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Rice Football Recruiting 2020: DB Gabe Taylor commits to Owls

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National Signing Day started fast. The 2020 Rice Football recruiting class officially includes defensive back Gabe Taylor, the highest-rated signee in program history.

The 2020 Rice Football recruiting class started off National Signing Day with a bang. In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Gulliver Prep cornerback Gabe Taylor signed with the Owls. A three-star prospect, Taylor brings with him the distinction of becoming the highest-rated recruit in Rice football program history.

Head coach Mike Bloomgren made a statement in 2019 when he landed St. John Bosco wideout Jake Bailey. The star member of that group, Bailey was the sixth-highest rated player to sign with the Owls. Now Bloomgren and the Rice recruiting staff have raised the bar.

More than just a high ranking recruit, Taylor carries with him a well-known bloodline. Gabe is the younger brother of former Miami star safety Sean Taylor. He’s seen what excellence looks like in person and now he’s ready to ply that craft on his own.

More: Rice football 2020 recruiting class commitment list

The younger Taylor joins a Rice secondary in the midst of a dramatic improvement. Backed up by a host of ball-hawking safeties, the Owls were looking for defenders capable of winning one-on-one battles on the outside.

Taylor can cover. That’s was the expectation of any defensive back Rice was going to sign in this class. More than that, he has impeccable awareness and vision on the field. There’s a reason his senior season highlights show interception after interception after interception (there were 10, six of which he returned for touchdowns). Rice had six picks in 12 games last season.

He’s a game-changer, and someone the Owls will rely on to make plays on the next level. Although you’ll see a lot of safety on his film, Taylor likely profiles as a corner when he makes the jump to college ball, but he could stick at safety as well.

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Rice Football Recruiting: 2020 National Signing Day Live Blog

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The 2020 Rice Football Recruiting class will add to their already impressive class on National Signing Day. Stay here for live updates as they happen.

We’ll have all the latest news and notes from National Signing Day updated throughout the day. The 2020 Rice Football Recruiting class had 17 players signed prior to today and should up that total significantly.

Stay tuned for news on the four commits as well as any potential new additions making announcements on Wednesday. There will be some fireworks you don’t want to miss.

Closing thoughts on the 2020 Rice Football recruiting class

Rice Football Recruiting: 2020 National Signing Day Recap

10:30 p.m.

The class is (mostly) done and I’ve got a lot of notes to work through on the full class. Here’s some quick thoughts from coach Bloomgren.

I’ve also updated the class breakdowns. Read more about the defensive signees here:

Rice Football Recruiting: Breaking down the 2020 signees – Defense

And more on the offensive signees here:

Rice Football Recruiting: Breaking down the 2020 signees – Offense and Special Teams

11:45 a.m.

That’s a wrap… sort of

Rice should address the class as a whole later this afternoon. At this point, I don’t have any concerns about any previously announced players getting in. Gotta make the graphic at some point. Overall, this is a very good haul. I’ll have more notes on the class as a whole later on.

10:40 a.m.

Looks like we should update the all-time recruiting ranks. In the past two classes, Bloomgren’s staff has signed four of the top 13 players in program history

  1. DB Gabe Taylor (2020, .8599)
  2. RB Shane Turner (2008, .8590)
  3. CB Jeremy Eddington (2010, .8590)
  4. CB Fred Jackson (2010, .8556)
  5. DT Zach Abercrumbia (2015, .8534)
  6. Saf Gabe Baker (2010, .8528)
  7. ATH Jake Bailey (2019, .8516)
  8. K Chris Boswell (2009, .8510)
  9. CB Lamont Narcisse (2020, .8499)
  10. RB Samuel Stewart (2014, .8484)
  11. Saf Jaylon Finner (2011, .8466)
  12. LB DJ Green (2013, .8459)
  13. CB Sean Fresch (2020, .8449)

10:11 a.m.

The Stanford pipeline continues to flow. Transfer kicker Collin Riccitelli is in.

Rice Football Recruiting: Stanford kicker Collin Riccitelli transfers to Owls

9:20 a.m.

JUCO linebacker Jaren Banks, who committed earlier this week, has turned in his paperwork. He’s officially an Owl.

Rice Football Recruiting 2020: Owls to add JUCO LB Jaren Banks

9:16 a.m.

Had to wait until the West coast woke up for our next wave of signees. The new name here is Calabasas corner Lamont Narcisse. He signs with Rice after a hard fight from Washington State. He is also a Top-10 rated player in the Owls’ 247 Sports history.

Rice Football Recruiting 2020: Corner Lamont Narcisse commits to Owls

6:40 a.m.

While we wait for the next one in, here’s a snapshot of the top commits the Owls have signed with their class and 247 Sports rating. Three of the top 12 will be on campus this upcoming season.

  1. DB Gabe Taylor (2020, .8599)
  2. RB Shane Turner (2008, .8590)
  3. CB Jeremy Eddington (2010, .8590)
  4. CB Fred Jackson (2010, .8556)
  5. DT Zach Abercrumbia (2015, .8534)
  6. Saf Gabe Baker (2010, .8528)
  7. ATH Jake Bailey (2019, .8516)
  8. K Chris Boswell (2009, .8510)
  9. RB Samuel Stewart (2014, .8484)
  10. Saf Jaylon Finner (2011, .8466)
  11. LB DJ Green (2013, .8459)
  12. CB Sean Fresch (2020, .8449)

6:19 a.m.

Rice football just signed the highest-rated player in program history. Welcome aboard Gabe Taylor!

Rice Football Recruiting 2020: DB Gabe Taylor commits to Owls

Wednesday — 5:59 a.m.

Players are allowed to sign at 7:00 a.m. local time, which means the East Coast is up first in just a few minutes. Stay tuned, Rice is going to start out strong.

Tuesday night

Most of the 2020 Rice Football recruiting class has been nailed down prior to the start of the Early Signing Period. The most recent list is available here where you can read profiles on the most notable players. Of those committed players — which range from transfers to walk ons — here’s the list of those who did not sign in December. We’ll be keeping an eye on these names Wednesday morning.

  • LB Andrew Awe – Mansfield, TX
  • LB Jaren Banks – New Mexico Military Institute (JUCO)
  • WR Caleb Chappelle – The Woodlands, TX
  • DB Jonah Doddridge – Southlake, TX
  • LB Terreance Ellis – Pearland, TX
  • WR Michael Haack – El Paso, TX
  • FB Brian Hibbard – Baton Rouge, LA
  • OL Payton Lovell – Trophy Club, TX
  • K Collin Riccitelli – Stanford
  • OL Charlie Stone – Austin, TX
  • WR Casey Tawa – West Linn, OR

Make sure to stay tuned on Twitter and follow our live blog here during the day for updates. Get the latest list of the 2020 Rice Football Recruiting commits by clicking the tracker below.

Rice Football, Rice Football Recruiting

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Rice Football Recruiting: What to expect from National Signing Day 2020

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Here’s where the 2020 Rice Football recruiting class stands on the eve of National Signing Day and some notes on what to expect down the stretch.

The 2020 Rice Football recruiting class signed 17 members during the Early Signing Period in December. That left the Owls with plenty of room to bolster their class over the last several weeks. The Owls did that on multiple fronts, including bringing in two buses full of players over the final official visit weekend of this recruiting cycle.

More: Rice football 2020 recruiting class commitment list

When the dust settled, Rice added several more players to their 2020 class. Announcements began to trickle out in the hours after the visits came to a close. Rice also added two transfers. Former Stanford kicker Collin Riccitelli will play his final season at South Main. JUCO linebacker Jaren Banks also made his pledge to play for the Owls.

That was a good start, but the 2020 Rice football recruiting class is far from done. Here’s what to expect on National Signing Day and weeks to come.

1. More commitments

With the final visit and National Signing Day falling so close together, expect to see additional announcements on Wednesday. Rice will close strong, following a pattern of impactful finishes the program has strung together of late. Rice announced and signed their highest-rated recruit of the 2019 class (wide receiver Jake Bailey) on National Signing Day, beating out Power 5 schools in the process. That could happen again this year.

2. A complete class…

Rice had already addressed most of the notable gaps during the early signing period. They found lineman in droves, plenty of speed on both sides of the ball and a pair of quarterbacks to solidify depth at that position. On Wednesday, there shouldn’t be any singular position that feels neglected compared to the roster construction or expectations.

3. … With room to spare

But — and it could be a big but — Rice won’t be done. Like they did last year, the Owls will continue to add to their 2020 class until the very last moment. Rice brought in players as late as early Summer in 2019 and they’ll most likely do it again this year. The Owls are scouring the Transfer Portal and keeping in close contact with players who, for one reason or another, might not be ready to make any formal announcements in February.

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Rice Football Recruiting 2020: Owls to add JUCO LB Jaren Banks

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JUCO linebacker Jaren Banks will transfer to South Main and be part of the 2020 Rice Football recruiting class as the Owls pluck another transfer.

The final weekend before National Signing Day was productive for the 2020 Rice Football Recruiting class. Along with the already announced transfer of former Stanford kicker Collin Riccitelli, Rice will add another transfer for the upcoming season. Junior College linebacker Jaren Banks has committed to the Owls.

Originally from Junction City, Oregon, Banks spent the last two seasons at the New Mexico Military Institute. He had 61 tackles in nine games last season, including five tackles for a loss, one fumble forced and one fumble recovery. That’s in addition to 34 tackles the year before. After a productive start to his collegiate career, Banks is ready to make the jump to Division 1.

Blaze Alldredge was the last linebacker Rice nabbed from the JUCO ranks. He set a high bar to achieve, but the Owls’ success rate on additions from junior colleges remains above the norm. Brad Rozner and Naeem Smith both excelled in their first seasons removed from JUCO in 2019. The academic rigors alone make the transition from the junior college to Rice a road less traveled. Banks’ ability to fulfill both requirements speaks to his desire and ability to continue to excel.

More: Rice football 2020 recruiting class commitment list

Banks will have two seasons of eligibility at Rice, ostensibly setting him up to play a key role in 2020 as an experienced hand, if not sooner. The 5-foot-11, 215-pound backer has prototypical size and power. He attacks the ball with ferocity and will make his presence felt in opposing backfields. Watch him explode into the backfield on the first play of his highlights below. He’s going to be fun to watch at South Main.

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Rice Baseball 2020: Previewing the Owls’ pitching rotation and bullpen

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Pitching has always been the backbone of Rice baseball. Can the 2020 rotation and bullpen carry on that rich tradition of excellence?

It’s about time to get back to the ballpark for the beginning of the 2020 Rice baseball season. The Owls open up against long-time rival Texas on Valentine’s Day. Who will be on the mound for that Friday night tilt?

More: 2020 Rice Baseball lineup and position player breakdown

“Pitching is where the story is written most of the time,” head coach Matt Bragga said before diving into depth charts. With that as our frame of reference, here’s a breakdown of the potential starting pitching rotation and a look at the Owls’ bullpen.

Projected Starting Rotation

  1. Alex De Leon, RHP
  2. Roel Garcia, RHP
  3. Kel Bordwine, RHP
  4. Dalton Wood, RHP
  5. Drake Greenwood, RHP

I fully expect Alex De Leon to throw the first pitch of the 2020 Rice baseball season. Taking over for Matt Canterino is no small task, but De Leon has done nothing but impress in his short stint at Rice. Coach Matt Bragga said De Leon “has been our most consistent guy from the moment he got here as a junior college transfer until now.”

While De Leon will get the Opening Day nod, he could be supplanted down the line by Roel Garcia. After missing the entire 2019 season with injury, Garcia is getting close to being back to his usual self. He’s back on the mound and throwing bullpens, but isn’t likely to be extended more than a few innings until March.

That timeline would put him back in the starting rotation at the beginning of conference play. Bragga considers him “an absolute Friday night guy”, which could bode well for a rotation replacing two Top 5 round MLB draft picks, Canterino and Evan Kravetz.

The rest of the rotation is fluid. Kel Bordwine inserted himself into a weekend role late last season, but the staff has spoken highly of Dalton Wood, too. Wood came on strong at the end of the year, turning himself into a reliable piece out of the bullpen. Those two, along wide Drake Greenwood who was a midweek starter in 2019, will more than likely fill out the Sunday role and midweek jobs.

Projected Bullpen

  • Jack Conlon, RHP
  • Caleb Burgess, RHP
  • Matthew Santos, LHP
  • Andrew Kane, RHP
  • Blake Brogdon, RHP
  • A.C. Plum. RHP
  • Brandon Deskins, LHP
  • Ryan Rickett, RHP

Rice will be retooling in the bullpen as well. Garrett Gayle and Kendal Jefferies, their first two arms out of the pen on most nights, are both gone. The most intriguing name to watch is junior righty Jack Conlon. The former fourth round draft pick has a huge arm and has dazzled during the offseason. Bragga was adamant he’d have an important spot out of the bullpen.

Caleb Burgess is another guy who could ascend into the forefront of the relief corps. Currently rehabbing from Tommy John, Burgess “has a chance to be special” according to Bragga. Like Garcia, Burgess is likely to be eased in slowly as he works back toward being 100 percent.

Freshman Matthew Santos alongside transfers Andrew Kane and Ryan Rickett are three names to watch. Each of those guys has the potential to work themselves into a staple in the bullpen. They’ve each been successful at previous stops. Now they have to show they can do it at Rice. Meanwhile Blake Brogdon, A.C. Plum and Brandon Deskins have continued to develop after seeing brief action in 2019.

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