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Rice Football 2020 Practice Notes: Quarterbacks, specialists and injuries

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Rice football is nearly halfway through fall camp. The quarterback situation is clearing up but the running back depth chart is heating up.

On Monday, Rice football had its first practice following Scrimmage No. 1. That extra session, combined with time to break down the scrimmage film, gave head coach Mike Bloomgren a better feel for where the team stands as the midpoint of fall camp approaches.

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The quarterback situation is starting to crystalize, but Khalan Griffin is making the running back depth chart extremely hard to parse out. I’ve got more notes on both position battles, how the special teams situation is looking right now and an update on injuries including three players that I haven’t seen take the field for the Owls this fall.

Timetable for a QB1 decision

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Rice Football Recruiting: 2021 class already proving its worth

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The 2020 Rice Football recruiting class was announced on National Signing Day. Eight months later, they’ve become fixtures on the Owls’ roster.

On National Signing Day, head coach Mike Bloomgren addressed the media and fans with a beaming smile. For the first time since the process began more than a year ago, he could talk publically about the 2020 Rice Football recruiting class.

“According to all the experts, this is the highest-rated class in Rice history,” Bloomgren said with confidence, referring to the rankings compiled by 247 sports.

For college football coaches, a new signing class is something akin to new children. None have ever done anything less than sing the praises of their newest additions. Bloomgren, however, doesn’t have to stand on platitudes or flowery language. The players he and his staff have signed have done enough during their time in high school to warrant merit of their own.

Incoming freshman safety Gabe Taylor is the highest-rated recruit Rice football has ever signed. Along the way, Rice signed a collective of players with offers from Washington State, Colorado, NC State, Syracuse,  Boston College, Kansas State, Houston and more. The Owls took their national recruiting mandate seriously, scouring the country for the talent they needed. Then they worked tirelessly for months to ensure those players signed on the dotted line.

Listen – The Roost Podcast: Fall camp updates and injury news

With the exception of roughly a dozen players remaining from the class prior to Bloomgren’s arrival, the 2020 roster will be comprised almost entirely of players his staff handpicked. “I think we’ve [raised the ceiling and the floor],” Bloomgren said in early February. “[There’s] a little bit different speed than we’re used to having in this program.” From the speed to the raw athleticism, the talent profile of the current Rice football roster is as high as it’s been in some time.

In many ways, Rice football has come a long way from National Signing Day. They’ve persevered through uncertainty to the brink of their 2020 season. Injuries and setbacks have put their depth to the test early on in fall camp.

Players like Brad Rozner, Naeem Smith and Andrew Bird were expected to be key members of the team. None have participated in team drills so far during camp. Instead, it’s been members of that 2021 class stepping up. Gabe Taylor has had his moments, so to have freshmen corners Jordan Dunbar and Sean Fresch. With running back Juma Otoviano sidelined, Khalan Griffin and Kobie Campbell have shined bright. Braedon Nutter has played everywhere on the interior of the offensive line.

Bloomgren and his staff had high hopes for the class of 2021 when they signed. They might not have expected them to make their mark this early, but this class is proving to be just what the doctor ordered.

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Rice Football 2020: Owls in the NFL Week 4 Update

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Rice Football is well represented on 2020 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls in action in Week 4.

There are former Rice football players scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player.

Week 4 results

Cleveland (Sendejo) def. Dallas, 49-38
Cincinnati (Covington) def. Jacksonville, 33-25
Denver (Anderson, Callahan) def. New York Jets, 37-28
Pittsburgh (Boswell, McDonald) vs Tennessee, postponed
Minnesota def. Houston (Gaines), 31-23
New Orleans def. Detroit (Fox), 35-29
Seattle (Willson) def. Miami, 31,23

Offense

Calvin Anderson – OT, Broncos

The starting five for the Denver offensive line have played every down so far this season, limiting Anderson to special teams duties thus far. He saw a season high seven snaps with the special teams unit in the team’s Week 4 win over the Jets. The Broncos visit the Patriots in Week 5.

Vance McDonald – TE, Steelers

The Steelers’ Week 4 game against the Titans was postponed after a COVID-19 outbreak in Tennessee. This week became their defacto bye week with the Titans game rescheduled for Week 7. The Steelers host the Eagles in Week 5.

Luke Willson – TE, Seahawks

Willson was active for the Seahawks’ Week 4 win over the Dolphins but didn’t receive any looks from Russel Wilson in the passing game. The Seahawks host the Vikings in Week 5 on Sunday Night Football.

Defense and Special Teams

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

The Steelers’ Week 4 game against the Titans was postponed after a COVID-19 outbreak in Tennessee. This week became their defacto bye week with the Titans game rescheduled for Week 7. The Steelers host the Eagles in Week 5.

Bryce Callahan – CB, Broncos

Callahan was active on Thursday Night Football against the Jets, finishing second on the team with seven tackles. His six solo tackles tied a season high. He also registered one pass defended. The Broncos visit the Patriots in Week 5.

Christian Covington – DL, Bengals

Covington got the start for the Bengals in their first win of the season over the Jaguars. He tallied four tackles in the victory. The Bengals visit the Ravens in Week 5.

Jack Fox – P, Lions

It was a good week for Jack Fox, who became the first Lions special teamer to take home the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month Award prior to the team’s game against the Saints.

Fox punted four times on Sunday, averaging 54.5 yards per punt with a long of 57 yards. He’s been more or less perfect every time he’s touched the ball so far. The Lions are on bye in Week 5.

Phillip Gaines – CB, Texans

Gaines had three tackles in the Texans’ Week 4 loss to the Vikings. The Texans host the Jaguars in Week 5.

Andrew Sendejo – Saf, Browns

Sendejo picked up four tackles in the Browns’ Week 4 victory over the Cowboys. His biggest moment came when he stripped Ezekiel Elliot of the football to force a big Browns turnover.

The Browns host the Colts in Week 5.

More Owls in the NFL

From practice squads to current free agents, there are others Owls on the cusp of returning to active rosters. Find more detail on current contractual agreements and former Rice football players waiting for their next opportunity here.

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Conference USA Football 2020: Week 5 C-USA Roundup

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Conference USA Football was back in action this weekend. Here’s the latest from the teams on the gridiron in Week 5.

Team Week 5 Result Week 6
Charlotte at FAU L, 21-17 at North Texas
FAU vs Charlotte W, 21-17 at USM
FIU — OFF —  — vs MTSU
LA Tech at BYU L, 45-14 vs UTEP
Marshall — OFF —  — at WKU
MTSU vs WKU L, 20-17 at FIU
North Texas vs USM L, 41-31 vs Charlotte
Rice — OFF —  — — OFF —
Southern Miss at North Texas W, 41-31 vs FAU
UAB vs UTSA W, 21-13 — OFF —
UTEP — OFF —  — at LA Tech
UTSA at UAB L, 21-13 at BYU
WKU at MTSU W, 20-17 vs Marshall

Notable Week 5 results – Standings

Roadrunners red-hot start runs out

UTSA turned heads with a 3-0 start. Victories over Texas State, SFA and a winless Middle Tenneesse shouldn’t be discounted, 3-0 is 3-0, but Saturday’s result proves Jeff Traylor’s work isn’t quite finished in San Antonio. Losing another quarterback, this time Josh Adkins, and still finding a way to stick around against one of C-USA’s should add some positive spin to the loss.

Third quarter explosion powers FAU past Charlotte

It was a rocky start for Willie Taggart in his FAU debut. The Owls were shut out in the first half, trailing Charlotte 10-0 at half time at home. Then Nick Tronti kicked things into gear, springing a 49-yard touchdown run of his own with subsequent touchdown passes to Logan Peterson and T.J. Chase to put FAU ahead for good. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a win.

North Texas has a defense problem

Standout wide receiver Tim Jones was available for Southern Miss against North Texas in Week 5 and quarterback Jack Abraham was limited to 16-of-30 passing, but the Golden Eagles still hung 41 points against a porous North Texas defense that’s allowed at least 31 points in all three games. It won’t matter how good quarterback Austin Aune is if he’s always playing catch up.

Week 6 storylines

On the lookout for win number one

12 Conference USA teams have played and three (FIU, Charlotte and Middle Tennessee) are still looking for their first win. FIU and Middle Tennessee play each other next weekend, meaning one of that pair is guaranteed to exit the ranks of the winless soon.

BYU continues their C-USA tour

BYU posted a rather convincing win over Louisiana Tech in Week 4 in the first of three games against Conference USA opponents. They’ll get UTSA in Week 5 and take on Western Kentucky on Halloween. If the first pairing was any indication, the UTSA defense had best buckle up before the weekend.

Delayed, but not defeated

Rice football would have opened their conference slate next weekend, but the delayed start of fall camp forced the postponement of those games. Rice has returned to practice, holding their first scrimmage this past week. With FAU getting underway this past week, the conference’s other Owls are the only team awaiting their first game.

Rice Football Opponent Scouting Report

A weekly update on who the Owls will be playing this season including updates on key storylines, injuries and more.

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Rice Football: Optimism abounds as Owls embrace fall camp

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Fall camp has begun and Rice Football is attacking the new challenge with vigor. Head coach Mike Bloomgren implores his team to seize the moment.

Rice football is one week into a fall camp experience unlike any other. The most noticeable change is the weather. The Owls have traded the swelter summer heat for the first cold front of the fall with their delayed start date.

Though the journey was bumpy, Rice still prepared as if football was on the horizon. “We’ve done more walkthroughs than any team I’ve ever been a part of,” Bloomgren said. Our kids have a good understanding of our schemes.”

That much has been evident on both sides of the ball. In some years, it takes freshmen some time to get up to speed. This time around, the youngsters look much more comfortable with the ball in their hands. Rather than being buried on the depth chart, these newcomers are making waves. That’s especially encouraging given the Owls don’t have a game scheduled for another three weeks.

“We’re in a good place. We’re as conditioned as we’ve ever been coming into camp,” Bloomgren said. “[The team has] about 100 zoom hours so we just need 10,000 reps on the field and that’s what we’re going to try to do in the next month.”

Podcast: Panic Meter — Assessing the Owls fall camp injury report 

Beyond counting minutes on the grass, Rice has objectives set to quantity the leap in preparedness from camp in year two to year three. On offense, coordinator Jerry Mack wants to see an increase in explosive plays. That theme began in spring practices, but carrying it over with new faces in camp is one of his priorities.

Defensive coordinator Brian Smith put turnovers at the top of his to-do list. “Communication has been so much better than it’s been in the past,” he said, crediting the group’s in-sync behavior as a building block toward that effort.

If Rice can do both of those things, the bizarre circumstances it took to reach this point in Bloomgren’s coaching tenure will have been well spent. Looking back at the past few weeks, Bloomgren was emphatic the team was moving in the right direction, saying “we’ve done all the right things to get prepared for this moment.” How he and this team uses the next several moments leading up to October 24 will determine the trajectory for this season. So far, the Owls are on the right track.

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