The source for Rice sports news

Rice Football Recruiting: WR Jordan Clark commits to Owls

By

The 2025 Rice Football recruiting picked up another offensive weapon. Wide receiver Jordan Clark has committed to the Owls.

Following a run of Transfer Portal additions in the winter, the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class has hit the high school ranks in earnest this weekend with National Signing Day fast approaching. The Owls picked up three new pledges in the span of two days, including a new playmaker on offense. Wide receiver Jordan Clark has committed to the Owls.

Clark’s decision to come to South Main stemmed from what he described as an impactful official visit. “At most official visits, the head coach is the last coach you meet,” Clark told The Roost. “However, Coach Abell was the first coach I met on the official visit, so my first impression of Rice football came from him. From the introduction to the farewell, his message was consistent.”

Rice beat out offers from Air Force, Navy and FCS powerhouse Montana State, among others to land Clark’s pledge. He will be the third scholarship receiver from the high school ranks in the class, a new wave of young talent poised to impact the field for the Owls in the years ahead.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

The skill set revealed on film fits the Owls’ new offense well. “They really love to get their playmakers the ball in space,” Clark said. “And with my abilities, that’s where I thrive the most, yards after catch!” Explosive plays are going to play a significant role in making Abell’s offense effective. Clark has the talent to provide those in droves.

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

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting Profile: S Max Lofy signs with Owls

By

The 2025 Rice Football recruiting class added a pair of veteran defensive backs to its roster including former Wisconsin safety Max Lofy.

There was no public social media announcement, just a name posted on a spring roster. Fanfare or not, the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class needed some veteran players in the defensive backfield and picked up an important addition in time for spring ball. Former Wisconsin safety Max Lofy signed with the Owls and enrolled in classes this January.

Lofy joins the Owls after spending five seasons with the Badgers. He redshirted in 2020, his first year on campus then grew into a larger role in each of the subsequent two seasons, playing in 20 games and maxing one start with an interception against Washington State in that latter season. He missed the entire 2023 season with an injury, but returned to the field in 2024.

That offseason, head coach Luke Fickell called Lofy the player on the Wisconsin roster who “has made the biggest leap,” adding, “I don’t think there’s another guy in our program that I have as much respect for.”

Lofy plated in nine games with three starts and tallied a career-high 178 snaps on defense while allowing just five completions on 14 targets.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

At Wisconsin, Lofy was recruited under a previous staff before earning his way back onto the field under Fickell. That determination in perseverance suggests he’ll be more than up for the challenge of earning his way onto the field at Rice.

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

Recent Posts

Scott Abell finalizes 2025 Rice Football Staff

By

Rice football head coach Scott Abell has finalized his first coaching staff with the Owls, announcing four additional position coaches.

The newest Rice football position coaches are associate head coach and tight ends coach Wayne Lineburg, defensive line coach Ty Warren, running backs coach Johnathan Wilson and wide receivers coach Brian Brown.

“I am excited to announce the addition of these three coaches to our Rice Owl football staff,” Abell stated in a release from the Rice football program on Tuesday. “Each one brings a different background that will only add to our already strong coaching staff. The Rice Owl family will be proud of who they are as men and the impact they will have on our student-athletes on and off the field for the Owls.”

A further announcement confirmed Brown as the final assistant:

“I am so excited to finalize our coaching staff with the addition of Brian Brown,” Abell said. “His playing and coaching experience will be a huge addition. This completes our inaugural Rice football coaching staff, and I couldn’t be more excited.”

Abell previously announced the hiring of his first seven assistants in mid-December as well as a few important off-field staffers (new additions in bold)

Warren, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, had previously served as the assistant head coach and defensive line coach at SFA. Wilson, his coworker at SFA, coached the Lumberjacks’ wide receivers. Wilson is a graduate of Klein Forest High School and played four seasons for the Kansas Jayhawks.

Lineburg, the Owls’ associate head coach, spent the last eight seasons coaching tight ends and coordinating special teams at Wake Forest. Brown was an assistant with Abell at Davidson, coaching defensive backs.

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

Recent Posts

Rice Football 2024: NFL Owls Divisional Round Roundup

By

Rice Football is well represented on 2024 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls in action this season.

There are former Rice football players scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player.

TeamNFL Owl(s)Last GameResultUp Next
Detroit LionsJack Fox (P)
Myles Adams (DL)		DR vs CommandersL, 45-31 —
Pittsburgh SteelersChris Boswell (PK)
Calvin Anderson (OL)		WC vs RavensL, 28-14 —
Washington CommandersLuke McCaffrey (WR)DR at LionsW, 23-19at Eagles

Special Teams

Jack Fox – P, Lions

Fox punted just one time in the Lions’ Divisional Round loss to the Commanders, booting the ball 43 yards. That caps off a historical season and young career for Fox, who currently ranks first place all time in league history (min. 250 attempts) in net putting average, averaging 43.2 yards per punt.

His 51.0 gross yards per punt averaged this year was the sixth best single season mark in NFL history, just below his 2024 NFL-record setting 46.2 net yards per punt average.

Fox is creeping up the record books with his arm, too. He’s already completed five passes for 61 yards, 20 yards short of the all-time league record for passing yards by a punter, set by Tom Skladany.

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

Boswell did not attempt a field goal in the postseason, converting both of his extra point attempts in the Steelers’ Wild Card Round playoff loss to the Ravens. He finished the regular season 41-of-44 on field goals.

Offense

Calvin Anderson – OL, Steelers

Anderson saw his most extensive usage of the season in the Steelers’ Wild Card Round playoff loss to the Ravens, playing in 63 percent of offensive snaps. His previous regular season high was 13 percent of snaps, set in Week 6 against the Raiders.

Luke McCaffrey – WR, Commanders

McCaffrey has two NFL Playoff wins under his belt in his first season in the league, seeing action with the offense although he did not record any receptions. He had two kickoff returns in the teams’ Wild Card Round victory over the Bucs.

Defense

Myles Adams – DL, Seahawks and Lions

Adams saw action with the Lions’ defense in their Divisional Round loss to the Commanders, playing nine snaps.

More Owls in the NFL

From practice squads to current free agents, there are other Owls on the cusp of returning to active rosters. Find more details on current contractual agreements and former Rice football players waiting for their next opportunity here.

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

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting: DE Ejike Adele commits to Owls

By

The 2025 Rice Football recruiting class keeps adding talent. Ivy League defensive player of the year Ejike Adele has committed to the Owls.

The pipeline connecting Rice football recruiting and the Ivy Leagues continues to push talented football players from the Northeast to South Main. A year removed from landing standing Dartmouth defensive end Charlie Looes, Rice has picked up a commitment from his former teammate. Defensive end and reigning Ivy League defensive player of the year Ejike Adele has committed to the Owls.

“I had heard great things about the team and the program from my former teammate Charlie Looes,” Adele told The Roost. “I was already familiar with Coach Abell and his staff since they recruited me out of high school when they were at Davidson. I could sense a lot of excitement about the program on my visit and it felt like they were developing a family atmosphere that I want to be a part of.”

Looes was a runner-up for the Bushnell Cup, given annually to the Ivy League’s best defensive player. Adele took home the award last year, finishing in the top 25 in the nation in tackles for a loss (12.0) while leading Dartmouth in sacks (6.0) and racking up 54 tackles, second on the team.

To this point, the 2025 Rice football recruiting class has filled out quite nicely including 10 transfer additions, eight of which have already enrolled. Adele will finish up his degree this spring and join the team in the summer alongside fellow Ivy League addition Sean Sullivan from Yale.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

Adele’s versatility makes him a particularly exciting addition in the defensive trenches. As his film showcases, he can line up all over the front, something that has proven particularly valuable to the Owls in recent years.

“I liked that the scheme allows guys to be versatile and line up in different spots depending on the situation,” Adele said of the Owls’ scheme. “That’s one thing I enjoyed being able to do at Dartmouth which also allowed me to be successful as a player there.”

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

Recent Posts