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Rice Football Recruiting: 2020 Early Signing Period Roundup

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The 2020 Rice Football recruiting class had an eventful December. Here’s an overview of The Roost’s coverage of the Owls’ newest additions.

The New Year will bring another flurry of activity for the 2020 Rice Football recruiting class. The Owls have another half dozen or so spots to hand out in the class, earmarking several of them for high-profile graduate transfers. Before we look ahead, don’t miss the impressive haul already in the fold. Here’s a rundown of the big week.

Five players committed to Rice in December:

In total, Rice signed 17 players during the early signing period. 11 of those were on offense, with the remaining six on defense. Only one commit,FB Brian Hibbard remains unsigned. He is expected to sign in February.

We broke down several angles of this class, from the 10,000-foot view to position by position analysis. On the macro perspective, here are five takeaways from the 2020 class as it currently stands. Rice addressed their biggest needs and won some impressive head to head battles on their way to constructing what could be a program-altering class.

More specifically, here’s a snapshot of the defensive haul and of the commits on the offensive side of the ball.

If you’re traveling over the holidays, and you’ve already read through the written analysis, make sure you give The Roost Podcast a listen. Carter and I worked through the impact of the incoming players, honing in on how each player would fit at Rice among others at their position.

The Roost Podcast | Ep. 22 – Rice Football Early Signing Period

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Rice Football 2019: Owls in the NFL Week 16 Update

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Multiple NFL Owls are in the playoff hunt. Which former Rice football alums got a step closer to the postseason in Week 16?

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

Week 16 results

Broncos 27 (Anderson, Callahan) – Lions 17 
Eagles 17 – Cowboys 9 (Covington)
Cardinals 27 – Seahawks 13 (Ellerbee, Willson)
Jets 16 – Steelers 10 (Boswell, McDonald)
Texans 23 (Gaines) – Bucs 20
Packers 23 – Vikings 10 (Sendejo)

Calvin Anderson, OT, Broncos

Anderson has yet to appear in a game for the Broncos this season. He was inactive again this week. The Broncos host the Raiders in Week 17.

Bryce Callahan, CB, Broncos

Callahan was placed on injured reserve earlier this season, never playing for the Broncos in 2019. He will be sidelined for the remainder of the year. The Broncos host the Raiders in Week 17.

Christian Covington, DE, Cowboys

Covington was limited to one tackle in the Cowboys’ Week 16 defeat to the Eagles. The Cowboys host the Redskins in Week 17. They can clinch a playoff birth with a win next week and an Eagles’ loss to the Giants.

Andrew Sendejo, Saf, Vikings

Sendejo made one tackle in the Vikings’ Monday Night Football loss to the Packers. The Vikings host the Bears in Week 17.

Emmanuel Ellerbee, LB, Seahawks

Ellerbee was placed injured reserve prior to the start of the season. The Seahawks host the 49ers on Sunday Night Football in Week 17.

Luke Willson, TE, Seahawks

Willson was eased back into the offense after missing the previous four weeks with a hamstring injury. He played on 22 snaps and was not targeted. The Seahawks host the 49ers on Sunday Night Football in Week 17.

Chris Boswell, K, Steelers

Boswell continues to be one of the most reliable players for the Steelers this season. He made his only field goal attempt Sunday, a 49-yard try, as well as his sole extra point. The Steelers visit the Ravens in Week 17 who could be resting multiple starters. They can clinch a playoff birth with a win next week and a Titans’ loss to the Texans.

Vance McDonald, TE, Steelers

McDonald hauled in three passes on six targets, tallying nine reciving yards against the Jets. The Steelers visit the Ravens in Week 17 who could be resting multiple starters. They can clinch a playoff birth with a win next week and a Titans’ loss to the Texans.

Phillip Gaines, CB, Texans

Gaines was placed on injured reserve following an ankle injury suffered during the Texans’ Week 8 game against the Colts. The Texans host the Titans in Week 17.

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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Rice Football 2019 Offensive Player of the Year: Aston Walter

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Aston Walter made his extra year of eligibility count. The sixth-year running back is our 2019 Rice Football Offensive Player of the Year.

Rice football running back Aston Walter carried the ball once during his junior year before an injury ended his season. He returned to the field for his senior season in 2018, setting career highs in carries and yards, highlighted by two breakthrough games in November, the first against Louisiana Tech and the next against LSU. 40 of his 64 attempts and 144 of his 254 rushing yards came in those two games.

At the end of that season, his brother Austin went on to the NFL where he spent time with the San Franciso 49ers and the New York Giants. Rather than hang up his cleats, Aston returned to South Main with unfinished business. He petitioned the NCAA for a sixth season, which was granted to him because of his one-game junior year. Once more in the midst of a running back room overflowing with talent, Aston went to work.

With aspirations to go into coaching when his playing days are through, he rededicated himself to his craft. “He’s really been a student of the game,” offensive coordinator Jerry Mack recalled prior to the Owls’ first conference matchup of 2019. Aston was the starter that day against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. He carried the ball 20 times for 112 yards and two touchdowns. That was the first 100-yard game of his collegiate career. He also scored his first-ever rushing touchdown against a conference opponent that night.

Walter rushed for at least 100 yards in four of his next six games, only failing to reach the century mark in two games which he left early because of injury or sickness. As long as he was able to go, he carried the load for the Owls on the ground. Walter scored 10 times this season after never finding paydirt once in his first five seasons at South Main.

After all that time, Walter’s college career has come to an end. “It’s time. I’ve been here for six years. I’ve given a lot to this program,” Walter said, reflecting on Senior Day and his time at Rice. “Six years is enough.” His remarks weren’t made out of exhaustion, rather satisfaction. Walter fulfilled so many personal goals in his final season, but none meant as much to him as how things ended with three straight wins — one of which was sealed on a big run by himself.

“That’s why I came back for a sixth year, for moments like that,” Walter said, thinking back to that game-icing third and long scamper against Middle Tennessee. For one play, Rice football fans froze and looked at him. Walter didn’t care so much about the attention as what it stood for — a symbol to those coming behind him that hard work and strain can pay off. Storybook endings do come true.

Walter’s storybook ending came to a close with 145 carries, 771 yards and eight rushing touchdowns. He also added 11 receptions for 48 yards and two receiving scores. Not only was it the best statistical season of his career, Walter led the running back room once filled with hero-like figures who he looked up to. And now his younger teammates were looking up to him.

Even at the mountain top, Walter was his characteristic humble self.”It’s never about me, me, me. It’s about us,” he said with a smile, refusing to admit Rice football wouldn’t be where it is right now without his efforts, both on and off the field.

Offensive coordinator Jerry Mack synthesized what Walter meant to this team quite well. “When you got a guy like [Aston Walter],” Mack said, “when he talks people just listen, just for the simple fact they know he’s battled tested and he’s been through so much in his career.

That career ended in El Paso, Texas on the very field he lost his junior season. This time, instead of accruing another redshirt, Walter went out with a bang. He paced Rice with 149 rushing yards and one touchdown which came from 30 yards out. Things had finally come full circle. A fitting way for a player who’s career had transformed from a part-time role to a core offensive weapon.

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The Roost Podcast | Ep. 22 – Rice Football Early Signing Period

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The 2020 Rice Football recruiting class has its first signees. Carter and Matthew break down the new additions and analyze how they fit with the current roster.

The Early Signing Period has become the defacto National Signing Day. This year, the 2020 Rice Football Recruiting class inked 17 of its 19 members, holding onto only a handful of remaining slots for February additions. Each of these players was brought to South Main with a purpose. Follow along to hear how the Owls plan to utilize their new additions.

You can always find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, Give a listen to Episode 22 below.

Episode 22 Notes

  • The Roost Postseason Survey — We didn’t mention it directly on the podcast, but please take a moment to fill out this brief survey. Feedback makes us better. Whether you have comments on the site, the podcast or anything else, we want to hear it. Thanks!
  • Biggest areas of need — Quarterback and offensive line stood out as two positions Rice needed to answer in this recruiting cycle. One of the biggest takeaways from the initial signees was the Owls’ response to that need. More on the decision to take two quarterbacks and the outlook for the offensive line after losing three graduate starters.
  • Position by position outlook —  Beyond the generic information (height, hometown, position, etc), each addition has a specific role they’ll be asked to play for Rice football in the near future. Which players will see the field soonest and which players will benefit the most from an offseason workout program with head strength and conditioning coach Hans Straub?

Where can you find us?

Download and subscribe to The Roost Podcast on any of your favorite podcast providers. The show is available on iTunes, GooglePlay, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn and PodBean. Please consider leaving a review wherever you listen.

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Rice Football Recruiting: Breaking down the 2020 signees – Defense

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National Signing Day is in the books and the 2020 Rice Football Recruiting is jam-packed with defensive talent. Here’s an update on that side of the ball.

Defensive Line (2) – Cole Latos, Jalen Reeves

Getting to the quarterback has been a challenge for Rice in each of the past two seasons. Their 32 sacks are the fewest by any C-USA team over the past two years and 22 sacks fewer than the conference average over that span. The leader over the time, UAB, registered 3.4 sacks per game whereas Rice managed 1.3 per contest.

With Anthony Ekpe in the Transfer Portal and senior defensive tackle Myles Adams departing, Rice needs to find players who can become difference makers quickly at this position. Early returns look extremely favorable for the Owls, who landed two potential game-changing players here in the early signing period.

When they offered Cole Latos, there was uncertainty as to which side of the ball he would play on in college. His physicality and stature quickly endeared him to the Rice coaching staff. Bloomgren spoke of him as a player with legitimate “NFL measurables”. Latos settled in this season, pairing the body type with the production on the field. He’s emerged as someone the Owls have full confidence in plugging at defensive end.

More: The Roost Podcast – 2019 Rice Football end of season awards

The home run swing could come in the form of fellow edge rusher Jalen Reeves. His offer list was impressive — LSU, Syracuse, NC State, Pitt and Boston College, among others — but it only took him one day on campus to decide this was the place for him. Reeves is a true havoc wreaker with a proven track record of harassing quarterbacks. If any of the current commits in the front seven becomes an early star, it’s safe to bet on Reeves to break through quickly.

Reeves’ recruitment had a very “De’Braylon Carroll” feel to it. The entire time both players were being courted by the Owls, the questions being asked behind the scenes were “This guy is too good and he’s dominating everyone he plays. Why hasn’t anyone picked him up already?” Carroll ended up on the Pro Football Focus All-Freshman team playing behind Myles Adams this season. It kind of feels like that might be Reeves’ floor, especially considered the size of the potential opportunity.

Linebacker (2) – Geron Hargon, Jaren Banks

Rice has relied on a two-linebacker set for most of their defensive snaps. As long as Blaze Alldredge and Antonio Montero are on campus, the need for additional reinforcements at that decision won’t be too high, especially with guys like Garrett Grammer ready in the reserves.

The staff had some liberty to be particularly choosy with their linebacker offers, ultimately zeroing in Geron Hargon, who picked Rice over UAB, and JUCO product Jaren Banks

Hargon is a prototypical mike linebacker, capable of traversing the whole field from side to side and moving quickly to the ballcarrier in space. His senior season ended abruptly with an ACL injury, but not before Hargon could put an exclamation point on his high school career. Hargon returned to the game after the injury, scooping up a fumble and rumbling down the field for a defensive touchdown.

Banks spent two seasons in the JUCO ranks, improving from Year 1 to Year 2. The staff hopes to see the same progression as he plays out his remaining two seasons of eligibility at South Main. Coach Bloomgren profiled him in accordance with Antonio Montero, a “ballhawk” with “the ability to run and hit”. The ball finds him.

Safety (2) – Plae Wyatt, Gabe Taylor

Safety is another spot where the team has plenty of depth. The playmaking ability of Naeem Smith and the reliability of George Nyakwol combine for arguably one of the better safety duos in Conference USA. And that’s prior to considering Treshawn Chamberlain’s breakout season at the Viper spot. Rice was more than happy to ride their commitment of Plae Wyatt to his signing on Wednesday.

Wyatt was the first commitment of the 2020 class and stuck to his word for 10 months when he made it official by signing his letter of intent. A four-year varsity starter, Wyatt is a hard hitter, comfortable making plays on ball carriers in space. His coverage game continues to progress, making him one of the better all-around players in an impressive 2020 Rice Football recruiting class. There’s as much depth to his game as any of the Owls’ defensive signees.

Getting to study under players like Smith and Chamberlain will only elevate his already strong game. Like both of those two, he has a similar ballhawking-style to his game.

More: Breaking down the Rice Football recruiting 2020 offense and special teams signees (UPDATED)

Gabe Taylor was the signature addition of National Signing Day. His addition helped make the 2020 Rice Football recruiting class the highest rated in school history. Taylor somehow managed to fly under the radar after only playing one year of high school football. That’s likely the only reason Rice was able to land him. Now he’s the highest-rated signee in Rice football program history.

Taylor posted a gaudy 10 interceptions as a senior, returning half of them for touchdowns. That’s an absurd stat line at any level of football. The younger brother of the late Sean Taylor, Gabe is rooted in football and ready to make a name for himself.

Corner (3) – Sean Fresch, Jordan Dunbar, Lamont Narcisse

Jordan Dunbar was the first corner in the 2020 class, making his pledge to the Owls early in the summer. Listed at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, Dunbar is a great cover man who will instantly bolster the corner room. He has the size and skills to play on the edge at this level.

The second cornerback signee, Sean Fresch, was on campus for the Owls’ junior day this summer. The staff didn’t let him leave without an offer, and for good reason. They saw him run a 4.39 and already knew how good he was on the field. As it stands, he’s also the third highest-rated commitment of the Mike Bloomgren era.

Recall back to when Tre’shon Devones turned heads when he won a starting corner job midway through the 2019 season. 2020 signee Sean Fresch could be right behind him. A high school quarterback, Fresch is one of the most dynamic players in the 2020 Rice Football recruiting class. It doesn’t take more than a glance at his film to see how versatile and game-breaking he can be for the Owls. He’s quick with plenty of extension, a state qualifier in the long jump during this past track season.

Landing those two was a good start, but Rice fortified the position with Lamont Narcisse who picked Rice over Washington State. Narcisse has elite speed. He’s someone Bloomgren described as “a true cover corner”, one that Rice could trust to win one-on-one battles as soon as this upcoming fall.

Last update: Feb. 5, 2020
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