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Rice Football Recruiting: QB Ayden Wilhelm commits to Owls

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The 2026 Rice Football recruiting class has its quarterback of the future. Ayden Wilhelm from Blue Springs South (MO) has committed to the Owls.

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.

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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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Rice Football: Transfer Portal and “Designated Student-Athletes”

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Rice football has experienced some attrition following the opening of a one-time Transfer Portal window this week for select “Designated Student-Athletes”.

The rollout of transformative change for college sports has not transpired without a few bumps along the road. Rice Athletics is prepared to meet the new world order with some important action items, as detailed in this thorough review earlier this month. Now, a new Transfer Portal window has impacted Rice Football. What is a “Designated Student-Athlete,” and what does it mean for the Owls?

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Rice Football Recruiting: EDGE Seth Clarke commits to Owls

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The 2026 Rice Football recruiting class keeps adding playmakers in the trenches. Edge Seth Clarke from The Hun School (NJ) has committed to the Owls.

Members of the 2026 Rice football recruiting class span from near and far, a mix of local talent from the state of Texas and the right pieces from across the country. The Owls’ last three commitments have come from outside those Lone Star lines, including the addition of this explosive pass rusher from New Jersey. Seth Clarke from The Hun School has committed to the Owls.

Clarke was a coveted player with 29 offers and counting. At the time he made his pledge to Rice football, those offers included a host of power conference programs like North Carolina, Pitt, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Syracuse, Rutgers, Boston College and Duke. AAC rivals like Tulane and South Florida had thrown their hats in the ring, too.

Still, Clarke chose Rice, adding to an impressive haul in the trenches, which began with interior player Quincy Tchikou and was fortified last week with the commitment of edge JD Singletary. This brings the 2026 class to 12 players as the summer camp season winds down.

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The 6-foot-2, 237-pound Clarke is a tenacious, powerful defender who overwhelms his opponents on film. He has the athleticism and bend to adjust his path into the backfield accordingly and make an impact at the point of attack. When it comes to a prep player, Clarke boasts a fantastic base of traits to build on as he refines his craft at the collegiate level.

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Rice Football Recruiting: K Tommy Bauchiero commits to Owls

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The first specialist of the 2026 Rice Football recruiting class is on board. Kicker Tommy Bauchiero from Brentwood Academy (TN) has committed to the Owls.

An action-packed weekend on South Main doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Fresh off a wave of commitments in recent days, the 2026 Rice Football recruiting class continues to stockpile talent. This time, Rice has added its first specialist of the class into the fold. Kicker Tommy Baucheiro from Brentwood Academy (TN) has committed to the Owls.

Bauchiero also had an offer from UConn at the time of his commitment, picking the blue and white Owls over the similarly color-schemed Huskies. He earned his Rice offer in camp a few weeks ago by winning the field goal and kickoff competition.

The addition of Bauchiero brings the 2026 class to 11 members, and counting. He’s one of four players to announce a commitment to the Owls in the past four days, proof of an exciting round of camps and official visits on campus over recent weeks. SLOT Jai Jacobs-Ford and linebacker Jayden Cupitt are the other new additions from the weekend.

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Bauchiero’s highlights are exactly what you’d expect to see from a kicking prospect. He kicks the ball hard and far, including a 59-yard field goal during the year. He’s got a big leg and will give the Owls a kickoff man, in addition to his field goal duties.

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Rice Football Recruiting: SLOT Jai Jacobs-Ford commits to Owls

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Another offensive weapon has joined the 2026 Rice Football recruiting class. SLOT Jai Jacobs-Ford from Gosnell High School (AR) has committed to the Owls.

After a run of defensive additions to the 2026 Rice Football recruiting class, the offense got back on board in a big way. Listed as a wide receiver in some places and an athlete in others, the Owls’ latest addition is a perfect fit to play in the SLOT in this offense. Gosnell (AR) wide receiver Jai Jacobs-Ford has committed to the Owls.

Jacobs-Ford managed to fly a little bit under the radar throughout the spring, picking up offers from Sacramento State, Cornell and Central Arkansas, among others, before Rice football jumped into the mix with a formal offer in May. Following an official visit to campus in June, Jacobs-Ford had seen enough and made his pledge to the Blue and Gray.

“Coach Abell and [coach Eisenhofer] and the rest of the staff made me feel like I was at home,” Jacobs-Ford told The Roost. “The players played a big part in it. I like how everyone gets along. I also love the offense and the academics.”

The offensive skill talent in the 2026 class has really started to take shape with Jacobs-Ford into the mix. He joins fellow SLOT Jacob Swain and wide receiver Prince Hall, who have made their pledges in the past month.

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It’s probably no coincidence that the camera visibly blurs on the first rep of Jacobs-Ford’s highlight tape. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound pass catcher is lightning fast and explosive, able to make a move and accelerate into the open field. He’s going to be a lot of fun to watch in the Owls’ spread option attack.

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