcasing his abilities in coverage in some of his high school film.
The defensive line returning in 2019 already profiled to be one of the deeper units on the team. Zach Abercrumbia will be back in the middle, as will Roe Wilkins. The outside is a bit more open, affording an opportunity for a player of Pearcy’s caliber to come in and play meaningful minutes out of the gate. As was the case with some of the key recruiting additions last year, it might not be long before Pearcy is a starter for this defense in 2019.
Pearcy has the potential to be an impact player on the defense in short order. Nabbing someone of his caliber is another big win for the Owls.