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As The Roost Podcast prepares to embark on its second season as a member of the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Podcast Network, I joined the big show this week to preview the 2025 Rice Football Season. From the hiring of head coach Scott Abell to the spring and expectations for the fall ahead, we covered a lot of ground on the show.
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The 2026 Rice Football recruiting class isn’t slowing down as it continues to stockpile talent throughout the summer. While June was particularly busy, the Owls have made two crucial additions to their group in July, most recently adding this key protector in the trenches. Euless Trinity offensive lineman Leyonte Chandler has committed to the Owls.
Chandler’s services were tightly contested with more than a dozen programs vying for his services including San Diego State, UTSA, Navy, North Texas, Texas State, Arkansas State and New Mexico, among others. Given a myriad of choices, Chandler picked South Main.
“I can tell coach Abell wants to win and the program is like a family,” Chandler told The Roost. “I feel like they will develop me to be the best version of myself.”
Chandler joins Sinton HS product Clay Mitchell as the Owls’ pair of offensive line commitments in the class, so far. They’ll block for newly committed quarterback Ayden Wilhelm, who made his pledge just days before Chandler.
The 6-foot-5, 285-pound Chandler gets low and moves people, aspect of his game that jump out as soon as you turn on the tape. When asked about his game, Chandler pointed to his hand usage to engage defenders and active feet. He’s a physical presence in the trenches and should be a great building block for the Owls up front for years to come.
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Head Coach: Zach Kittley
Record at School: 0-0 (1 Yr) | Career FBS Record 0-0 (1 Yr)
Offensive Coordinator: Zach Kittley | Defensive Coordinator: Brett Dewhurst
The ever-changing landscape had the 2026 Rice Football recruiting class in need of a quarterback as the summer months progressed. Rice didn’t waste much time after the opening appeared, moving quickly to land a commitment from one of the first players they offered in the class. Blue Springs South (MO) quarterback Ayden Wilhelm has committed to the Owls.
Wilhelm held offers from Army, Navy, Cornell and a handful of others at the time of his decision to shut things down in favor of the Owls. The intelligent, dual-threat player was a coveted choice to run an option offense and lands at South Main as the QB1 of the 2026 class.
“From the moment I stepped on campus, they made me feel like I was important and wanted,” Wilhelm told The Roost, praising head coach Scott Abell and the program he’s building. “He’s setting a high standard and is a proven winner,” Wilhelm said.
In securing a pledge from Wilhelm, Rice has officially turned the page on Aiden Smalls, who flipped his commitment to NC State a week prior. Wilhelm joins a robust offensive skill group that includes slot players Jai Jacobs-Ford and Jacob Swain, along with receiver Prince Hall and tight end Colten Cole.
Wilhelm’s ability to create is the most exciting trait that jumps out from his highlight tape. Yes, he can run — clocked at sub 4.50 speeds — but that’s the assumed starting point of dual-threat quarterbacks in today’s age. His ability to throw on the move, to escape pressure and find open lanes — and then to make the first defender miss — is what makes him so enticing as a prospect. Putting him into Abell’s option offense should be incredibly exciting.
“The style of offense was a big deciding factor in choosing Rice,” Wilhelm said. “It’s an offensive scheme that is tailored to my strengths as a runner and play maker, putting the defense in conflict every play.”
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