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Rice Football Recruiting: P Charlie Durkin commits to Owls

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A Transfer Portal addition on the special teams front has joined the 2026 Rice Football recruiting class. Former Kent State punter Charlie Durkin has committed to the Owls.

After making a splash with additions on the offense and defensive side of the ball, the 2026 Rice Football Recruiting has its first new member on special teams. Former Kent State punter Charlie Durkin has committed to the Owls.

Durkin slides into a roster spot vacated by departing punter Alex Bacchetta, who elected to transfer from the Owls’ program this winter after an improved campaign in 2025.

Bacchetta’s 2024 season bears a striking resemblance to Durkin’s 2025. Last year Bacchetta averaged 41.2 yards per punt with a 37.7 net, whereas this season Durkin averaged 41.1 yards per punt with a 37.0 net. Bacchetta boosted both marks by about three yards this year. If Durkin can make a similar stride he could prove to be a steal for the Owls in this cycle.

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Durkin marks the fourth D1 transfer to join the class to this point. The headliner is UCF quarterback Jacurri Brown, but Rice also added second-year quarterback Gael Ochoa from UNLV as well as corner Zach Cody from Coastal Carolina.

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Rice Football Recruiting: QB Gael Ochoa commits to Owls

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The 2026 Rice Football recruiting class doubled down at the most important position, adding another passer to the fold. Former UNLV quarterback Gael Ochoa has committed to the Owls.

The departure of multiple quarterbacks this offseason left a pair of spots to be addressed at the position in the 2026 Rice Football Recruiting class. The staff took a two-pronged approach, adding an instant-impact grad transfer and a younger player to develop. The latter is the Owls’ potential future at the position. Former UNLV quarterback Gael Ochoa has committed to the Owls.

A Texas native from El Paso, Ochoa signed with UNLV out of high school. He redshirted during the 2024 season before being jumped in line at the position when the Rebels added Virginia transfer Anthony Colandrea and Michigan quarterback Alex Orji. With the uncertainty surrounding that position at UNLV right now, Ochoa opted for the portal and a return to his home state.

The signing of former UCF quarterback Jacurri Brown was the headline addition at the position for the 2026 class, and understandably so. Ochoa made his formal pledge to the Owls with full knowledge they’d be bringing in Brown. With three years of eligibility remaining, Ochoa addresses the future need with Brown slotted in to start this coming season.

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Even when going back to look at Ocho’s high school tape, there are clear markers of a player comfortable in space who can make plays with his legs while remaining ready to strike deep. He possesses good field vision and is instinctive. Given a couple of seasons to mature in the Owls’ system, Ochoa is a high upside bet the staff made sure to get on campus.

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Rice Football Recruiting: CB Zach Cody commits to Owls

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The 2026 Rice Football recruiting class has landed its first defensive addition from the Transfer Portal. Former Coastal Carolina corner Zach Cody has committed to the Owls.

The rush of player movement reached its peak on January 2, when the Transfer Portal formally opened for current college players. Staffs across the country combed through thousands of options, landing on whom they hope will be the right pieces to complete their already existing high school hauls. The 2026 Rice Football recruiting class was no different, landing its first new faces on Tuesday. Former Coastal Carolina corner Zach Cody has committed to the Owls.

A product of Coppell High School, Cody returns home to Texas after signing with Coastal Carolina in 2024. He played in all 12 games as a true freshman with the Chants, tallying 15 tackles. He would appear in three contests this season before redshirting and entering the portal, eventually leading him to Rice.

Cody is the second D1 transfer to join the class, with the news of his addition coming not long after Rice Football announced the signing of former UCF quarterback Jacurri Brown. Rice also made two JUCO additions during the early signing period, defensive back Dylan Stephens and defensive lineman Brock Reddic.

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Cody will provide an instant uplift to a thin position group. He’s lightning fast with good burst on tape. At 6-foot, 180 pounds, he’ll be able to hang in the American Conference. His versatility and quickness should be a boost to a secondary that places high value in both traits in its defensive backs.

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Rice Football Recruiting: QB Jacurri Brown commits to Owls

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The 2026 Rice Football recruiting class secured its future starting quarterback in the Transfer Portal. Former UCF signal caller Jacurri Brown has committed to the Owls.

Following the departure of multiple quarterbacks in the offseason, the 2026 Rice Football Recruiting class needed at least one veteran at the position to step in immediately. The Owls searched far and wide before finding their man. Former UCF quarterback Jacurri Brown has committed to the Owls.

Brown checks all the boxes the Owls had on their wish list and more. A former four-star recruit who signed with Miami out of high school, Brown played in 10 games for the Hurricanes with three starts, showcasing his talents in wins over Virginia Tech, Virginia and Georgia Tech. He then transferred to UCF, where he appeared in 12 games for the Golden Knights over the last two seasons.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Brown is a true dual-threat athlete, able to make plays in the open field as well as with him arm. In his four seasons of college action to date, he’s thrown for 906 yards and six touchdowns with 821 yards rushing and eight scores on the ground.

Whether any official pronouncements are made, Brown will enroll this semester in time for spring practices and have the inside track to the Rice football starting quarterback job in 2026. He has one year of eligibility remaining, one that both he and the Owls is his best season yet.

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Brown will be asked to do different things with the Owls’ gun option scheme than he did at Miami and UCF, but in many ways, that should only amplify his on-field success. His tape shows a player with a big arm who can strike downfield and a willing runner who can make plays in space and won’t go down on first contact.

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5 Takeaways from 2025 Rice Football Season

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The 2025 Rice football season was an exciting ride filled with ups and downs. What can we take away from the Owls’ five-win bowl campaign?

An Armed Forces Bowl appearance marked the end of an eventful 2025 Rice Football season, filled with high highs and discouraging lows. Ultimately, this year will be remembered most for the debut of head coach Scott Abell’s gun choice option offense. Beyond that, several key learnings emerged from the program by season’s end.

Stay tuned for The Roosties, our annual Rice football awards show from The Roost Podcast. There will also be Team Superlatives released throughout the next few weeks, featuring more traditional awards like Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year and more.

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