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Mailbag: Projecting the most impactful football signees

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Rice football inked their first wave of 2019 recruits, filling needs at every position except quarterback. How do those players fit on campus?

Q: Which early signee has the best chance to contribute as a true freshman?

On defense, I’m going with Jake Bailey. This guy could be special. He’s a two-way athlete who started at one of the best high school programs in the country. Frankly, its surprising nobody in the Pac-12 took the trouble to do some digging in their own backyard and offer him a scholarship. The corner position is going to be wide open in 2019 giving Bailey a decent shot to earn a starting role at some point in the season. If he gets it, it’ll be hard seeing anyone taking it away.

Speed being such a big component of this class, I think folks are sleeping on the potential impact of wide receiver Zane Knipe. He’s a quieter guy who hasn’t made a lot of noise on Twitter. His play speaks for itself. He has the potential to be an Austin Trammell-type slot receiver with added turbo. Rice could have used that last year and they’re not going to miss opportunities to get him touches in 2019.

Q: When did the staff find out that Bycznski had flipped to Buffalo? Who are we going after at QB now?

Bycznski played his cards close to the vest the entire process. He called the staff on the first morning of the early signing period to tell them he wasn’t coming to Rice. Although 247 Sports listed him as having a Buffalo offer months earlier, it sounds like it wasn’t a committable offer up until the evening before players could sign. Buffalo lost a quarterback and Bycznski was next in line. The Bulls were always ahead of Rice in the pecking order, a fact Bycznski omitted to share with the Rice staff until the last possible moment.

As for next targets. There are a few names bouncing around and a couple of directions Rice could go. I’ll have more on that soon. There are a few official visit weekends in January where I’d imagine you see at least one if not a few quarterbacks make appearances.

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Owls in the NFL – Week 16

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Rice football has nine alumni currently active on NFL rosters. Here’s how the NFL Owls fared in their respective Week 16 games.

Chris Boswell, K (Steelers) – Boswell was perfect on a pair of field goals and two extra points against the Saints with a long of 49 yards. Next week the Steelers host the Cincinnati Bengals.

Bryce Callahan, CB (Bears) – Callahan was placed on injured reserve after breaking a bone in his foot against the Los Angeles Rams. He will be out the remainder of the season. Next week the Bears travel to the Vikings.

Christian Covington, DE (Texans) – Covington registered two tackles in the Texans last-second loss to the Eagles. Next week the Texans travel host the Jaguars.

Phillip Gaines, CB (Browns) – Gaines was inactive for Sunday’s game against the Bengals. This was his third straight game missed as he works to recover from a knee injury. He’s questionable for next week’s game. The Browns travel to the Ravens.

Vance McDonald, TE (Steelers) – McDonald caught one pass for 49 yards in the Pittsburgh’s loss to the New Orleans Saints. It was the longest play of the day for the Steelers who host the Cincinnati Bengals next week.

Andrew Sendejo, S (Vikings) – Placed on injured reserve after missing extended time following a groin injury. Next week the Vikings host the Chicago Bears.

Jordan Taylor, WR (Broncos) – On the PUP list following off-season surgery. He will not play this season. Next week the Broncos travel to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Luke Wilson, TE (Lions) – Wilson exited the Lion’s Week 16 game against the Minnesota Vikings to be evaluated for a possible concussion. His status is uncertain for next week’s game on the road against the Green Bay Packers.

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Breaking down the 2019 offensive signees

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The 2019 Rice Football signed 17 players during the early signing period including seven on offense and one on special teams. Here’s a further breakdown of the offensive signees.

Offensive line (3) – Hunter Jones, Nick Leverett, Regan Riddle

As long as Mike Bloomgren is in charge at South Main, offensive lineman are going to be a priority. Winning in the trenches is important for this offense so bringing in a high level of talent up front will be a focus of each successive recruiting cycle.

Rice brought in three different offensive lineman, each with a unique set of skills. Nick Leverett, a grad transfer from NC State, will slide into one of the starting tackle positions immediately. He played for offensive coordinator Jerry Mack at NC Central and was described by Bloomgren as someone with “NFL potential.”

Jones and Riddle profile as interior pieces, both of which with plenty of athleticism and ability. Jones was a team MVP in high school and Riddle led a line for a potent Highland Park offense which just won their third straight state championship this year.

Running back (1) – Jawan King

The graduation of Austin Walter plus the transfer of Emmanuel Esukpa presents a much thinner depth chart at the running back position for the Owls in 2019. Juma Otoviano and Aston Walter, who is petitioning the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility, will be the primary backs, but adding talent to this group was still important.

Jawan King isn’t just more talent; he has the potential to be special. King isn’t afraid to initiate contact and run through tackles, and he’s also a tremendous pass catcher with quick acceleration. It’s months before he’ll step foot on the practice field for Rice, but he’s already one of the best ambassadors for the culture coach Bloomgren is working to instill: high-quality football players who are getting a high-quality education.

Tight end (1) – Jack Bradley

There was limited involvement from the tight end position in year one under Mike Bloomgren, but growth should be expected going forward. The Owls utilized this position more for blocking than pass catching, but new addition Jack Bradley can do both. He’s 6-foot-5, 230-pounds and isn’t afraid to get physical at the point of attack. Yet another weapon for a developing offense.

Wide receiver (2) – Bradley Rozner, Zane Knipe

This duo brings complementary skill sets to the table. Zane Knipe is a shifty slot receiver who can stretch the field and take the top off the defense. Adding speed to both sides of the ball was a focus of this class and Knipe will be one of the fastest players on this team in 2019.

Bradley Rozner is the other side of the coin. Rozner led JUCO in receiving touchdowns last year with 13, the same number of receiving scores totaled by the entire Rice offense in 2018. He’s big (6-foot-5, 190 pounds) and physical. Offensive coordinator Jerry Mack called him “explosive” and a key piece in building an even better receiving corps.

Quarterback (o)

The Owls lost their lone quarterback commitment on the first morning of the early signing period. Trevor Bycznski backed out at the 11th hour, leaving the staff with a blank at the position in December. They’re currently evaluating their options — expect Rice to target one more signal caller before National Signing Day in February.

Coach Mack was clear they weren’t going to start throwing out offers at random. “We’re going to take the right person. We want people that want to be here,” he said, before adding, “We want people that are talented enough to be elite players at this level.”

Specialists (1) – Zach Hoban

Rice faces a seemingly insurmountable challenge on special teams next year. They’ll have to find a way to replace to senior specialists with both Jack Fox and Hayden Tobola playing their last games for the Owls in 2018. Zach Hoban could ease the pain from the place kicking perspective.

Hogan has incredible range, recently kicking a 61-yard field goal in Dallas Cowboy Stadium following. The Owls struggled as a unit from deep range, adding someone with that much power is a big win for special teams coach Pete Lembo.

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Breaking down the 2019 defensive signees

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The 2019 Rice Football signed 17 players during the early signing period including nine on defense. Here’s a further breakdown of the defensive signees.

Cornerback (1) – Josh Landrum

Rice needed to find impact players at this position, fast. By the time November rolled around the Owls were starting Collin Whitaker, a convert running back, at corner. He had a strong season and played well, but the mere fact the team had to reach into the skill position players on the other side of the ball to fill an immediate need is concerning.

Given the lack of depth in front of him, Josh Landrum’s path to playing time could be easier than some of the other guys in this class. Standing at 6-foot, 165 pounds, he’ll be one of the tallest corners on the roster. He’s lanky, but the ability is there. Look for the Owls to add at least one more corner before this class is complete.

Safety (4) – Hunter Henry, Kirk Lockhart, Naeem Smith, Jake Bailey

This position might be the best haul of the 2019 class, especially given the premium role the safety position plays in this defense. Each of these four guys brings a little something different to the position and a few of them could see work at a few positions.

Naeem Smith has the athleticism to play corner in a pinch and Jake Bailey has enough talent to run with an opposing pass catcher at any spot in the secondary. Hunter Henry will deliver the boom at the line of scrimmage and Kirk Lockhart has a knack for making big plays.

The versatility is something defensive coordinator Brian Smith said was no accident. “One of the things we wanted to do is get some guys with position flexibility… we wanted to get guys who can play in space, tackle and make plays one on one in the open field. The more guys you can get like that in this defense the better you are.”

Linebacker (3) – Garrett Braden, Adrian Bickham, Josh Pearcy

Garrett Braden is a tackler. It might not be the flashiest superlative, but it’s something this program needs. Allowing opponents to escape in the open field crushed the Rice defense in 2018, making young players like Antonio Montero stars simply because they didn’t miss tackles.

The Rice defense doesn’t need many true linebackers with their tendency to trust other hybrid positions. Adrian Bickham is an edge rusher who could stand up or put his hands in the dirt. His motor is impressive and his ability to get the quarterback is something Rice desperately needs.

Josh Pearcy could play a variety of roles in the Rice defense in the near future. A pass rusher by trade, Pearcy is as athletic as they come. The departure of Graysen Schantz could open up more playing time for someone like him or Anthony Ekpe, and for the time being, he might be that explosive piece that the staff inserts on third down for a big play.

Defensive Tackle (1) – Izeya Floyd

The trio of Zach Abercrumbia, Roe Wilkins and Izeya Floyd up the middle are going to be special. A powerlifter who squats 700 pounds, Floyd was described as Bloomgren as “the strongest person we have in our program from the moment he steps on campus.”

Beyond pure strength, coach Smith said he’s nearly unblockable. Floyd excelled at the Owls’ camp this summer and continues to be an impressive addition. Having his 6-foot-2, 305-pound frame up the middle should terrifying opposing offenses.

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Culture and fit the defining facets of Early Signing Period

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The 2019 Rice football recruiting class became has become a bit more real. The Owls signed 17 players on the first day of the early signing period.

Fax machines have fallen by the wayside, but the first morning of the early signing period still retained elements which felt oddly linked to the old world. Instead of waiting for a dial-up connection, the Rice football staff stared at a computer screen, projecting an email inbox onto the wall. Hurry up and wait.

Coaches walked in and out, glancing up at the emails trickling in, waiting for names they recognized. No longer linked to the antiquated technology of fax machines, modern-day recruits sign and scan their National Letter of Intent, emailing it to the school.

The emails started as early as 6:30 a.m. CT and continued on until almost noon. By the time the staff broke for lunch, 17 signed papers had been delivered — 17 members of Mike Bloomgren’s second-ever recruiting class. But the 17 signatures the Owls collected on Wednesday, represented so much more.

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“This is an exciting time,” said Bloomgren. The excitement is for good reason. The 17 signees are 12 more than the five the Owls signed in Bloomgren’s first early signing period, one that came days after he’d been named the Rice football head coach.

It’s not just quantity. Athlete Jake Bailey is a Top-15 ranked signee in Conference USA and the sixth highest rated signee for Rice since 247 Sports began compiling rankings. The rest of the class boasts a collection of state champions, All-Americans and honorees of all kinds. They’re winners, individual record holders, and all-around good men.

The coaching staff put an emphasis on improving the speed on both sides of the ball, adding length and strength at a variety of position. The talent profile of the program needs to improve if it’s going to achieve the high goals Bloomgren has set forth.

All that good, following a 2-win season in 2018. Bloomgren was respected recruiter before he arrived at South Main, but there’s no doubt the pitch looks a bit different at Rice than it did when he was at Stanford.

What’s next?

It’s really easy to recruit to a place like this when you have the trophies and the rings set out. Right now we don’t have that. We’ve got to show them our plan and get them to trust in it.

“Look, it’s not easy. We’ve got a lot of great things to sell about this school and this program, but we’re still selling a build. We’re selling a vision that we have with no tangible results yet,” Bloomgren acknowledged, “It’s really easy to recruit to a place like this when you have the trophies and the rings set out. Right now we don’t have that. We’ve got to show them our plan and get them to trust in it.”

The on-field results will follow, but what Rice achieved during the early signing period was as much about culture and fit as it was talent. Bloomgren walked through a list of each signee in detail, adding “They’re guys we hand-picked for these jobs… I think you’ve got a lot of people that really want to be at Rice University and be part of this.

“This” is a work in progress. “This” still has questions to be answered, but the groundwork has been laid. “It’s a Merry Christmas,” Bloomgren said with a grin. A Merry Christmas, indeed.

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