The source for Rice sports news

  • Football
    • Recruiting
    • Offer Tracker
    • Roster
    • Schedule
    • NFL Owls
  • Premium
    • Patreon
    • Season Preview
    • Join / FAQ
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Store
    • News
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • About
    • Contact
  • Login

Rice Football Recruiting: JUCO DB Max Ahoia commits to Owls

May 24, 2023 By Matthew Bartlett

The 2023 Rice Football recruiting class continues to add its finishing touches. Most recently, the Owls landed a pledge from JUCO defensive back Max Ahoia.

When it came to putting the finishing touches on the 2023 Rice Football recruiting class, getting veteran help in the defensive backfield was near the top of the to-do list. The Owls checked that box with the commitment of JUCO defensive back Max Ahoia, who has made his pledge to the Owls.

The 5-foot-11, 182-pound Ahoia had 10 pass breakups and one interception last season where he played traditionally on the outside at corner. He did showcase some versatility along the way, though, moving into the slot and inside on occasion.

Ahoia’s market began to heat up in earnest this summer. In the month of May alone he received offers from Georgia Southern and Arkansas State. As Rice prepares to make the move from Conference USA to the American, edging out a couple of Sun Belt programs on the recruiting trail is a nice plus.

The corner room looks a bit more seasoned with Ahoia in the mix. Jordan Dunbar and Sean Fresch are still in line to be the starters at this point, but that’s a position where Rice knows from experience that depth is worth the investment.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

On the film, Ahoia’s initial burst and aggressiveness stand out. He’s quick to commit to the play break on the ball and that eagerness extends to his willingness to tackle, too. He’s got the tools and has the potential to be an impact player for the Owls in the future.

Become a Patron!
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts
  • What’s Next: Rice Athletics and the House Settlement
  • Rice Football Recruiting: EDGE Seth Clarke commits to Owls
  • Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – Jun 25
  • 2025 Rice Football Season Preview: Quarterback

Filed Under: Archive, Football, Football Recruiting Tagged With: Max Ahoia, Rice Football, Rice Football recruiting

Rice Football Recruiting: FB Colin Giffen commits to Owls

May 23, 2023 By Matthew Bartlett

The rare Rice Football recruiting fullback find is here. The Owls have landed a commitment from transfer Colin Giffen.

Colin Giffen is a football player. That might be the best possible way to describe the newest addition to the 2023 Rice Football recruiting class, which secured a pledge for his services this week, plucking him out of the Transfer Portal. Now Giffen will be a Rice Owl.

Originally from Palo Alto, California, Giffen walked on at UNLV in 2020 where he played linebacker. He spent last season at junior college, playing a hybrid h-back and tight end role. When he makes the move south to Texas, he’ll be a fullback at Rice.

Giffen, who has three seasons of eligibility remaining, tells The Roost he’s excited for the opportunity. “Right when I got there, you could tell that the culture they have is special and something I wanted to be a part of,” he said. And the position change? Giffen thinks his journey to this point has already set him up for success on that front.

“Previously being a linebacker at UNLV. it helped me be able to see coverages really well and see things before they happen.”

Rice beat out North Texas to land Giffen’s commitment. Giffen is the second portal addition for the Owls in the last week and a half. They most recently added a commitment from Duke transfer defensive tackle Michael Larbie.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

On the field, Giffen says he idolizes 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, a seven-time pro bowler. While he might not be at Juszczyk’s level quite yet, the willingness to hold a block and power through oncoming rushers should get Rice fans excited. His film has plenty of highlights with him out in space, too. Standing 6-foot-2 and tipping the scales at 240 pounds, he’s a powerful force when he gets on the move.

Become a Patron!
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts
  • What’s Next: Rice Athletics and the House Settlement
  • Rice Football Recruiting: EDGE Seth Clarke commits to Owls
  • Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – Jun 25
  • 2025 Rice Football Season Preview: Quarterback

Filed Under: Archive, Football, Football Recruiting Tagged With: Colin Giffen, Rice Football, Rice Football recruiting

2023 Conference USA Baseball Tournament: Preview, schedule, how to watch

May 20, 2023 By Matthew Bartlett

The Conference USA Baseball Tournament is headed to Houston, Texas. Here’s how to watch and what to be looking for this week.

The final weekend of regular season play saw teams jockeying for position, but now the Conference USA Baseball Tournament field is finally set. The top eight squads will square off with hopes of an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and their chance to play for a trip to the College World Series.

All games will be streamed on ESPN+ with the exception of the tournament championship, available on CBS Sports Network. The tournament runs from Wednesday, May 24 to Sunday, May 28. The full schedule and updated bracket are available on the Conference USA Baseball Tournament website.

Assessing the field

The favorite | Dallas Baptist has only lost five games in conference play this season and posted an emphatic three-game sweep of UTSA in San Antonio in their penultimate series of the regular season. It’s hard to give the favorite nod to anyone else.

The contender | UTSA might have dropped three games to DBU, but all were relatively close contests. There’s still a clear gap between the Roadrunners and the rest of the pack and they do boast the most potent offense in the conference.

The darkhorse | WKU was in danger of missing the conference tournament altogether roughly a month ago following a sweep at home by Middle Tennessee. Since then the Hilltoppers have won 13-of-15 conference games. They’re the hottest team in the league and that matters come postseason time.

The wild card | Seeds 3 through 7 were neck and neck entering the final weekend before Charlotte emerged atop that group. The 49ers have one of the better one-two punches on the mound in Conference USA between Wyatt Hudepohl and Cameron Hansen. Teams can go far in pod play if they get two quality starts out of the gate and that tandem is certainly capable of making some noise.

The bracket

The opening day of games will take place on Wednesday, May 24:

Game 1 – 9:00 AM | (3) Charlotte vs (6) Louisiana Tech

Game 2 – 12:30 PM | (2) UTSA vs (7) Middle Tennessee

Game 3 – 4:00 PM | (1) DBU vs (8) Rice

Game 4 – 7:30 PM | (4) WKU  vs (5) Florida Atlantic

2023 C-USA Baseball Championship Bracket

The action starts Wednesday, May 24 at 9am from Houston, TX!#CUSABASE ⚾️ | https://t.co/B7xWMJ0OBJ pic.twitter.com/TQ6dYA5sAY

— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) May 20, 2023

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts
  • What’s Next: Rice Athletics and the House Settlement
  • Rice Football Recruiting: EDGE Seth Clarke commits to Owls
  • Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – Jun 25
  • 2025 Rice Football Season Preview: Quarterback

Filed Under: Archive, Baseball Tagged With: Conference USA

Rice Football Recruiting: DT Michael Larbie commits to Owls

May 17, 2023 By Matthew Bartlett

Rice Football recruiting has picked up its first transfer portal addition of the summer with the commitment of Duke defensive tackle Michael Larbie.

After the conclusion of spring practices, there were more defined marching orders for Rice football recruiting, as far as priorities go. The Owls knew what needs they had and went to work addressing them. Rice checked one of those boxes this week, picking up a commitment from Duke transfer defensive tackle Michael Larbie.

Larbie is a North Carolina native who signed with Duke before the 2019 season. He didn’t get on the field with the Blue Devils that year or during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. He made his debut in 2021, playing in the defensive line rotation for the next two seasons, amassing 11 tackles over 12 games with one TFL and half a sack.

He should serve as an experienced compliment to the Owls’ core of players on the interior consisting of De’Braylon Carroll, Izeya Floyd and Blake Boenisch. Although Rice has some young up-and-coming options at the position, getting veteran depth was a priority for this portal cycle. Larbie fits the bill.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

Even with limited playing time at Duke, Larbie’s upside is intriguing. He’ll be able to fill a more specified role with the Owls, hopefully boosting some of the traits he flashes on film.

Larbie has several reps where he showcases his ability to shed blockers and progress into the offensive backfield. That skill should only be magnified when he gets to lineup some of the Owls’ additional people-movers in the trenches. The 6-foot, 273-pound graduate should become an important piece of the rotation as soon as he’s up to speed.

Become a Patron!
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts
  • What’s Next: Rice Athletics and the House Settlement
  • Rice Football Recruiting: EDGE Seth Clarke commits to Owls
  • Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – Jun 25
  • 2025 Rice Football Season Preview: Quarterback

Filed Under: Archive, Football, Football Recruiting Tagged With: Michael Larbie, Rice Football, Rice Football recruiting

Rice Baseball 2023: MLB Owls update – May 16

May 17, 2023 By Matthew Bartlett

The 2023 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are busy on the mound and at the plate. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls.

J.T. Chargois – Miami Marlins

After completing a rehab assignment with the AAA team last week, Chargois was activated from the injured list on Tuesday. He had been sidelined since April 10 with a right oblique strain. Chargois has yet to appear in a game with the Marlins quite yet, but he’s finally back with the big league club after more than a month away.

Through May 16, Chargois has a 0.00 ERA with a 0.000 WHIP. He’s averaging 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

Injured List

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Rendon’s recent hot streak at the plate was put on hold this week when he was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 14 with a left groin strain. That’ll keep him out of commission for the next week or so at least.

Through May 16, Rendon is hitting .283 with four extra-base hits, 19 walks and 14 strikeouts. His OPS is .763 and he’s collected 19 RBI.

Lucas Luetge – Atlanta Braves

Luetge began a rehab assignment with the Braves’ AA affiliate on Tuesday. If all goes well, he’ll be in line to return to the big league club after a couple of rehab appearances. He hasn’t pitched in a game for the Braves since April 12.

Through May 16, Luetge has an 8.10 ERA with a 1.800 WHIP. He’s averaging 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

Glenn Otto – Texas Rangers

Otto did not appear on the Rangers Opening Day roster despite making 27 starts for the club last season. Instead, he began the year on the injured list, landing on the 60-day IL on March 30 with a right shoulder strain. He will be sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts
  • What’s Next: Rice Athletics and the House Settlement
  • Rice Football Recruiting: EDGE Seth Clarke commits to Owls
  • Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – Jun 25
  • 2025 Rice Football Season Preview: Quarterback

Filed Under: Archive, Baseball Tagged With: MLB Owls, Rice baseball

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 135
  • 136
  • 137
  • 138
  • 139
  • …
  • 457
  • Next Page »
  1. Item 1
  2. Item 2
  3. Item 3
  4. Item 4
  5. Item 5
  • 2025 Rice Football Season Preview, Rice Football
  • Jack Ben-Shoshan, Rice Baseball
  • Rice Baseball, David Pierce
  • Rice Football
  • “He’s a Bulldog”: Parker Smith’s Journey to Rice Baseball Ace
Become a patron at Patreon!
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter