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Rice Football Recruiting: TE Luke Tevis commits to Owls

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The 2025 Rice Football recruiting class is starting to pick up steam with a multi-commitment day. Tight end Luke Tevis has committed to the Owls.

As the summer camp cycle starts to pick up the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class is growing along with it. Rice added a pledge from wide receiver Keenan Arcega-Whiteside earlier in the day only to double down with another pass catcher that same morning. Paschal tight end Luke Tevis has committed to the Owls.

Landing Tevis represents a tremendous win for Rice, even if it comes relatively early in the recruiting calendar. The playmaking tight end already held offers from fellow AAC foes UTSA and North Texas, as well as Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech and a few service academies.

Winning head-to-head battles in Texas is always important, especially when it involves taking a player from the DFW area away from a rival program in the same league.

The addition of Tevis and Arcega-Whiteside brings the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class up to five players spanning both sides of the ball from the trenches to the skill positions. It’s a well-rounded start for a program that looks to build on a robust roster that returns the vast majority of its contributing players heading into the 2024 season.

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In a highlight-centric world, most offensive recruits open their film clips with a big play down the field ending in a touchdown. It’s probably fitting then that the very first highlight in Tevis’ full-season review is a punishing block that ends with a would-be tackler being laid horizontal with force. Tevis showcases his abilities as a receiver and runner, too, but that big hit says a lot about what he values about his game and undoubtedly was attractive to this coaching staff.

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Rice Football Recruiting: WR Keenan Arcega-Whiteside commits to Owls

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Head coach Mike Bloomgren and company are adding a familiar name to the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class. Wide receiver Keenan Arcega-Whiteside has committed to the Owls.

The football world is full of connections that go well beyond what meets the eye. Those relationships foster movement among staff and players alike and have brought at least one relatively familiar face into the 2025  Rice Football recruiting class. Keenan Arcega-Whiteside, brother of former Stanford standout JJ Arcega-Whiteside, has committed to the Owls.

This is not the first time Bloomgren’s Stanford connections have borne fruit for the Owls. In addition to adding special teams coordinator Pete Alamar to the staff and a few transfers directly from the Cardinal roster over the years, Bloomgren also coached Christian McCaffrey at Stanford before recruiting his brother, Luke, to come to South Main. That familiar connection paid dividends with an NFL Draft selection for Luke this past April

A multi-sport athlete, Keenan showcased his athleticism as a basketball player and a football player at the high school level. On the football side, he’d picked up a few offers this summer from the likes of Austin Peay, Gardner Webb and others before announcing his decision to commit to Rice.

Arcega-Whiteside was on campus for Junior Day earlier this year and clearly liked what he saw. His commitment is the fourth of the Owls’ 2025 class which could start to grow here in earnest following camp season.

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Already 6-foot-6 and 185 pounds, Arcega-Whiteside looks the part and his film backs it up. He’s the sort of big-body target this staff loves to utilize in the redzone and on chain-moving throws near the sticks. He’s fairly shifty for his size and while he probably won’t win a footrace against the speedier players the Owls bring into the fold in this class, bringing him down is no easy task. Rice has a good amount of speed on their roster right now. They need someone with some power. Arcega-Whiteside certainly delivers on that front.

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Rice Football Recruiting: WR Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman commits to Owls

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The 2024 Rice Football recruiting class has picked up another offensive playmaker. Former Florida wideout Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman has committed to the Owls.

The last few weeks have been somewhat quiet on the Rice Football recruiting front because the Owls have had been carefully selecting what amounts to the finishing touches on their 2024 roster, taking what they perceive to be the most impactful players available to them from the Transfer Portal. They landed another high-upside option this week when they gained a commitment from former Florida wide receiver and Top 100 recruit Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman.

Chiaokhiao-Bowman was a highly regarded member of the 2022 recruiting class and considered a top 10 JUCO wide receiver recruit in the nation and a top 100 JUCO player overall. He had his fair share of suitors at that time before ultimately spending the spring at Independence CC and transferring to Florida in the fall. The Minneapolis, MN native got on the field as a true freshman with the Gators, operating as a receiver receiver and a special teams player. He caught seven passes for 138 yards, averaging a healthy 19.7 yards per catch.

Injuries slowed him this past season, limiting him to two games in a redshirt season. He’ll have three years of eligibility remaining when he arrives on South Main. That’s a lot of football ahead for the 6-foot, 200-pound receiver who should provide an instant infusion of talent and further amp up the competition in the receiver room.

Chiaokhiao-Bowman joins Brown transfer Graham Walker and freshman Owen Carter as the most prominent additions for Rice football at the receiver position in this current recruiting cycle. That’s a lot of talent for a roster tasked with the arduous challenge of replacing Luke McCaffrey.

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As for Chiaokhiao-Bowman, the traits are there and jump off his film. He’s uber-athletic and already seems to run refined routes. He’s produced within an SEC offense and showcased ball skills and speed when given the opportunity. When it comes to Power 5 transfers, this is the kind of player worth betting on. He’ll be a great addition to the Owls’ pass catching stable that continues to grow.

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Rice Football Recruiting: CB Faybian Marks commits to Owls

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One of the final touches of an already strong 2024 Rice Football recruiting class, Utah corner Faybian Marks has committed to the Owls.

Finding reinforcements at the corner position was one of the top priorities for Rice football recruiting following spring practices. After taking a few weeks to assess the mark, the Owls have zeroed in on their man and landed a commitment from former Utah corner Faybian Marks,

Marks is originally a class of 2020 player from Richmond, Texas who picked the Utes over offers from Baylor, Kansas State, Kansas, Washington State and others. He saw action immediately upon his arrival in Salt Lake, appearing in 32 games across four seasons with the Utes, including seven starts.

Injuries suffered midway through the 2021 season seemed to hamper his ascent. He spent most of the last two seasons operating as a reserve and playing special teams but still possesses a skillset that makes him an intriguing add for the Owls.

Marks told The Roost the Owls’ culture and environment are what set Rice football apart saying it “just felt like I was apart of the family as soon as I got there.”

He’ll add competition to a corner room that is relatively unproven at the FBS level outside of returning starter Sean Fresch. Max Ahoia had played well at the other corner spot through the spring, but even if the staff believes in Ahoia it was always going to be prudent to get another playmaker in that room.

At a minimum, one of the two becomes quality depth with the upside that either Marks or Ahoia becomes a true difference maker. Regardless of the outcome, adding a player of Marks’ resume to the fold is a definite win.

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On the field, Rice is getting a seasoned veteran with plenty of in-game experience. Marks prides himself on his speed and physicality, two things that show up in his highlights. He’s a willing tackle and has the speed to stay step for step with receivers on the outside. The George Ranch High School native returns to Texas with the intent of making plays on the field. He’ll be an interesting name to follow during camp as he battles with Ahoia for playing time.

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Rice Football Recruiting: OL Cole Principe commits to Owls

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The first offensive line pledge of the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class is on the board. Cole Principe has committed to the Owls.

Since head coach Mike Bloomgren arrived at South Main building from the trenches up has been a theme of every Rice football recruiting class. The 2025 group is no expectation. That’s why it comes as no surprise that one of the first pledges of the upcoming class will put his hand in the dirt and be ready to protect. Orange Lutheran offensive lineman Cole Principe has committed to the Owls.

The Owls were one of the first to offer Principe, who also held offers from Air Force and Cornell before making his decision to commit to Rice. “After my visit, I knew it was where I wanted to be,” Principe told The Roost.

Principe’s time on campus was impactful. He got a better appreciation for the Owls’ offensive scheme in his time sitting in on meetings and enjoyed his conversations with the coaching staff. All in all, the atmosphere around the program proved to be one he wanted to join.

“I love to win,” he said. “I am excited to be a part of a program who has been on an upward trajectory of winning and I hope to help take it to the next level.

As it stands, Principe is the third commitment of the 2025 class and the second to make their pledge official in the month of April. North Shore running back D’Andre Hardeman committed two weeks ago. Prior to their additions, Madison Prep (LA) athlete Semaj Pierre had been the lone commitment, dating back to November 2023.

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The 6-foot-3, 285-pound Principe is a people mover with experience at both guard and tackle. His film shows good balance and quickness off the ball, both things that will help him tremendously at the collegiate level. Principe frame and athleticism are exciting, making him a great bet to be a productive player at the next level.

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