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Rice Football: 2020 ATH Cole Latos commits to Owls

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Rice football added another big talent to their 2020 recruiting class with the commitment of versatile lineman Cole Latos from Allen, Tx.

In between an offer from Illinois State and a visit to an ACC school, Latos stopped by South Main for a brief one day visit. The Rice coaching staff liked what they saw in person so much that they couldn’t let him leave without an offer. That offer pushed the Owls firmly into the lead in his recruitment. Not long after, Latos announced he’d committed to Rice.

After spending the 2018 season along the defensive line, Latos plans to flip over to the offensive side of the ball for his senior season. Right now, the Owls know he’ll play in the trenches. Exactly where he’ll line up longterm has yet to be defined, but his first crack will likely come on the offensive line.

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The athleticism Latos possesses is superb. Beyond his adeptness in the trenches, he’s a star baseball player and former teammate of current Rice target Will Harbour. Latos is officially being offered as an athlete. He’s the second commitment of the 2020 class with that designation, a noticeable adjustment to the Owls’ recruiting strategy.

Rather than limit themselves to the best players position by position, Rice has prioritized finding the best athletes and figuring out where they fit on the field later. They’re looking for the biggest, strongest and most athletic options available. That takes some calculated risks in terms of roster construction, but it allows Rice to maximize the amount of talent they have on their roster at an expedited rate.

Latos is an aggressor with excellent awareness. He’s cognizant of what’s going on around him and smart enough to position his body in the best place to make a play. Whether he lines up with the offense or the defense, he’s going to be another impact athlete up front.

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Rice Football Recruiting: Linebacker Geron Hargon commits to Owls

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Geron Hargon is going to be a Rice Owl. The first linebacker of the 2020 Rice football recruiting class has made his pledge to ball out at South Main.

Rice has picked up important commitments at several key positions in the 2020 class. They had several big bodies in the trenches and some elite skill position players, but no linebackers secured entering the heat of the summer months. That changed Friday when the Owls picked up a crucial out of state target, Geron Hargon from Shreveport, Louisiana.

Hargon had 17 offers. The original plan was to wait until his birthday, August 31, to make a public announcement of where he’d play his college football. As the recruiting process progressed it became clear to him he didn’t need the added time. By the time he arrived at Rice this weekend he’d narrowed the list down to two: Rice and UAB.

He’d been impressed by what Bill Clark is doing with the Blazers, but the culture and fit he’d found with Rice proved to be the deciding factor. The power of what the Owls could offer for life after football weighed heavily in his final decision, too.

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With Hargon in the fold, the Rice defensive class is starting to shape up. Cornerbacks Devin Gunter and Jordan Dunbar along with Safety Plae Wyatt represent a tremendous start, which should continue to get better.

When it comes to the embodying Intellectual Brutality, Hargon fits the bill. He’s an intelligent, rangy linebacker with the lateral agility and quickness to make plays all over the field. He’s a missile at the point of attack, but he does his work with poise and diligence. Hargon is a sure tackler and a reliable piece which the Owls hope to build their defense around from years to come.

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Rice Football Recruiting: 2020 Corner Jordan Dunbar commits to Owls

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There’s no stopping the momentum of the 2020 Rice Football recruiting class, who added another big-time defensive pledge, this time from corner Jordan Dunbar.

The Owls’ productive spring on the recruiting trail has bled into the summer. The string of success the Owls have had to this point hasn’t come by accident. Their intentional, relentless efforts have paid off so far, and they paid off again as another priority target has decided it’s time for him to make things official. Corner Jordan Dunbar has committed to Rice Football.

The Iona Prep defensive back made the weekend trip from New York to South Main with anticipation. Both he and the coaching staff had felt his decision was imminent. Sure enough, he made his decision public, announcing his official commitment to the Owls.

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Before he shut things down in favor of the Owls, Dunbar had options. The 5-foot-11 corner had 21 offers ranging from the Ivy Leagues to Tulane, FAU, Army and Air Force. He’d been near the top of the board after receiving his offer from Rice in May and felt the tug to come down south and be a part of what Rice is building.

Dunbar the second player at the position in this class for Rice, joining Missouri City’s Devin Gunter who made his commitment to Rice on June 13. He’s also the fourth man to join the 2020 class this month.

There’s a lot to like about Dunbar on the field. He’s relentless in pursuit and plays with intensity. He has a proven ability to play on an island and win one-on-one battles, something he’ll do a lot of during his time at South Main. Dunbar is an asset in coverage and he should only get better with more time on the field during his senior year.

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Rice Football Recruiting: Owls host Junior Day for 2020 targets

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It’s the final big weekend of the summer for the 2020 Rice Football recruiting class. The Owls have more important players on campus for a Junior Day this weekend.

Rice is hosting a junior day today with about 30 kids in attendance from all positions. For many of them, it’ll be their first time on campus to work out in front of the Rice staff. This will be the last camp of the summer before the recruiting dead period begins next week and no in person visits are permitted.

Current commits Brady Feeney, Braeden Nutter, Trey Phillippe and Kobe Campbell are all expected to be in attendance.

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The most interesting names to note will be two of the Owls’ priority targets. Linebacker Geron Hargon and wide receiver Zion Childress are both going to be on campus. If there are going to be any commitments during the weekend, those two would be the most likely to pull the trigger.

Childress has flirted with Rice for some time, developing rather strong relationships with the current members of the class and the coaches. He’s close. Hargon has narrowed his decision down to two schools: Rice and UAB. He says he’s at the point where he’s starting to feel comfortable with his choices. He’s likely to announce one way or another relatively soon.

On the quarterback front things seem to be in the “wait and see” mode. Rice has seen several guys throw this summer and is making a list of guys they’d like to keep tabs on during the fall. It’s most likely they take one guy at the position in this class and they’re making sure they offer the one they want for the long haul.

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Rice Baseball: MLB Draft decisions loom for six Owls

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Rice baseball will lose a handful of players to the MLB Draft this fall, but the roster continues to improve as new recruits choose the Owls.

The Owls roster will feature some familiar faces and some very new names in 2020. The first notable changes will be determined in the coming months as each of the six recent MLB draftees make decisions on their professional baseball futures.

Matt Canterino, Evan Kravetz and Garrett Gayle will be playing pro ball next season, that’s definitive. What’s less clear is what the remaining three drafted Rice baseball players — Roel Garcia, Addison Moss and Trei Cruz — will choose to do.

As of this moment, it’s most likely all three of them return. However, the Tampa Bay Rays plan to fly to Houston to see Moss pitch in the coming weeks. If any of those three opt for pro ball this year, he seems to be the most likely candidate. The entire trio have the skillsets to climb into Top 10 round picks next season with strong fall seasons and reinvigorated springs. Their opportunity suggest at least one more year at South Main.

Incoming talent

Assuming the reinsertion of Garcia and Moss, the Rice pitching staff could be in better shape than expected considering the loss of two Top 5 round draft selections. Rice is going to add some JUCO guys on the mound expected to contribute quickly.

Reinforcements are coming to the lineup, too. Finding another left handed bat was a must in this recruiting cycle as was adding more power. The Owls feel like they accomplished both of those things. Altogether, they’ll add a dozen new players to the roster this fall.

The pipeline continues further than that, though. Rice has eight players committed in the 2021 class, one which should, at least on paper, be the most talented class Bragga has ever recruited as a head coach. I asked about the influx of talent Rice was bringing into their program, asking him if it seems like he’s “Recruiting at the level that you need to…

“….go to Omaha,” Bragga finished. “At the end of the day, that’s the goal.” Rice has work to do before they return to the College World Series. But it’s encouraging to see the groundwork is being laid.

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