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Jack Fox agrees to free agent deal with Chiefs

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After being passed over in the 2019 NFL Draft, former Rice Football punter Jack Fox has signed a free agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Fox had his tv turned on when the draft began on Thursday and stayed tuned in throughout the coverage into the weekend. He’s always been a football fanatic. He would have been following the draft regardless of which directions his career path led him. This year was different.

This year he’s met some of the guys who heard their names called, guys like 49ers fourth-round pick former Utah punter Mitch Wishnowsky. Like Wishnowsky, the players chosen by NFL teams are no larger than life characters for Fox, they’re friends and colleagues. After a strenuous pre-draft process, Fox’s childhood dream of playing in the NFL is starting to get closer and closer to becoming reality.

More: The incredible story of Jack Fox

When Saturday rolled around, Fox’s heart undoubtedly began to beat a little bit faster. Home with his family and close friends, Fox waited for the call.

Fox would have to wait until the final player was drafted before he learned where he would be playing his professional football. The focal point of several post-draft suitors, Fox was able to find the best spot for him. After weighing his options, Fox signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

A half dozen NFL teams sent personnel to Houston for private workouts with Fox before the draft. The Cheifs were not among that group, but present an opportunity for Fox who is ready for the challenge.

“I’m pretty tired of the anticipation and ready to get to work,” admitted Jack Fox in the days leading up to the NFL Draft. Now, after weeks of workouts, interviews and meetings it’s finally time for Fox to get back to what he knows best: football.

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Rice Baseball: Previewing the Louisiana Tech series

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Rice baseball made up significant ground against Middle Tennessee. They’ll seek to keep climbing the CUSA ranks against Louisiana Tech this weekend.

Listen online // Watch Friday (CUSA TV) // Watch Saturday (CUSA TV) // Watch Sunday (CUSA TV)

If Rice is going to make a move in Conference USA, the time is now. The Owls sit at 9-9 on the edge of a conference tournament berth. A series win over Louisiana Tech, who some consider to be the favorite to with the league, would be huge for this team as they enter the final stretch. Here’s how the Owls stack up against the visiting Bulldogs:

Projected Pitching Matchups

Friday – 6:30 pm: Matt Canterino (5-4, 2.97) vs Matt Miller (5-0, 2.95)
Saturday – 2:00 pm: Evan Kravetz (3-2, 4.18)  vs Logan Robbins (3-2, 6.31)
Sunday – 1:00 pm: Jackson Parthasarathy (3-6, 4.50) vs Logan Bailey (5-4, 5.88)

Louisiana Tech Pitching

The Bulldogs rank third in CUSA with a staff ERA of 4.45. Their 2.47 strikeout to walk ratio is eerily similar to the Owls’ own rate of 2.59. Aside from what should be a fairly even contest between Matt Miller and Matt Canterino on Friday night, Rice has the slight edge in the starting rotation.

It’s the bullpen that might give the Bulldogs the greatest reason for optimism. Jonathan Fincher has been almost unhittable out of the pen and brings a 1.03 WHIP into the weekend over 20 appearances. Braxton Smith has been another extremely reliable option, allowing no runs in six of his last seven appearances. If Louisiana Tech finds themselves in a jam, he could be the man called upon during multiple games this series to work around the trouble spots.

Louisiana Tech Hitting

The most intimidating facet of the Louisiana Tech lineup is its depth. The Bulldogs don’t have anyone on their team hitting .400, but they do have six regulars batting better than .270. No player is a home run king, but six guys have four or more on the season.

Outfielder Mason Mallard leads the way, sporting a glowing 1.018 OPS with a team-high 50 runs scored. He’s one of four Bulldogs to start each of the teams 41 games. The other three, outfielder Parker Bates, shortstop Taylor Young and designated hitter Steele Netterville are all well-rounded hitters. Netterville leads the team with 24 extra-base hits and seven home runs.

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NFL Draft: Where does Jack Fox fit among teams looking for punters?

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The NFL Draft is Jack Fox’s first opportunity to catch on with a pro team. Which destinations are the best fits for Rice Football‘s former punter?

Jack Fox is looking to catch on with an NFL team. Whether that’s through the NFL Draft or as a free agent, Fox is going to be in an NFL camp this summer. Where that camp will be held remains an unknown. Fox has been in contact with roughly a dozen teams since the NFL Combine.

More: Jack Fox’s journey from a small school in Missouri to the NFL Draft

The Los Angeles Chargers current punter is signed on a short-term futures contract, but they aren’t the only team which will be looking earnestly for an answer at the position in this draft class. Painting with an extremely broad brush, here’s a rough approximation of which landing spots would set Fox up for the most success, both in the near term and the future.

Unlikely to be in the market (10 teams)

These 10 teams have secured some of the best punters in the league and have them under contract until at least 2022. All of these contracts were signed in 2017 or later and carry multi-million dollar values. These teams might bring on a free agent punter for some workouts, but the chances of a newcomer supplanting these 10 is less likely than some of other opportunities.

Neutral (12)

The group below is where the realm of possibility starts to grow significantly. This group is largely a tick below the best of the best. NFL teams are always looking to improve at every position, opening the door open to competition. Any punter who is drafted or signs with one these teams is going to have a fair shot to win the job.

Favorable spots (10)

These 10 teams seem to be in the market for a replacement at the position. Some have been actively looking for their options while others haven’t openly expressed interest but could use an upgrade.

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NFL Draft: New wave of Owls hopes to join Rice’s list of NFL draftees

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The NFL Draft will get underway on Thursday night as Jack Fox and several former Rice football players wait to hear their name called.

Beginning with John Slyvester in 1936, there have been 140 Rice Football players selected in the NFL Draft. The Owls have had seven first round selections, most recently running back Earl Cooper, taken by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980 NFL Draft.

Rice has nine former players active in the NFL right now. Four of them were drafted, Christian Covington (6th round), Luke Wilson (5th), Phillip Gaines (3rd), Vance McDonald (2nd). The other five earned their spot as undrafted free agents. It’s not the easy route, but several Owls have done it — and earned second contracts.

Although several Rice players hope to pursue an NFL future, Jack Fox presumably has the best chance to hear his name called with one of the 254 selections. If he is picked, Fox will become the first Rice football player drafted since Christian Covington was selected by the Houston Texans in 2015.

Other Owls like Aston Walter, Graysen Schantz and Giovanni Gentosi will most likely look to sign with a team as undrafted free agents. Each participated in Rice football’s 2019 Pro Day and have had various opportunities to work out in front on NFL teams. For now, though, the long wait begins.

TV schedule

  • Round 1 – Thursday, April 25, 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Round 2-3 – Friday, April 26: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Round 4-7 – Saturday, April 27: 12:00 p.m. ET

All rounds are available to watch on ABC, ESPN, NFL Network.

Here’s every Rice football player drafted since the NFL Draft took on its current seven-round format in 1994.

RkYear▼LgRndPickTmPlayerPos
12015NFL6216HOUChristian CovingtonDT
22014NFL387KANPhillip GainesDB
32013NFL255SFOVance McDonaldTE
42013NFL5158SEALuke WillsonTE
52012NFL7211TENScott SolomonDE
62011NFL7254HOUCheta OzougwuDE
72009NFL5152HOUJames CaseyTE
82009NFL5144JAXJarett DillardWR
92003NFL5142CLERyan PontbriandC
102003NFL6176JAXBrandon GreenDE
111997NFL5152PHIN.D. KaluDE
121994NFL245ATLBert EmanuelWR
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Rice Baseball: Evan Kravetz seeks to end senior season on high note

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Rice baseball pitcher Evan Kravetz thought he’d be pitching out of the bullpen this year. Instead, he’s become a staple in the starting rotation.

The 2019 Rice baseball season was met by many with guarded optimism. The Owls had hired energetic coach Matt Bragga from Tennessee Tech and had seemed to have enough pitching to be competitive from game to game. The supposed pitching strength relied on the arms of Matt Canterino and Addison Moss, arguably the best one-two punch in Conference USA.

That duo never materialized as expected. Moss was scratched from opening weekend with injury concerns, opening up the door for someone else to make a start in the rotation. That someone would end up becoming senior southpaw Evan Kravetz.

“I found out like two days before the opener,” Kravetz recounted, following his career-best 13 strikeout performance against Middle Tennessee over the weekend. His seven-inning, one-hit gem helped secure a series win and would eventually lead to the first home sweep of the Matt Bragga era at Rice.

Win or lose, good or bad, Kravetz maintains he’s thankful for the opportunity. “Every Saturday I pitch like I don’t know if there’s going to be another Saturday to pitch on, so I’m just going to keep doing that and trying to win games,” he said.

Staying the course

It doesn’t look like Kravetz is in any danger of missing out on a start any time soon. He leads all Rice pitchers with 77 strikeouts, one more than staff ace Matt Canterino who entered the season as a consensus Top 5 round prospect in the upcoming MLB Draft.  Kravetz had made four starts at Rice prior to this season. He’ll come close to matching his previous total career innings pitched at Rice (90.1) this season if Rice makes it to the conference tournament.

Coach Bragga was effusive in his praise following Kravetz’s latest performance. “[He’s] been awesome,” Bragga declared. “It’s been phenomenal the year he’s had.” Rather than stop there, Bragga asserted Kravetz might not be done when his days at Rice are over. “I’ll be shocked if they (Kravetz and Matt Canterino) don’t both go in the top 10 rounds come [the MLB Draft]”

All Kravetz wanted was an opportunity. He got his chance and made the most of it.

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