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Rice Football Recruiting: RB Rhys Phillips commits to Owls

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The 2024 Rice Football recruiting class took off over the weekend including running back Rhys Phillips, the newest of the Owls’ commits.

It’s been a very busy weekend at South Main, following a flurry of social media buzz the fifth new addition to the 2024 Rice football recruiting class in as many days has made his announcement. Versatile halfback Rhys Phillips has committed to the Owls.

Phillips chose Rice over North Texas, Louisiana Monroe, Army, Air Force and others. The familiar theme of the Owls trumping the Mean Green on the recruiting front continues to echo through the productive week at South Main.

As for where Phillips fits on the field, that might have more wiggle room. Listed in many recruiting services as a tight end, Phillips will be an H-back at the next level, playing running back in college. That’s something Phillips looks forward to when he arrives on campus.

“I take massive pride in my ability to play anywhere or be put in any position on the field,” he told The Roost. “I’ll play hand-down tight end, H-back, full back, slot, and outside receiver.”

As it stands, he’s the second back in the 2024 class, announcing his pledge just days after Westfield’s Taji Atkins. Phillips’ addition brings the 2024 class to eight total commits.

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The first thing that jumps out from Phillips’ film is the variety of different spots he lines up on the field. He filled so many different roles at the high school level so it doesn’t take much projection to find places he can make a difference at the next level.

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Rice Football Recruiting: OL Lane Jeffcoat commits to Owls

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The 2024 Rice Football recruiting class took off over the weekend including offensive lineman Lane Jeffcoat, the newest of the Owls’ commits.

The camp circuit came to South Main this past weekend and the 2024 Rice football recruiting class benefited from the influx of talent onto campus. The string of commitments began on Sunday and has continued to march onward every day since. The latest addition made his announcement on Tuesday: offensive lineman Lane Jeffcoat has committed to the Owls.

Jeffcoat picked Rice over offers from North Texas, Tulsa, Arkansas State and others. That’s yet another head-to-head recruiting win over the Mean Green this week and more victories over fellow AAC programs

Jeffcoat is the second offensive lineman in the class so far, making his pledge the day after fellow member of the trenches Luke Miller. In a class that is likely to have only a few slots for offensive linemen, the tandem on Miller and Jeffcoat makes for an extremely strong start.

He’s the seventh member of the class to date, although several other commitments have been hinted at by Owls’ recruiting director Marco Regalado on social media. That number is likely to grow quickly. Rice has already added four new members to the 2024 recruiting class this week.

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Standing 6-foot-9 and tipping the scales at 295 pounds, Jeffcoat certainly looks the part of a collegiate offensive lineman. His high school tape is filled with highlights of him outmuscling the competition. He’s not limited to raw power, though. He moves his feet well and drives would-be tacklers off the ball. The potential to combine those physical tools with technical skill makes his ceiling extremely high.

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Rice Football Recruiting: OL Luke Miller commits to Owls

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The 2024 Rice Football recruiting class took off over the weekend including offensive lineman Luke Miller, the newest of the Owls’ commits.

The camp circuit came to South Main this past weekend and the 2024 Rice football recruiting class benefited from the influx of talent onto campus. One such visitor was offensive lineman Luke Miller, who enjoyed his time so much that he decided it was time to make his pledge official. Miller has committed to the Owls.

Miller chose the Owls over offers from Sam Houston, several military academies and a handful of Ivy League institutions. The Owls’ own academics played into his decision to commit to Rice. “The welcoming people and the amazing coaching staff were a huge factor,” Miller told The Roost, “but also the world-class education is something to never pass up on.”

Following a 2023 class that had five offensive line commitments before June at this point last year, Miller represents the first important investment in what is likely to be a smaller haul in the trenches this time around. That’s certainly understandable, especially when the first building block of that next class begins with a player like Miller.

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Miller’s tape is a lot of fun to watch, regardless of how much you appreciate good blocking. He’s just so dynamic. From the moment the ball is snapped he’s moving, plowing into his assigned man with intensity and quickness that’s disarming and impressive.

Above all, though, Miller stressed how thankful he is to be in this position. “I’m just super excited for this opportunity. I’m absolutely in love with this program,” he told The Roost. 

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Rice Football Recruiting: WR Arden Napier commits to Owls

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The 2023 Rice Football recruiting class found another JUCO gem. Wide receiver Arden Lee Napier has committed to the Owls.

It’s been a JUCO summer for Rice football recruiting. With a trio of transfers already lined up from the junior college ranks, the Owls have added a fourth. Wide receiver Arden Lee Napier from Citrus College has committed to the Owls.

Originally from Houston, Napier played his high school ball at Episcopal in town before heading out west for school. After one season in the JUCO ranks he entered the Transfer Portal and ended up receiving interest from a half dozen schools, selecting Rice over McNeese State, among others.

In addition to being close to home, Napier told The Roost the roster and the staff helped him make his decision. “I felt like Rice was the best overall opportunity for me. It’s a great academic school, and great football program with coaches and players who all want the best for each other.”

Napier will have three years of eligibility remaining when he gets to campus giving the Owls some depth at a position with several veteran options already lined up. The long list of playmakers did not deter Napier, rather it was part of the Owls’ allure.

“Rice has a great quarterback room and great wide receiver room that are gonna connect for a lot of huge plays,” he said. “I’m ready to come compete to be a part of that this season.”

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There’s a lot to like on the film with Napier. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound receiver is a big target who moves fairly well considering his size. That’s a body type that has traditionally faired well in the Rice offense under head coach Mike Bloomgren and offensive coordinator Marques Tuiasosopo. Napier says he takes pride in his route running ability, something that does flash in his highlights below.

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The Roost Podcast | Ep 146 – ’23 Tulane Preview with Fear The Wave’s Kelly Comarda

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The Roost Podcast continues its AAC previews. Up next: Kelly Comarda of the Fear The Wave previews Tulane football in 2023.

The last time Rice football and Tulane met regularly on the field, both programs were in very different places. The Green Wave weren’t conference championship caliber quite yet; it was the Owls that were piling up points and wins in those years. Now Rice is on the come up and Tulane is the team to beat. Kelly Comarda from Fear the Wave describes the transformation in this week’s episode.

You can find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 146.

Episode Notes

DCTF

The Roost Podcast is now part of the Dave Campbell’s Republic of Football Podcast Network. You’ll still get the same content with the same hosts, but now under the DCTF banner.

Homefield

We’re thrilled to partner with Homefield Apparel, the premier proprietor of college football clothing. First-time buyers can use the code ROOST for 15% off their order. The Owls hoodie is a personal favorite. Shop the Rice collection or pick up something else (or both)!

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Previewing 2023 Tulane football with Kelly Comarda

  • How did Tulane pull off its magical 2022 season?
  • Has there ever been another Willie Fritz, a coach to win big so late in his career?
  • Do the Mean Green have the right pieces to make another run at an AAC title?
  • Where does NIL fit in Tulane’s journey to success?
  • Which pieces could be difference-makers on defense?
  • The Lightning Round

Where can you find us?

The Roost Podcast is part of the Dave Campbell’s Republic of Football Podcast Network. You can find this podcast and all of our partner podcasts on Apple, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.

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