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Rice Football Recruiting: Dartmouth DE Charlie Looes commits to Owls

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The 2024 Rice Football recruiting class added an impact player in the defensive trenches. Dartmouth defensive end Charlie Looes has committed to the Owls.

The Early Signing Period arrived with a bang for the 2024 Rice Football recruiting class in addition to eight high school additions, the Owls also received a boost from the Transfer Portal at multiple spots. One such boost comes along the defensive line where Dartmouth transfer Chalie Looes has committed to the Owls.

Looes was a finalist for the Ivy League’s Bushnell Cup, given annually to the league’s best defensive player following a year in which he led the Ivy League in sacks, quarterback hits and total pressures. Primarily an edge rusher, Looes is expected to come in and play that role at Rice.

In his introductory press conference about the class, head coach Mike Bloomgren made the comparison to Coleman Coco, who came in from an academic school in the Northeast and became an integral part of the Rice defense from day one.

One of five transfers in the class so far, Looes is the only defensive lineman. The Owls have a full roster at the position, but given Looes’ production and potential, taking one more impact player in the trenches seems like an absolute must.

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The length and quickness jump out immediately when you turn on the tape. Looes can get to the quarterback. As any defensive coach would be quick to tell you, accumulating pass rushers is always a good idea. Adding Looes to the fold gives this defense yet another weapon at its disposal.

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Rice Football Recruiting: Harvard OL Spencer Cassell commits to Owls

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The 2024 Rice Football recruiting class added an impact player in the offensive trenches. Harvard offensive lineman Spencer Cassell has committed to the Owls.

The Early Signing Period arrived with a bang for the 2024 Rice Football recruiting class in addition to eight high school additions, the Owls also received a boost from the Transfer Portal at multiple spots. One such boost comes along the offensive line where Harvard transfer Spencer Cassell has committed to the Owls.

Cassell was highly sought after in the portal, receiving scholarship offers from Buffalo, Arkansas State, Marshall, North Texas, App State, Georgia State, Old Dominion, UMass and others. Amidst all the interest, Rice was able to close, securing the services of the second-team All-Ivy offensive lineman. Bloomgren is optimistic Cassell will have two years to play at Rice, pending a medical redshirt.

Cassell played tackle at Harvard and said he’s willing to play “wherever I can help the team” in the offensive trenches at Rice. The plan, as of now, is for him to get started at guard in the spring and see where things go from there.

One of five transfers in the class so far, Cassell is the third offensive lineman. High school signees Lane Jeffcoast and Luke Miller made their commitments official Wednesday morning.

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A former high school tight end, Cassell does appear pretty quick on his feet for a 6-foot-6, 282-pound man. He told The Roost he loves to pull and be a lead blocker on runs and screens, something the Owls have utilized heavily in their offense in recent years. That quickness and power is evident when you turn on his film. Cassell is a great addition for the Owls.

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Rice Football Recruiting: 2024 Early Signing Period Live Blog

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The majority of the 2024 Rice Football Recruiting class will become signees during the Early Signing Period. Follow all the action here.

It’s a smaller group, but the 2024 Rice Football recruiting class should still pack a pretty hefty punch. Rice has a balanced collection of talented high school players and a few handpicked transfer additions to supplement a roster that did not lose a single active player to the Portal this offseason. That’s part of the reason for the small class. There are only so many spots to go around.

This live tracker will follow all the latest news and updates throughout the day, with some notes along the way on the class as it is finalized. If you’re not a subscriber yet, here’s your chance.

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Which newcomers will make sizable impacts as soon as they arrive on campus like JT Daniels, Coleman Coco and others did this past fall? This class has plenty of talent that could find its way to the field soon.

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Now, let’s dig into the latest from the Early Signing Period, below.

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Rice Football 2023: Texas State presser quotes and Bowl depth chart

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Next up for Rice football: the SERVPRO First Responders Bowl vs Texas State. Here’s what Mike Bloomgren had to say about the matchup and a few depth chart notes.

Head coach Mike Bloomgren and a set of players met with the media for their customary weekly availability. They recapped the past few weeks of practice and looked ahead at their upcoming matchup with Texas State in the SERVPRO First Responders Bowl.

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We touch on those items, then dig into the Rice football depth chart and what the team looks like heading into the weekend. First, the quotes:

Press Conference Quotes

“We understand it’s a business trip. We also understand it’s a reward for our players that they’ve earned. There’s some great events they have planned. Look forward to partaking in those as well as continuing into practice and get ready for this game when we get there. Being back in a bowl for the second year in a row is a big deal for the continued growth of our program…

I just believe it’s what coach Bowden used to say. It’s how good teams get great and it’s how great teams become elite and we’re somewhere in the middle of that, fighting become a really consistent group that’s enjoying every single practice we get out there.”– Mike Bloomgren on the current state of the program

“They’re a lot like South Florida and Tennessee with the tempo that they incorporate so they’re going to try to have the tempo be a factor in their offensive production but also the they’re like them in terms of spreading you out sideline to sideline and they’ve got a really, really good running back that’s playing good football. They’ve got a great players over there along with a very good scheme that I think GJ [Kinne] knows how to execute very well.” – Mike Bloomgren on the Texas State offense

“Defensively coach [Jonathan] Patke is doing a lot of Manny Diaz type stuff with those transfers, got them playing together. Seems like they’re very much on the same page of what to do. They understand where to fit in their defense. And so they’re kind of making things hard on people in terms of just making you earn it to some degree. When they do that, when they can keep you behind the sticks and get you behind the sticks and make you go on a 10 or a 12 play drive, that’s always hard for an offense.” – Mike Bloomgren on the Texas State defense

“It’s huge. Any extra preparation, you’re going to take it. It’s all about how you use that time and I’m really trying my best to be prepared for these guys and be able to go out there in practice and lead them,  get them in the right stuff, make sure we’re running the play correctly and ultimately go out and execute as effiecntly as possible All that extra time is pivotal.” – Quarterback AJ Padgett on the benefits of extra bowl practices 

“The vibe is great. Everyone’s excited for this. Even just having this opportunity to get these 15 paracitces in, to get another game with this group… it’s really just a blessing. We’re just appeciiating every day of it, every rep of it, every second of it.” – Defensive end Josh Pearcy on the atmosphere around the program right now

“He’s good at getting the ball out to his weapons. He’s good at keeping his eyes down field. Most guys, when they see pressure, they want to take off and run but where he sets himself apart, he remains a passer when he sees his pressure. He’s good at keeping his eyes down field, throwing that check down when he needs to, getting the ball out to his weapons when he has to. At the end of the day, we’ll be ready for him.” ” – Defensive end Josh Pearcy on Texas State quarterback TJ Finley

Depth Chart

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Depth Chart Notes

Tight end Jack Bradley, who missed the final two games of the regular season, was put back on the postseason depth chart, for now, but head coach Mike Bloomgren mentioned in his media availability his status for the game had yet to be determined.

The uncertainty surrounding Bradley, who wasn’t listed on the FAU depth chart at all, as well as the removal of quarterback JT Daniels are the only significant modifications from the depth chart Rice published in their regular season finale against FAU. Daniels, who has since medically retired, was not available in that game either.

The remainder of the depth chart looks as expected without any major surprises. That is in part because of the remarkable roster consistency the Owls have experienced since the Transfer Portal opened, something we wrote heavily about last week. You can read those notes, as well as upcoming Early Signing Period reactions and further bowl practice notes when you subscribe on Patreon.

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Rice Football Recruiting: BYU LB Michael Daley commits to Owls

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The 2024 Rice Football recruiting class scooped up a veteran addition on defense. BYU linebacker Michael Daley has committed to the Owls.

A day removed from adding some firepower on the offensive side of the ball, the 2024 Rice football recruiting class picked up its first defensive addition from the transfer portal. The Owls have picked up a commitment from former BYU linebacker / defensive end Michael Daley, who will play rush end when he arrives at South Main.

Formerly a three-star recruit at the time he committed to BYU as a member of the 2019 class, Daley is a Houston native who was played sparingly during his time with the Cougars, appearing in five games in 2023 after missing the entire 2022 season with an injury. He’s excited for the opportunity to get back onto the field in earnest at South Main.

“I knew there was something special there,” Daley told The Roost about his impressions of Rice football following his visit. “I know I want to be a part of a team that plays for each other week in and week out.”

Daley is the third transfer commitment Rice has received in the past week leading up to the Early Signing Period. Former Penn State punter Alex Vacchetta and Bucknell running back Coleman Bennett are also joining the Owls this offseason.

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There isn’t a lot of film on Daley from his collegiate tape, mostly operating as a depth piece while at BYU. He has a good frame (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) and should slide in well to a room that might be able to return several key pieces. If not, having some veterans in the fold like Daley should give the room a boost in the spring as the younger players get their feet wet and Daley has his chance to show what he brings to the table.

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