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2023 Rice Football quality control support staff updates

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Rice Football formalized the hiring of their position coaches this spring, but there have been a handful of other moves that went under the radar.

The 2023 Rice Football quality control staff has been revamped in the wake of an offseason that featured a host of changes on the staffing front. Rice hired five new position coaches — Jon Kay (linebackers), Pete Alomar (special teams), Jeremy Modkins (corners), John Settle (running backs) and Lucas Reed (tight ends) — but those weren’t the only changes inside the Patterson Center for the upcoming season.

Zach Werlinger – Quality Control Coordinator / Quarterbacks

Werlinger takes over the QC/Quarterbacks role that was vacated by Lucas Reed after he was promoted to coach tight ends. Werlinger is a former quarterback at Arizona who has had coaching stops as a grad assistant at Northern Arizona and Cal before arriving at Rice this March.

Ahmaad Smith – Quality Control Coordinator / Defense

Smith was a defensive back at Tennesse State in his playing days before stints in the American Indoor Football Association and the CFL. He’s spent the last several years climbing the coaching ranks, working as a defensive backs coach at Tennessee State for three seasons before joining Dartmouth as a defensive assistant and soon after as the assistant secondary coach.

JJ Nelson – Quality Control Coordinator / Wide Receivers

UAB alum and former Conference USA standout receiver JJ Nelson is listed as the Owls’ QC for wide receivers. He played professionally for the Arizona Cardinals from 2015 to 2018 before brief stints with the Raiders, 49ers, Bills and Colts, last being on an NFL roster in 2021. Now he’ll be assisting the Rice wideouts.

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The Roost Podcast | Ep 144 – ’23 Tulsa Preview with Golden Hurricast

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The Roost Podcast continues its AAC previews. Up next: Matt and Ryan from the Golden Hurricast preview Tulsa football in 2023.

Rice football and Tulsa football haven’t met on the field in a decade, but that changes this year. This week’s episode of The Roost Podcast hopes to reinvigorate the rivalry and educate Owls and others on the Golden Hurricane. Our new friends Matt and Ryan from the Golden Hurricast stop by to talk about Tulsa’s recent news and outlook for the 2023 season.

You can find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 144.

Episode Notes

DCTF

The Roost Podcast is now part of the Dave Campbell’s Republic of Football Podcast Network. You’ll still get the same content with the same hosts, but now under the DCTF banner.

Homefield

We’re thrilled to partner with Homefield Apparel, the premier proprietor of college football clothing. First-time buyers can use the code ROOST for 15% off their order. The Owls hoodie is a personal favorite. Shop the Rice collection or pick up something else (or both)!

Patreon

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Previewing 2023 Tulsa football with The Golden Hurricast

  • Tulsa’s coaching search and new coach Kevin Wilson
  • Expectations for the Golden Hurrican in 2023
  • Returning playmakers on offense
  • Defensive standouts to watch
  • The most forgettable team in the new-look AAC?
  • The Lightning Round

Where can you find us?

The Roost Podcast is part of the Dave Campbell’s Republic of Football Podcast Network. You can find this podcast and all of our partner podcasts on Apple, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Rice Football Recruiting: OL Netane Fehoko commits to Owls

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The 2023 Rice Football recruiting class has a second pledge from the same JUCO. Offensive lineman Netane Fehoko has committed to the Owls.

Just days after landing a commitment from JUCO fullback Colin Giffen, the 2023 Rice Football recruiting class has doubled down at the very same institution. Giffen comes from the College of San Mateo, the 2022 JUCO National Champions. He’s going to be an Owl, now. So is his teammate, offensive lineman Netane Fehoko, who made his pledge soon after.

Fehoko chose Rice over a half dozen other offers since he entered the portal last fall. On the day he received an offer from Rice, he was also offered by Texas State, but the Owls had the edge. He’s yet another player that has picked Rice over a Sun Belt school in recent days.

“Honestly, it just felt like home,” Fehoko told The Roost.  “The culture at Rice is very similar to [the College of San Mateo] and the coaches preach the same things we do. That’s how I really knew I was at the right place.”

Rice was clearly in the market to find someone to help along the interior of the offensive line following spring practices and Fehoko fits the bill. Better still, he can play both center and guard spots, providing further flexibility for the Owls down the road.

In the short term, guard looks to be Fehoko’s quickest path to playing time, but it wouldn’t be surprising for him to get looks at both spots during fall camp.

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On the film, Fehoko’s suddenness stands out. He’s quick off the ball and moves well for a man of his size. And at 6-foot-2, 295-pounds he brings a strong frame with him to South Main. He has the requisite size and skillset to play anywhere along the interior of the offensive line. The Owls hope to add further develop those tools and turn him into a building block for the offense for years to come.

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Rice Football Recruiting: JUCO DB Max Ahoia commits to Owls

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The 2023 Rice Football recruiting class continues to add its finishing touches. Most recently, the Owls landed a pledge from JUCO defensive back Max Ahoia.

When it came to putting the finishing touches on the 2023 Rice Football recruiting class, getting veteran help in the defensive backfield was near the top of the to-do list. The Owls checked that box with the commitment of JUCO defensive back Max Ahoia, who has made his pledge to the Owls.

The 5-foot-11, 182-pound Ahoia had 10 pass breakups and one interception last season where he played traditionally on the outside at corner. He did showcase some versatility along the way, though, moving into the slot and inside on occasion.

Ahoia’s market began to heat up in earnest this summer. In the month of May alone he received offers from Georgia Southern and Arkansas State. As Rice prepares to make the move from Conference USA to the American, edging out a couple of Sun Belt programs on the recruiting trail is a nice plus.

The corner room looks a bit more seasoned with Ahoia in the mix. Jordan Dunbar and Sean Fresch are still in line to be the starters at this point, but that’s a position where Rice knows from experience that depth is worth the investment.

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On the film, Ahoia’s initial burst and aggressiveness stand out. He’s quick to commit to the play break on the ball and that eagerness extends to his willingness to tackle, too. He’s got the tools and has the potential to be an impact player for the Owls in the future.

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Rice Football Recruiting: FB Colin Giffen commits to Owls

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The rare Rice Football recruiting fullback find is here. The Owls have landed a commitment from transfer Colin Giffen.

Colin Giffen is a football player. That might be the best possible way to describe the newest addition to the 2023 Rice Football recruiting class, which secured a pledge for his services this week, plucking him out of the Transfer Portal. Now Giffen will be a Rice Owl.

Originally from Palo Alto, California, Giffen walked on at UNLV in 2020 where he played linebacker. He spent last season at junior college, playing a hybrid h-back and tight end role. When he makes the move south to Texas, he’ll be a fullback at Rice.

Giffen, who has three seasons of eligibility remaining, tells The Roost he’s excited for the opportunity. “Right when I got there, you could tell that the culture they have is special and something I wanted to be a part of,” he said. And the position change? Giffen thinks his journey to this point has already set him up for success on that front.

“Previously being a linebacker at UNLV. it helped me be able to see coverages really well and see things before they happen.”

Rice beat out North Texas to land Giffen’s commitment. Giffen is the second portal addition for the Owls in the last week and a half. They most recently added a commitment from Duke transfer defensive tackle Michael Larbie.

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On the field, Giffen says he idolizes 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, a seven-time pro bowler. While he might not be at Juszczyk’s level quite yet, the willingness to hold a block and power through oncoming rushers should get Rice fans excited. His film has plenty of highlights with him out in space, too. Standing 6-foot-2 and tipping the scales at 240 pounds, he’s a powerful force when he gets on the move.

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