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Rice Football 2022: FAU Game Week Practice Report

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Rice football travels to the Sunshine State this weekend to play FAU. Here’s what we learned from practice as the Owls prep for C-USA’s other Owls.

Rice football returns from their bye week in search of their first road win of the season. FAU, the only Conference USA squad Rice head coach Mike Bloomgren has yet to play, promises to be another good test for this rising team.

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This week’s roundup highlights changes on the team during the bye week, focusing on some up-and-coming players and a few healthy players set to make their 2022 debuts after injuries sidelined them earlier in the year. Plus, continuity on the offensive line… finally!

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Rice Football Recruiting: 2023 WR Justin Williams commits to Owls

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The 2023 Rice Football recruiting class just picked up a playmaker. MacArthur wide receiver Justin Williams has committed to the Owls.

On May 6, Justin Williams committed to Louisiana. Rice football beat Louisiana on the field and the Owls’ edge didn’t stop there. The 2023 Rice Football recruiting class picked up an additional win over the Ragin’ Cajuns, snagging a commitment from their ranks. After fostering that relationship through the summer, the Owls won out. Williams has flipped his commitment to the Owls.

The Owls have now picked up multiple players in this class who were previously committed to other programs. A few weeks ago the program added a pledge from running back Daelen Alexander, formerly an Air Force commit.

As for Williams, there was plenty of interest in his services. In addition to Louisiana, Williams also held offers from Pittsburgh, UTSA and Air Force. A three-star recruit with Power 5 interest, Williams checks in near the top of the Owls’ current commits in the 247 Sports Rankings.

Williams is the third wide receiver commit in the 2023 Rice football recruiting class and at 6-foot-3, 180-pounds, he brings with him a completely different athletic profile than Drayden Dickmann and Landon Ransom, both of which committed to the Owls earlier this summer.

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Williams is a go-up-and-get-it type of receiver. His highlights showcase a player that can win contested catches at all levels of the field while still showcasing a great deal of athleticism. He’ll be an exciting fit on the outside in the Rice offense and could grow into an important redzone threat as he develops.

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Rice Football 2022: FAU presser quotes and depth chart

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Rice football travels to FAU this week. Here’s what Mike Bloomgren had to say about the matchup at hand and a few depth chart notes.

Head coach Mike Bloomgren and a pair of players met with the media for their customary weekly availability. They recapped the UAB win and looked at the week ahead, detailing what they’re expecting to see when FAU takes the field.

More: Rice Football – Blue and Gray Preview Show

We touch on those items, then dig into the Rice football depth chart and what the team looks like heading into the weekend. First, the quotes:

Press Conference Quotes

“I’m really confident in the way we’re preparing right now. I think our teams is excited. I think we’re all excited for this trip to Boca Raton. We understand what we’re up against. FAU is a very well-coached team, from Coach (Willie) Taggart to all of his coordinators right on down the line. It’s just a great staff. They have great athletes. So we understand what a great challenge its going to be for us this weekend. But, at the same time, we’re doing what we do. We’re worrying about us. That’s exactly how we want it to be.” – Mike Bloomgren on facing FAU

“I think you’re playing a team from South Florida. You’re going to have great speed. You’re going to have great length and you see those things. You see some twitchy dudes that make plays. Let’s start with quarterback. N’Kosi Perry was a very highly recruited kid. He started his career at The U. Now he’s been at FAU for two years. He has the ability to affect the game with his legs and he’s got a great arm. It starts there. All of their skill [players] run so incredibly well. Their lines have gotten better and better every year. Looking at the jump they made from last year to this year, both their offensive and defensive lines are tremendously improved.” – Mike Bloomgren on the FAU roster

“Listening to people that know [offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon], he doesn’t want to be one of these air raid gurus. He doesn’t want to throw the ball. He actually wants to create lanes to run the ball and he wants to run the ball down your throat so that’s going to be a big matchup for our run stopping defnese against their creative offense. And then how can we do a great job in the secondary making sure N’Kosi Perry doesn’t get those fast guys behind us?” – Mike Bloomgren on key matchups vs FAU 

“They have good athletes all around so that’s going to be something we have to be cautious of, but I obviously think we have good athletes as well so it’s going to be a good matchup for us. There athletes and the way they fly around for the ball, I think it’s going to be a good challenge for us.” – Quarterback TJ McMahon on FAU’s strengths 

“Their o-line is solid. They have a very athletic quarterback, you can’t just run in there with your hair on fire. We’re getting ready to stop that and we have a good gameplan going forward.” – Linebacker Chris Conti 

Depth Chart

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Depth Chart Notes

There were two changes to the offensive depth chart, the first being a mere formality. Isaac Klarkowski, who started at right guard for the Owls against UAB is officially listed back on the depth chart this week as the team readies for FAU. The only other change on that side of the ball is at tight end where Nate Kamper is listed and could be in line for his 2022 debut.

The Roost Podcast: Recapping Rice football vs UAB

The defense is arrayed exactly the same as it was last week, at least on paper. Make sure you’re tuned in on Patreon for a practice update later in the week with any adjustments and changes as we look ahead to Saturday against FAU.

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Rice Basketball Recruiting: 2023 4-star Forward Keanu Dawes commits to Owls

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The 2023 Rice Basketball Recruiting picked up a massive commitment from four-star Stratford forward Keanu Dawes.

A run of tremendous weeks of athletics on South Main extended to the hardwood this week. The 2023 Rice Basketball recruiting class scored a massive commitment from right down the road. Stratford High School forward Keanu Dawes has committed to the Owls.

Dawes’ addition is a tremendous win for the Rice basketball program. The consensus four-star recruit is a Top 120 player in the country and the No. 9 player in the state of Texas. He picked Rice over an impressive array of six finalists: Rice, Texas A&M, Texas, Utah, BYU and Oklahoma State.

Some heavy hitters wanted to get Dawes’ into their programs. Rice prevailed, notching a big recruiting win for head coach Scott Pera. Dawes is a versatile, 6-foot-9 player that will provide an instant impact at South Main. He can score from all three levels and defend well.

In September, Dawes told On3 he meshed well with the other players during his visit to campus. “We instantly had chemistry,” he said. “It felt like I had known them for years.” Dawes also mentioned the coaching staff sold him on being a critical piece as the team made the transition from Conference USA to the American, a move Pera had mentioned would help on the recruiting trail.

On a separate instance, Dawes confirmed to ZagsBlog that Pera was the first coach to reach out to him and begin building that relationship. All of those factors led him to his decision, which he announced on  Tuesday, October 11.

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Rice Football 2022: NFL Owls Week 5 Roundup

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Rice Football is well represented on 2022 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls in action in Week 5.

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

Team NFL Owl(s) Week 5 Result Week 6
Denver Broncos Calvin Anderson (OL) vs Colts (TNF) L, 12-9 at Chargers (MNF)
Detroit Lions Jack Fox (P) at Patriots L, 29-0 — BYE —
Indianapolis Colts Kylen Granson (TE) vs Broncos (TNF) W, 12-9 vs Jags
LA Chargers Bryce Callahan (DB)
Christian Covington (DL)		 at Browns W, 20-28 vs Broncos (MNF)
Pittsburgh Steelers Chris Boswell (PK) at Bills L, 38-3 vs Bucs
Seattle Seahawks Myles Adams (DL) at Saints L, 39-32 vs Cardinals
Tampa Bay Bucs Nick Leverett (OL) vs Falcons W, 21-15 at Steelers

Offense

Calvin Anderson – OT, Broncos

Anderson was called upon for extended action on Thursday Night Football when starter Garrett Bolles left the game with an injury. He’s expected to miss the remainder of the season, meaning Anderson could see a lot more involvement moving forward.

Kylen Gransen – TE, Colts

Gransen snagged one pass in the Colts’ Week 5 loss to the Broncos. He’s now caught at least one pass in each of the team’s first five games this season.

Nick Leverett – OT, Buccaneers

Leverett was active but did not play for the Bucs in their Week 5 win over the Falcons.

Defense

Myles Adams – DL, Seahawks

Adams picked up his first tackle of the season on Sunday against the Aints, playing a season-high 29 percent of the defensive snaps in the process.

Bryce Callahan – CB, Chargers

Callahan made two tackles on Sunday in the Chargers’ win over the Browns. That marks the fifth consecutive game this season in which he’s accounted for multiple tackles.

Christian Covington – DL, Chargers

Covington was active for the second consecutive game, making two solo tackles and one tackle for a loss on Sunday in the Chargers’ win over the Browns. He’s now had multiple tackles in every game he’s been active this season.

Special Teams

Jack Fox – P, Lions

The Lions were shut out by the Patriots this past weekend, but surprisingly still only called upon their punting unit two times. Fox booted a long punt of 56 yards and put one ball inside the 20.

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

Boswell went one of three on his field goal attempts on Sunday against the Bills, mirroring an unsuccessful day from the team as a whole.

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 detail on current contractual agreements and former Rice football players waiting for their next opportunity here.

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