Rice football head coach Mike Bloomgren has named redshirt freshman Wiley Green the starting quarterback following a competition with grad transfer Tom Stewart.
Rice football has their QB1. Head coach Mike Bloomgren has named Wiley Green the starting quarterback. He wins the job over incoming grad transfer Tom Stewart, who joined the Owls this summer from Harvard. The decision was made in the week leading up to the Owls’ first game of the season against Army.
Green had a big spring and continued to progress in his command of the offense during fall camp. He mastered the playbook and understands the finer details of the offensive scheme. He led the competition throughout fall camp, securing the job following a strong showing at the Owls final scrimmage.
Green appeared in four games as a true freshman last season, taking advantage of the new redshirt rule to preserve a year of eligibility while still gaining meaningful on field experience. He threw for 621 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions. He added two rushing scores, including his first collegiate touchdown against North Texas. Green led Rice to their first conference win in the Mike Bloomgren era, starting the team’s season-ending victory over Old Dominion.
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Ideally, the Owls hope to trust Green with the majority of the snaps this season. Stewart will be the presumptive backup to Green who did struggle with injuries during the 2018 season. Behind him will be redshirt sophomore Evan Marshman who appeared in two games last season. Redshirt freshman Parker Towns and true freshman Jovoni Johnson could see scattered action in the running game.
Read more about Green and the other faces in the Owls’ quarterback room in the 2019 Rice Football Season Preview, now available for purchase.
Green and the Owls return to action on August 30 in their season opener against Army.
