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Rice Basketball: Owls adapting to the world of the Transfer Portal

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Rice basketball has been gutted by the Transfer Portal this offseason. For better or worse, the Owls are adapting to a new normal in college basketball.

No sooner had the final installment of an offseason series on Rice basketball been published than did everything change for head coach Scott Pera and the Owls. Josh Parrish entered the Transfer Portal. Then Trey Murphy III followed. Then Drew Peterson tacked his name onto the list. In the span of a week a promising upcoming season was plunged into uncertainty.

“I’m not sure all of this stuff is good for the game,” Pera said a few weeks later after he’d found the replacement for those transfers and the outgoing senior class. He acknowledged that he wishes the best for those leaving Houston, but wishes there were another way. In his eyes, the grass isn’t always greener.

And it’s not going to get easier. The NCAA is discussing doing away with the rule that mandates a one-year penalty for all transferring players. Under the proposed guidelines, all athletes would be granted immediate eligibility across all sports. Could this tip the balance of power even further away from smaller schools like Rice? Pera thinks so.

If the rule passes, Pera thinks schools like Rice “become like the minor leagues”, grooming talent for the elite programs.

The Roost Podcast: Listen now to our Extended Offseason Interview Series

After dealing with as much adversity as he has, it’s easy to see how Pera came to hold that position. Many believe his words of caution, fearing things could get even worse on the transfer front. But as of this writing, it’s already a bleak picture for Rice and its fellow Conference USA peers.

As of May 1, at least 11 C-USA schools had lost at least one player this offseason. Eight had lost at least two. Rice was among at least three schools that have lost three or more. The exodus isn’t on its way. It’s here.

Reluctantly, Pera has made plans for the worse. “As much as I didn’t want those guys to leave, you can’t be on your heels in this process anymore in college basketball,” he said. “It is the world we live in.”

Rice responded by signing a seven-person class this spring. The new additions ranged from incoming high school players to experienced, junior college and grad transfer players. The Owls had a variety of holes to fill, so they cast a wide net. As much as they might not want it to be true, today’s transfer epidemic has, in many ways, become the new normal.

“We’ve kind of gotten used to this,” Pera said. It’s grim, but it’s reality. Rather than dwell on the negative, Pera and Rice basketball vow to keep moving forward with a new roster but the same purpose.

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The Roost Podcast | Ep. 31 – DCTF’s Shehan Jeyarajah and the state of college football

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Shehan Jeyarajah from Dave Campbell’s Texas Football sheds some light on the state of college football, offseason storylines and its uncertain future.

The extended offseason interview series continues with a broader lens. After spending a few weeks talking to former Rice athletes, this week’s edition of The Roost Podcast goes bigger picture. The coronavirus pandemic has altered the college football landscape. We talk to Dave Campbell Texas Football insider Shehan Jeyarajah and get his views on that state of college football in Texas.

From rivalry trophies to new coaches, it’s a conversation you don’t want to miss. You can always find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 31.


Episode 31 Notes

  • Housekeeping — Thanks to everyone who’s left a review or shared your feedback with us. If you like the show or want to get in touch with us, you can leave a comment on the site or give the show a follow on Twitter.
  • Shehan Jeyarajah joins the show — Despite the lack of games to cover, the sports world hasn’t slowed down. Texas college football has had plenty of things to talk about, so we covered the gamut:
    • When will Texas A&M and Texas play again? (It’s been almost a decade.)
    • Reasonable expectations for UTSA’s Jeff Traylor and Baylor’s Dave Aranda
    • Which non-Power 5 programs in Texas have the brightest future?
    • What will college football look like this season? Should games without students a real option?
    • Are the potential changes to the Name, Image and Likeness policies good or bad for college football?

Where can you find us?

Download and subscribe to The Roost Podcast on any of your favorite podcast providers. The show is available on iTunes, GooglePlay, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn and PodBean. Please consider leaving a review wherever you listen.

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Rice Football Recruiting: 2021 OL Ethan Onianwa commits to Owls

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The 2021 Rice Football recruiting class added a big addition in the offensive trenches. Cinco Ranch lineman Ethan Onianwa has committed to the Owls.

Going virtual hasn’t slowed down the 2021 Rice football recruiting class. The Owls continue to add talent to their ranks despite the challenging circumstances. This time they didn’t have to venture out that far from their home base, snagging Cinco Ranch offensive lineman Ethan Onianwa, the latest in a run of Texas commitments.

The Owls have been first too offer on several of their targets, but not on Onianwa. The 6-foot-5, 305-pound grinder in the trenches already held offers from Vanderbilt, SMU, North Texas and a host of Ivies prior to Rice making an official offer. Both parties were in contact often leading up to that moment, which came just a few days before Onianwa made his decision.

Onianwa is the eighth commitment of the 2021 Rice football recruiting class and one of the highest-rated additions to date. The Owls scooped up four before the in person restrictions were put in place. Since then they’ve added tight end Jaggar Hebeisen (April 6), linebacker DJ Arkansas (April 14) and defensive lineman Elroyal Morris (April 24).

More: 2021 Rice Football Recruiting Tracker

Onianwa isn’t coming in blind. He was on campus for the Owls’ last junior day in early March. He’s well aware of what is being built at Rice. And now he’s going to be a part of the growth already in progress. The Owls are well on their way to landing one of Conference USA’s best classes.

Head coach Mike Bloomgren had made a concerted effort to add the right pieces along the offensive line. Onianwa is a people-mover in the making and one that’s going to make waves down the road at South Main in the near future.

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Rice Basketball: Relationships and diversity unify Owls’ 2020 signing class

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In the midst of a challenging recruiting environment, Rice basketball has finalized a seven-member signing class for the upcoming 2020-2021 season.

Those attending a Rice basketball game next season might have to familiarize themselves with the roster. Eight of the 15 players who saw action in at least one game for the Owls’ last season have departed the program. Five exhausted their collegiate eligibility. Three transferred.

The large exodus necessitated a large influx of talent. 6-foot-10 Texas Tech transfer Malik Ondigo, who sat out last season due to transfer rules, will give the Owls a more physical presence inside. Joining him are seven new additions, each pulled together through a variety of connections.

“It all comes back to one thing, relationships,” head coach Scott Pera said when asked how he’d constructed this signing class. “I’ve been fortunate enough to work a lot of places around the country. From LA to Phoenix to Philly to Houston, I’ve got a lot of major cities covered.”

Graduate transfer Cavit Ege Havsa brings a much-needed veteran presence. He was discovered through an assistant with connections to Turkish international players. He’s 6-foot-4 with good hands and will fill in at the four behind the departed Drew Peterson.

Alongside him, third-year player Riley Abercrombie was recruited by Pera out of highschool. He’s a 6-foot-9 transfer from Boise State who was a standout at Clear Lake before moving onto the college ranks.

Guard Jake Lieppert came out of the blue. “I got a random text from basically a friend of a friend in Phoenix,” Pera said. A few months later, Lieppert checked all of the boxes and has made the jump from JUCO to Rice.

Rice was on guard Noah Hutchins for some time. Likewise, they initiated contact with VMI transfer Travis Evee soon after his name hit the Transfer Portal. Guard Cameron Sheffield, the first commitment in the class, and fellow high school addition Mylyjael Poteat round out a balanced group. All with different talents, but the same core identity. They fit at Rice.

On the court, this group will allow Pera to add more size. It wasn’t uncommon for Pera to trust a “small ball” lineup last year, trotting out five guards with Josh Parrish or Robert Martin at the five. Ondigo, Abercrombie and the 6-foot-9 Poteat will help ease the Owls’ size deficiencies.

Having the bodies and getting them to work in concert are different challenges, but getting the pieces in place is the first step.”We still —  I feel — have enough experience to help us out as we move along here,” Pera said confidently. Havsa is in his fifth year. Ondigo is entering his court and Abercrombie his third. Chris Mullins and Payton Moore have played meaningful minutes already at Rice. Things will be different, but the cupboard isn’t empty, not anymore.

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BREAKING: Christian Covington signs with Denver Broncos

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Former Rice football defensive lineman Christian Covington has a new NFL home, signing with the Denver Broncos in the days following the NFL Draft.

Christian Covington is on the move. Initially drafted by the Houston Texans after a standout Rice football career, Covington played four seasons in Houston. He tallied 7.5 sacks and 39 tackles, playing in the trenches alongside JJ Watt and Jadeveon Clowney.

From there, he signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys in 2019. He appeared in all 16 games with Dallas last year, setting career highs in tackles (20) and starts (six).

In mid-April, Covington joined The Roost Podcast and briefly discussed his free agency and future plans. He mentioned the current global climate was impacting how he and his agent went about normal business, but hoped to have a solution worked out soon.


Less than a week after the NFL Draft was finished, teams had answers to their depth chart questions and Covington had his next NFL home. Per Adam Caplan, Covington is joining the Broncos on a 1-year, $1.75 million contract with $625,000 guaranteed. Originally from Canada, this will be his first football season outside of Texas since coming to Rice in 2011.

Denver is a popular destination for former Owls in the NFL. Covington’s former college teammate corner Bryce Callahan is also with the team as is offensive lineman Calvin Anderson. Jordan Taylor, also a teammate of Covington’s, was with the Broncos through the 2018 season, just missing a reunion.

Find the latest updates on all former Rice football players in the NFL on our NFL Owls Tracker. The list has been updated to include the next wave of pro Owls. Three players from the 2019 squad have signed as undrafted free agents following the 2020 NFL Draft: Myles Adams (Carolina), Justin Gooseberry (Falcons) and Nick Leverett (Buccaneers).

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