The source for Rice sports news

Conference USA Football: Summer Transfer Portal Pickups

By

Summer hasn’t slowed the Transfer Portal and several Conference USA Football programs have benefited from new additions over the past few weeks.

Players have come and gone this offseason with each and every Conference USA football program feeling the good and the bad enacted upon it by the Transfer Portal. Here are three new additions within the Conference over the course of the last few weeks who could play meaningful roles on the field this season.

North Texas – QB Grant Gunnell (Memphis)

The starter at Arizona in 2019, Gunnell transferred to Memphis last year but missed the 2021 season with a leg injury. Now healthy, Gunnell opted for the portal where he received a good amount of interest before landing in Denton with the Mean Green.

Gunnell threw for 1,864 yards in 12 appearances with Arizona, tossing 15 touchdowns with just three interceptions. A highly sought-after recruit coming out of high school, Gunnell will have a legitimate chance to win the starting job at North Texas this season and could be extremely productive in Seth Littrell’s system.

UTSA – RB Trelon Smith (Arkansas)

With no Sincere McCormick lining up in the backfield in San Antonio, it always seemed plausible UTSA would add another running back to the fold, but Trelon Smith isn’t just another body to pad the depth chart.

A former Cy Ridge product and Arkansas transfer Smith led the Razorbacks’ running backs in carries and yards in each of the past two seasons, averaging 5.2 yards per carry and scoring 10 touchdowns. Smith will get plenty of work with the Roadrunners this season and could find his way into contention for a few Conference USA football offensive awards.

Rice – OL John Hughes (West Virginia)

A former starter at West Virginia, Hughes will compete for a starting job in Houston among a front five that ended spring on a high note. Rice started and finished spring with the same starting five and didn’t appear to be in the market for a proven transfer until now.

The Owls’ feelings on the matter clearly changed when someone with Hughes’ resume became available this late in the cycle. Hughes will join wide receiver Isaiah Esdale, a former WVU teammate, at Rice this coming season.

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

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting: Owls to hire “TikTok Coach” Marco Regalado

By

There’s a new director of Rice Football Recruiting in town. The Owls are expected to hire “TikTok Coach” Marco Regalado for the position soon.

First reported by Chris Vannini of The Athletic, Rice football recruiting has a new front man. The Owls are set to hire Marco Regalado, known for his viral videos as the “TikTok Coach”, as their Director of Player Personnel & Recruiting Innovation.

Two years ago, Regalado was an assistant high school football coach in Alamo, Texas when he downloaded TikTok and made his first video and started drawing views.

From there he had a stint with V.R. Eaton High School in Haslet, Texas before being hired as a recruiting assistant by now-former Washington State head coach Nick Rolovich and ascending to Director of Recruiting under new head coach Jake Dickert. Now he’s headed to South Main.

For those not on TikTok or otherwise less linked to social media, Regalado’s climb has gone far beyond the bounds of social media. He was featured on The Athletic last spring in a piece that includes several of his earlier videos. He’s also active on Twitter, posting this hint shortly after the news went public of his imminent hiring:

Regalado will round out a revamped recruiting staff which includes Lee Menefee, Director of Recruiting Ops/High School Relations, and Jessica Morrey, Director of On-Campus Recruiting. When he arrives, Regalado will take over a current class that has eight commitments, the most recent of which came this week from MacArthur corner AJ Stephens.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

Don’t miss out! Get the full list of every Rice football recruiting offer and stay up to date on the Owls’ recruiting efforts by subscribing to The Roost on Patreon. You’ll also get access to 2022 Rice Football season preview content in the coming months, practice reports, fall camp updates and more.

Become a Patron!

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

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting: CB AJ Stephens commits to Owls

By

The 2023 Rice Football recruiting class picked up a difference-maker on the outside. Corner back AJ Stephens has committed to the Owls.

For the second time in the past month, the 2023 Rice football recruiting class has added a playmaker in the secondary. MacArthur cornerback AJ Stephens has committed to the Owls. Stephens joins fellow Texas High School product Jamarion Clark (South Oak Cliff), who committed to Rice in mid-May as a tandem of cover men for the future.

Stephens, a versatile athlete, was also a star on his basketball team where he excelled on the defensive end of the court along with his shooting prowess. That athleticism and ability to lock down his man translates to the gridiron as well where Stephens says he prides himself on “being able to come down and make tackles and cover the best receiver on the other team.”

Rice was the first program to offer Stephens back in May. Since then, he also picked up an offer from Prairie View A&M before opting to make his pledge to the Owls. Stephens cited the facilities and the staff as driving reasons for his decision. In his eyes, “to also have coaches with NFL experience is amazing because they know how to get me to the next level.”

Stephens elevates the 2023 Rice Football recruiting class up to eight commitments. He and the aforementioned Clark are the only two defensive pledges so far, with the remainder being a quintet of offensive lineman and quarterback Chase Jenkins.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

Rice seeks after players with size and physicality for its defensive scheme. They also need corners who are comfortable on an island. Stephens’ film showcases those characteristics extremely well. He’s excellent in coverage and can lean forward and deliver a blow when he picks up a full head of steam. He’ll fit in well at South Main.

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

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting: Army LB Shepherd Bowling commits to Owls

By

Rice Football recruiting has picked up a commitment from a hometown player. Army transfer Shepherd Bowling has committed to the Owls.

Shepherd Bowling is headed back to Texas. Formerly a star linebacker on the 2020 Katy High School state championship team, Bowling committed to Army during the 2021 recruiting cycle. After spending one season at West Point, the hometown product is coming back to Texas as the newest member of the 2022 Rice Football recruiting class.

As a high school senior, Bowling chose Army over offers from Air Force, several Ivy League programs and a few local FCS schools — Sam Houston, Lamar, and Incarnate Word among others.  After redshirting in his lone season at Army, he comes to Rice with four years of eligibility remaining.

Bowling’s addition comes after the recent defection of one-time Rice commit linebacker Cam Dillon, who elected to enroll at Duke this summer instead of coming to Houston. That left Rice in need of reinforcements at the position. Bowling had entered the Transfer Portal in the weeks prior to Dillon’s decision.

The 2022 Rice football recruiting class has now grown to 37 players, accounting for scholarship and preferred walk-on players. That number is likely to grow in the coming weeks prior to the beginning of the fall semester.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

As for Bowling’s prowess on the field, there’s a lot to like. In high school he primarily lined up outside and made a beeline for the ballcarrier. His film shows a player who is tremendous in pursuit but can still get low and bring his opponent to the ground with a thump. He also showed good awareness in coverage, something that’s always a plus to have given the variety of roles in the Owls’ defensive scheme.

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

Recent Posts

London to Houston: NFL Academy makes Rice Football Recruiting visit

By

More than a dozen players from the NFL Academy, based in the United Kingdom, were on campus Friday to check out Rice football.

The most recent Rice football recruiting visit had some international flair. Visiting Houston from London, England the NFL Academy brought 13 of its players for an unofficial visit on Friday morning, meeting with Rice staff in their first collegiate welcome to the United States which will kick off a busy recruiting weekend for these particular visitors.

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. Special features like this are reserved for our subscribers. Have questions? You can get those answered in our monthly Q&As and get access to all practice notes, recruiting updates and features like this one when you subscribe on Patreon today.

From London, to Houston

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