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Rice Football Burning Questions: Will the 2021 defense be good or elite?

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The Rice football defense took another step in 2020, but what is its ceiling? We explore that question in this installment of Burning Questions.

The improvements exhibited by the Rice football defense over the past three seasons might be the most encouraging signs of progress seen on South Main over that timeframe. The offense has been up and down. Quarterbacks have rotated through the roster from year to year. But the defense? The defense has steadily gotten better, bit by bit.

The offense picked up a blue-chip quarterback, a new offensive coordinator and has a healthy wide receiving corps at its disposal, so there’s some reason for optimism on that front. Which brings us to the second installment in our Burning Questions series this offseason. Has the defense plateaued or can they make the jump from above average to truly elite?

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Rice Football Recruiting: Recapping a productive weekend of June visits

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The 2022 Rice Football recruiting class picked up another commitment this week on the heels of a busy weekend at South Main including a flurry of offers.

After more than a full year without being permitted to host recruits on campus, June marked the return of some level of normalcy for college football. The 2022 Rice Football recruiting class, already with a couple of players in the fold, added to its numbers. At the same time, additional offers went out to prospective members of the 2023 class. Here’s a rundown of the weekend with a few notes on who to keep tabs on and what might be next.

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Rice Football Recruiting: Breaking down the Luke McCaffrey commitment

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The 2021 Rice football recruiting class picked up its marquee player this week with the addition of former Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey.

Luke McCaffrey, a bonafide blue-chip quarterback recruit, has decided to don the Blue and Gray and play for Rice football. That decision will have ripple effects on the Owls and Conference USA, starting with the impact McCaffrey’s arrival will have on the overall talent level of the Rice roster.

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Rice Football Burning Questions: Who steps up at wide receiver in 2021?

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The abbreviated 2020 Rice football season provided some answers regarding where the program is at. But questions remaining, starting with the receiving corps.

The injuries sustained by the Rice football wide receiving corps last season were unbelievable. Never in my time covering college football had I seen a group of pass catchers so depleted by injuries. It’s not as if there weren’t enough wideouts on the roster — there were enough bodies — they were just all hurt.

By the time Rice played its final regular season game against UAB, the Owls had one scholarship wide receiver available at practice, and he was beaten up, too. Which brings us to the 2021 season and our first of a few pieces in our Burning Questions series this offseason. Who fills that void in the passing game in 2021?

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Rice Football Recruiting: Where are 2018 decommits now?

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There were a host of decommitments in the 2018 Rice Football recruiting class. Where are those players now? Did the Owls miss out or luck out?

The 2018 Rice football recruiting class was impacted by the biggest transition Rice had seen in more than a decade. On November 27, the Owls dismissed head coach David Bailiff. The Owls lost several commits after that decision and a few in the months and weeks before.

According to 247 Sports, Rice had nine decommitments during the cycle. Where are those players now?

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