The source for Rice sports news

Rice Football Recruiting 2022: Recapping a busy Junior Day

By

More than a dozen potential members of the 2022 Rice Football recruiting class were on campus this weekend. Here are a few names to know.

The vast majority of the 2021 Rice Football recruiting class has put pen to paper and made their pledges to the Owls permanent, predominantly during the Early Signing Period. There are a few names left to formalize, but there’s enough nailed down to allow the Rice staff to turn one eye toward the future and host their first Junior Day of the year.

In this update, we’ll hit on which recruits were on campus, which received offers and share a few comments from some of the Owls’ newest targets.

Subscriber content.<br /> Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.

For those checking in for the first time, or those returning, a quick programming note. Recruiting updates like this are reserved for our subscribers. Get access to all practice notes, special features and more like this one when you subscribe on Patreon today.

Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting: JUCO TE Boden Groen commits to Owls

By

The 2022 Rice Football recruiting classes solidified their tight end haul this week with the commitment of JUCO tight end Boden Groen, formerly of Mater Dei High School in California.

The first wave of 2022 Rice Football commitments came from the high school ranks. Once the Owls had established a base from the younger ranks, they turned toward the Transfer Portal. Rice picked up four transfer additions to the class in December. They’ve now added their first transfer commitment of the New Year in the form of JUCO tight end Boden Groen.

Groen, together with former Cal tight end Gavin Reinwald, provide reinforcements for a tight end room that has experienced a sizable amount of change in the past year. Jordan Myers moved to running back and Jaeger Bull opted to transfer. That leaves Jack Bradley and Robert French as the only remaining players in the tight end room that have seen meaningful snaps in the regular season. Reinforcements were needed and Rice has found them.

Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 230 pounds, Groen appeared in nine games at Saddleback. He caught 14 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown, average 10.9 yards per catch. But that might not paint a complete picture regarding how Rice plans to involve him in the offense.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

Groen has already updated his Twitter bio to reflect his recent pledge and it reads very simply, “Rice FB”. Fullbacks don’t exactly grow on trees and often are developed from able players who slide backward from the offensive line or tight end.

Departing tight end Bull is a great example of how the Owls might utilize Groen, primarily as a blocker with the ability to leak out of the formation as needed. The first few clips of his highlight reel showcase that ability. He moves well in the open field and can get to the next level. He’ll fit in well with what Rice wants to do.

Become a Patron!
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting: Owls target o-line in latest run of offers

By

The Transfer Portal has been a focal point of Rice football recruiting in recent weeks, including a flurry of offers on the offensive line.

The 2022 Rice Football recruiting class got off to a great start during the early signing period, but there’s more work to do before the class is completed later this spring. For the time being, the Transfer Portal has taken center stage. Rice has been active in recent weeks, shifting their focus to transfer targets with much of their high school contingent now signed.

Subscriber content.<br /> Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.

It only takes a brief look at the Owls’ most recent offer list to identify the current priority: offensive line.  The five most recent offers for the upcoming 2022 Rice Football recruiting class have all come at that position, including four transfer targets and one high school senior.

For those checking in for the first time, or those returning, a quick programming note. Recruiting analysis like this piece is reserved for our subscribers. Get access to all practice notes, recruiting updates and special features like this one when you subscribe on Patreon today.

Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Athletics: Top 10 Moments from 2021

By

2021 was filled with highs and lows for Rice Athletics. The Roost picked out 10 moments that stood out the most along the way.

10. Rice Basketball goes on C-USA Tournament run

For the first time since 2007, Rice basketball won multiple games in the Conference USA Tournament. The Owls beat Southern Miss and knocked off Marshall before falling to UAB. After sneaking into the tournament as the sixth seed in the West, Rice put their best foot forward when it counted the most, building momentum as the team heads into the 2021-2022 season.

9. Owls shine at Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics

The realm of collegiate athletics wasn’t the only area where Rice impressed. The Owls also faired well on one of the world’s greatest stages: the Olympics. Ariana Ince competed in the Tokyo Olympics in the javelin throw. Soon after, Ahalya Lettenberger took home a silver medal in the Paralympic Games.

8. Rice Women’s basketball wins WNIT

It feels like forever ago at this point, but Rice Women’s Basketball marched through the WNIT in March, thumping Ole Miss to win the program’s first-ever WNIT Championship. The roster has changed dramatically since then, but the accomplishments of Tina Langley, Nancy Mulkey and Co. will not be forgotten.

7. Rice Football signs another Top 5 recruiting class

Recruiting has been one of the brightest spots for Rice football under head coach Mike Bloomgren and the most recent 2022 recruiting class appears to be no exception. The Owls took home a Top 5 class in Conference USA and the No. 2 rated class in program history. Each of the last three classes currently ranks in the Top 5 highest-rated classes in school history. More recruiting notes here.

6. Grace Forbes wins C-USA Female Track, XC Athlete of the Year

While track and field might not draw the same spotlight as other collegiate sports, it’s hard not to be transfixed by the level of dominance Grace Forbes has displayed in her young Rice career. Forbes was named C-USA Female Track Athlete of the Year and C-USA Cross Country Athlete of the Year. From start to end, she was the best of the best.

5. Rice baseball hires Jose Cruz Jr. as next head coach

Rice elected to make a change at the top of the baseball program following the 2021 season and athletic director Joe Karlgaard made a splash with the hiring of former Rice great Jose Cruz Jr. Cruz has already made notable additions on the transfer front and increased the visibility of the program within the city and on social media. The 2022 season can’t come soon enough.

4. Rice Soccer upsets WVU in NCAA Tournament

Making the NCAA Tournament is an accomplishment. Winning a game is another. Rice soccer went beyond both bars in their spring season, knocking off 5-seed West Virginia in route to the first Sweet 16 appearance by a Conference USA school since 2011 and tying the program record for wins a season with 14.

3. Rice Volleyball makes NCAA Tournament, twice!

Rice arrived in Omaha in mid-April but had their first NCAA Tournament appearance of the year ended by COVID-19 cases within the program. Undeterred, they bounced back and earned another NCAA bid in their traditional fall season. Finally given the opportunity to compete, Rice beat San Diego in the first round before falling to Texas in the second round.

2. Rice football beats UAB

For the second consecutive season, Rice football won a game as a three-touchdown underdog on the road. In 2020, Marshall was the victim a dominant defensive performance by the Owls. This time around, UAB was caught in the crosshairs of what was indisputably the most complete performance by all phases in the 2021 season with team-favorite Wiley Green at the helm.

1. Rice Athletics accepts AAC invite

The giant of conference realignment awoke during the summer when Texas and Oklahoma announced moves to the SEC. That decision sent ripple effects across college athletics all the way to Houston, Tx where Rice Athletics was invited to join the American Athletic Conference. The Owls don’t have a date when the move becomes official yet, but the announcement itself is a massive moment in Rice Athletics history.

Honorable Mentions…

How about you? Which of these moments from Rice Athletics did you enjoy the most? Cutting this down to 10 was challenging. Which Rice Athletics events should be added to the list?

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting: Transfer TE Gavin Reinwald commits to Owls

By

Former Cal tight end Gavin Reinwald has joined the 2022 Rice Football recruiting class, providing experience and depth for the Owls at the position.

It’s going to be surreal looking at the roster next season and not seeing Jordan Myers or Jaeger Bull listed anywhere on it. That’s part of what made finding a quality tight end in the Transfer Portal became somewhat of a priority for the 2022 Rice Football Recruiting class. And that’s what eventually would open up the door for the commitment of Cal transfer Gavin Reinwald.

The Owls weren’t desperate to find just anybody to play the position. Jack Bradley has emerged as a fixture on the depth chart and getting Nate Kamper back healthy for next season will provide more options in the passing game. Adding a tight end was only going to make sense if they found one that could add value in a variety of facets. Reinwald fits that bill.

A California native, Reinwald tallied 1,873 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns in high school, proof that he’s more than just someone to stick on the end of the line and block. He would go on to play in 39 games at Cal with eight starts. He tallied 31 receptions for 315 yards and four touchdowns over four years with the Golden Bears. He can line up wide and play some wide receiver if needed.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

Reinwald crossed paths with current Rice offensive coordinator Marques Tuiasosopo before Tuiasosopo headed to Texas. In fact, Tuiasosopo was Reinwald’s position coach in 2019 and 2020, moving over from the Cal quarterback room the two seasons prior. Tuiasosopo is very familiar with what Reinwald brings to the table, and if he feels he can be an asset for the Rice offense, it’s hard to fault him.

A graduate transfer, Reinwald will have one final season of eligibility once he arrives at South Main. Already familiar with some of the scheme which Tuiasopopo brought with him from Cal, he’s a good pickup for the Owls from the portal.

Get more recruiting and Early Singing Period coverage:
Become a Patron!
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts