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BREAKING: Mike Collins named Rice Football starting quarterback

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Mike Collins has won the starting quarterback job for Rice football in 2020. The TCU transfer will be the man under center when the Owls open the season.

Rice football will have a new starting quarterback when they open the 2020 season. Graduate transfer Mike Collins will be the Owls’ starting quarterback this fall. He beat out redshirt freshman JoVoni Johnson who had been competing with Collins for the starting job through the spring and into fall camp.

Throughout camp, head coach Mike Bloomgren was clear Collins had the leg up. “I think Mike Collins is just a little bit ahead still.” Bloomgren said, “Pretty much every day he’s just a little bit ahead.”

His arm strength and ability to command the offense has been noticeable thus far. For a bigger guy, he’s pretty fleet of foot too. Rice won’t lose too much in terms of mobility from the position by opting for the 6-foot-5, 225-pound TCU transfer.

Bloomgren noted earlier this year the Owls were guaranteed to have the starting quarterback on campus this spring. Rice did not bring in any new passers over the summer, a decision that proved fortuitous given the rapidly changing environment. Collins was present for spring practice, an added benefit the staff believes will pay dividends in the coming weeks.

Collins will become the latest new face to start a season opening game for Rice football. Prior to his forthcoming debut, Rice has started a different quarterback in their opening game every year dating back to 2015, when Dryphus Jackson returned as the Owls’ QB1.

From 2015 on, Rice turned to Tyler Stehling (2016), Sam Glaesmann (2017), Shawn Stankavage (2018) and Wiley Green (2019) in their openers. Only one, Stehling maintained the starting job for the entirety of the year.

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Rice Football Recruiting: Owls add to early list of 2022 offers

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Rice football has extended four offers to prospective members of the 2022 class, including three more this week.

The second, third and fourth offers of the 2022 Rice Football recruiting class have been extended. One of the Owls earliest commitments in the 2021 class (linebacker DJ Arkansas) was an October offer, and Rice beat out an Arkansas offer for his services. The Owls hope getting in early with some of their top targets will pay dividends down the road.

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Rice Football 2020 Practice Notes: Quarterbacks, specialists and injuries

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Rice football is nearly halfway through fall camp. The quarterback situation is clearing up but the running back depth chart is heating up.

On Monday, Rice football had its first practice following Scrimmage No. 1. That extra session, combined with time to break down the scrimmage film, gave head coach Mike Bloomgren a better feel for where the team stands as the midpoint of fall camp approaches.

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The quarterback situation is starting to crystalize, but Khalan Griffin is making the running back depth chart extremely hard to parse out. I’ve got more notes on both position battles, how the special teams situation is looking right now and an update on injuries including three players that I haven’t seen take the field for the Owls this fall.

Timetable for a QB1 decision

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Rice Football Recruiting: 2021 class already proving its worth

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The 2020 Rice Football recruiting class was announced on National Signing Day. Eight months later, they’ve become fixtures on the Owls’ roster.

On National Signing Day, head coach Mike Bloomgren addressed the media and fans with a beaming smile. For the first time since the process began more than a year ago, he could talk publically about the 2020 Rice Football recruiting class.

“According to all the experts, this is the highest-rated class in Rice history,” Bloomgren said with confidence, referring to the rankings compiled by 247 sports.

For college football coaches, a new signing class is something akin to new children. None have ever done anything less than sing the praises of their newest additions. Bloomgren, however, doesn’t have to stand on platitudes or flowery language. The players he and his staff have signed have done enough during their time in high school to warrant merit of their own.

Incoming freshman safety Gabe Taylor is the highest-rated recruit Rice football has ever signed. Along the way, Rice signed a collective of players with offers from Washington State, Colorado, NC State, Syracuse,  Boston College, Kansas State, Houston and more. The Owls took their national recruiting mandate seriously, scouring the country for the talent they needed. Then they worked tirelessly for months to ensure those players signed on the dotted line.

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With the exception of roughly a dozen players remaining from the class prior to Bloomgren’s arrival, the 2020 roster will be comprised almost entirely of players his staff handpicked. “I think we’ve [raised the ceiling and the floor],” Bloomgren said in early February. “[There’s] a little bit different speed than we’re used to having in this program.” From the speed to the raw athleticism, the talent profile of the current Rice football roster is as high as it’s been in some time.

In many ways, Rice football has come a long way from National Signing Day. They’ve persevered through uncertainty to the brink of their 2020 season. Injuries and setbacks have put their depth to the test early on in fall camp.

Players like Brad Rozner, Naeem Smith and Andrew Bird were expected to be key members of the team. None have participated in team drills so far during camp. Instead, it’s been members of that 2021 class stepping up. Gabe Taylor has had his moments, so to have freshmen corners Jordan Dunbar and Sean Fresch. With running back Juma Otoviano sidelined, Khalan Griffin and Kobie Campbell have shined bright. Braedon Nutter has played everywhere on the interior of the offensive line.

Bloomgren and his staff had high hopes for the class of 2021 when they signed. They might not have expected them to make their mark this early, but this class is proving to be just what the doctor ordered.

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Rice Football 2020: Owls in the NFL Week 4 Update

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Rice Football is well represented on 2020 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls in action in Week 4.

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

Week 4 results

Cleveland (Sendejo) def. Dallas, 49-38
Cincinnati (Covington) def. Jacksonville, 33-25
Denver (Anderson, Callahan) def. New York Jets, 37-28
Pittsburgh (Boswell, McDonald) vs Tennessee, postponed
Minnesota def. Houston (Gaines), 31-23
New Orleans def. Detroit (Fox), 35-29
Seattle (Willson) def. Miami, 31,23

Offense

Calvin Anderson – OT, Broncos

The starting five for the Denver offensive line have played every down so far this season, limiting Anderson to special teams duties thus far. He saw a season high seven snaps with the special teams unit in the team’s Week 4 win over the Jets. The Broncos visit the Patriots in Week 5.

Vance McDonald – TE, Steelers

The Steelers’ Week 4 game against the Titans was postponed after a COVID-19 outbreak in Tennessee. This week became their defacto bye week with the Titans game rescheduled for Week 7. The Steelers host the Eagles in Week 5.

Luke Willson – TE, Seahawks

Willson was active for the Seahawks’ Week 4 win over the Dolphins but didn’t receive any looks from Russel Wilson in the passing game. The Seahawks host the Vikings in Week 5 on Sunday Night Football.

Defense and Special Teams

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

The Steelers’ Week 4 game against the Titans was postponed after a COVID-19 outbreak in Tennessee. This week became their defacto bye week with the Titans game rescheduled for Week 7. The Steelers host the Eagles in Week 5.

Bryce Callahan – CB, Broncos

Callahan was active on Thursday Night Football against the Jets, finishing second on the team with seven tackles. His six solo tackles tied a season high. He also registered one pass defended. The Broncos visit the Patriots in Week 5.

Christian Covington – DL, Bengals

Covington got the start for the Bengals in their first win of the season over the Jaguars. He tallied four tackles in the victory. The Bengals visit the Ravens in Week 5.

Jack Fox – P, Lions

It was a good week for Jack Fox, who became the first Lions special teamer to take home the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month Award prior to the team’s game against the Saints.

Fox punted four times on Sunday, averaging 54.5 yards per punt with a long of 57 yards. He’s been more or less perfect every time he’s touched the ball so far. The Lions are on bye in Week 5.

Phillip Gaines – CB, Texans

Gaines had three tackles in the Texans’ Week 4 loss to the Vikings. The Texans host the Jaguars in Week 5.

Andrew Sendejo – Saf, Browns

Sendejo picked up four tackles in the Browns’ Week 4 victory over the Cowboys. His biggest moment came when he stripped Ezekiel Elliot of the football to force a big Browns turnover.

The Browns host the Colts in Week 5.

More Owls in the NFL

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

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