The source for Rice sports news
Head Coach: Brian Newberry
Record at School: 25-15 (2 Yr) | Career FBS Record: 25-15 (2 Yr)
Offensive Coordinator: Drew Cronic | Defensive Coordinator: P.J. Volker
A new scheme is being installed and the first glimpses of a very different version of Rice football are fast approaching. In addition to what we’ve seen and reported throughout the spring and fall camp, here’s a deeper dive on this side of the ball. We talked extensively about each position and how they fit into the bigger picture of offensive success for this team in 2025 and beyond.
You can find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 208.
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Keeping track of eligibility and positions can be challenging and there wasn’t one single source that had the most up-to-date information — now there is. In addition to the roster tracker and as a complement to the roster, which has been updated to account for all the final additions and changes with the start of camp, this grid tracks every Rice football player by position and classification. Position changes from last season and/or the spring are also detailed below.
All roster changes are up to date as of Aug. 1, 2025.
This piece is part of our 2025 Rice Football Season Preview. Get access to it, as well as all other preview posts such as positional breakdowns, depth chart and schedule analysis and more when you subscribe on Patreon today.
Adding difference makers in the trenches is a must-do for every program in the country. Being able to fulfill that task without going too far is an added bonus. The 2026 Rice Football recruiting class found one such fit for their future defense from just down the road in Brookshire, TX. Defensive lineman Tyler Lavallier has committed to the Owls.
Lavallier picked Rice over offers from programs such as Wyoming, Army, Navy, Air Force, Princeton, Columbia and Yale. He also had a growing list of interest from nearby lower-level programs like Incarnate Word, SFA and Houston Christian.
The welcoming nature and consistent communication from the coaching staff played a significant role in Lavallier’s decision, as did the scheme under defensive coordinator Jon Kay.
“They don’t just have one package,” Lavallier told The Roost. “Everyone and everything is interchangeable and can move and be very versatile. And I feel like that fits me because I can move well. I have good footwork, so being able to play different spots widens my playing field.”
Lavallier is the third commitment to the 2026 Rice Football recruiting class in the past two weeks. Corner Jordan Mitchell made his pledge on August 1. Safety Zion Allen followed not too long afterward on August 10 with Lavallier jumping on board three days later.
Standing 6-foot-2 and tipping the scales at 285 pounds, Lavallier is an unmistakable presence in the interior of the defensive line every time you turn on the tape. He breaks free from engagements with powerful hands and has a motor that gets him into the offensive backfield with regularity.
“I take pride in taking on double teams and not being moved,” Lavallier said. “I like to know it takes two to block me.”
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There aren’t many traditional wide receivers remaining on the roster since Rice Football introduced the slot position along with the new scheme. Many of the players listed at the position last year have shifted to that room, leaving a small, but important contingent of outside guys the Owls will use to stretch the field this coming season.
This piece is part of our 2025 Rice Football Season Preview. Get access to it, as well as all other preview posts such as positional breakdowns, depth chart and schedule analysis and more when you subscribe on Patreon today.
** Photo credit: Maria Lysaker **