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Rice Football 2025 Spring Practice Notebook 3: Defense takes shape

March 26, 2025 By Matthew Bartlett

The first signs of a hierarchy within the Rice football defense are beginning to form as the Owls work through the first few weeks of spring ball.

So much focus has, understandably, been given to the Rice football offense as it installs a new scheme under head coach Scott Abell. And while that has been fun to watch and filled with unexpected twists and developments, the relatively smooth deployment of the defensive scheme under first-year DC Jon Kay has begun to crystallize.

More: Spring Practice Notebook 2 — Unpacking the offense and QBs

This update digs into what potential starting roles on defense are nearly secured, which pieces are fighting for meaningful depth spots and a host of other spots still up for grabs as spring progresses.

Early contenders for First Teamers

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Filed Under: Archive, Football, Premium Tagged With: AJ Stephens, Andrew Awe, Aquantis Clemmons, Beau Barton, Blaise Tita, Blake Boenisch, Chibby Nwajuaku, Christian Edgar, Cooper King, Davion Hook, Jo Chavez, Joseph Mutombo, Kenny Seymour, Marcus Williams, Max Ahoia, Michael Amey, Michael Daley, Omari Porter, Peyton Stevenson, practice notes, Rice Football, spring practice, Ty Morris

2024 Rice Football Season Preview: Defensive Line

August 14, 2024 By Matthew Bartlett

Next up in our 2024 Rice Football Season Preview: defensive line. Here’s our breakdown of the Owls’ plans for the group this season.

The defensive line has been a solid unit since head coach Mike Bloomgren arrived. Rice football has fielded several all-conference caliber players in the trenches, building on the consistency of having the same position coach, Cedric Calhoun, and same defensive coordinator, Brian Smith, for that entire time period. Armed with that consistency and the right mix of home grown talent and impactful transfers, there are high expectations for the unit this fall.

Rice Football Preseason Preview: Check out the rest of the series here.

This piece is part of our 2024 Rice Football Season Preview. Get access to it, as well as all other preview posts such as positional breakdowns, depth chart and schedule analysis and more when you subscribe on Patreon today. 

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** Photo credit Maria Lysaker **



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Recent Posts

  • Rice Baseball blows past PVAMU at home
  • Rice Football Recruiting: WR David Kasemervisz commits to Owls
  • Hickson gem propels Rice Baseball to series win over Charlotte
  • Rice Football Recruiting: WR Artis Cole commits to Owls

Filed Under: Archive, Football, Premium Tagged With: 2024 Rice Football Season Preview, Alex Scherle, Blake Boenisch, Charlie Looes, Chibby Nwajuaku, Chris Clark, DeMone Green, Elroyal Morris, Izeya Floyd, Jordan Campbell, Joseph Mutombo, Josh Pearcy, Kenny Seymour, Michael Daley, Michael Larbie, Rice Football

Rice Football 2024 Season Preview: Roster Grid

August 7, 2024 By Matthew Bartlett

Rice football has a 121-man roster entering the 2024 season. From position changes to eligibility remaining, this chart will help keep everything in order.

Keeping track of eligibility and positions can be challenging and there wasn’t one single source that had the most up-to-date information — now there is. In addition to the roster tracker and as a complement to the roster, which has been updated to account for all the final additions and changes with the start of camp, this grid tracks every Rice football player by position and classification. Position changes from last season and/or the spring are also detailed below.

Rice Football Preseason Preview: Check out the rest of the series here.

This piece is part of our 2024 Rice Football Season Preview. Get access to it, as well as all other preview posts such as positional breakdowns, depth chart and schedule analysis and more when you subscribe on Patreon today. 

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Recent Posts

  • Rice Baseball blows past PVAMU at home
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  • Hickson gem propels Rice Baseball to series win over Charlotte
  • Rice Football Recruiting: WR Artis Cole commits to Owls

Filed Under: Archive, Football, Premium Tagged With: 2024 Rice Football Season Preview, AJ Padgett, AJ Stephens, Alex Bacchetta, Alex Scherle, Andrew Awe, Aquantis Clemmons, Ashton Ojiaku, Bailey Fletcher, Beau Barton, Blaise Tita, Blake Boenisch, Boden Groen, Brad Baur, Brant Banks, Braylen Walker, Chad Lindberg, Chali Taylor, Charlie Looes, Chase Jenkins, Chibby Nwajuaku, Chike Anigbogu, Chris Bruce, Chris Clark, Chris conti, Christian Edgar, Christian Francisco, Colby Connell, Coleman Bennett, Colin Giffen, Conor Hunt, Cooper King, Cullen Witt, Daelen Alexander, Daveon Hook, David Stickle, Dean Connors, DeMone Green, DJ Arkansas, Drayden Dickmann, Drew Devillier, EJ Warner, Elijah Mojarro, Elroyal Morris, Enoch Gota, Ephraim Dotson, Ethan Broughman, Ethan Onianwa, Ethan Powell, Faybian Marks, Gabe Taylor, Geron Hargon, Graham Walker, Isaiah Gonzalez, Izeya Floyd, Jabari Ellison, Jabari McAlmont, Jackson Ranucci, Jaggar Hebeisen, Jake Dragoo, Jalen Hargrove, Jamarion Clark, James Falk, Jeremiah Williams, John Long, Jojo Jean, Jordan Campbell, Joseph Mutombo, Josh Pearcy, Joshua Williams, Jovoni Johnson, Justin Williams, Kaleb Blanton, Kenny Seymour, Kobie Campbell, Lamont Narcisse, Landon Ransom, Lane Jeffcoat, Larry DeBose, LaVonte Johnson, Luke Miller, Luke Needham, Marcus Williams, Matt Hall, Matt Sykes, Max Ahoia, Micah Barnett, Michael Amico, Michael Daley, Michael Larbie, Miguel Cedeno, Moh Bility, Myron Morrison, Nate Bledsoe, Netane Fehoko, Owen Carter, Patrick Valent, Peyton Farmer, Peyton Stevenson, Plae Wyatt, Quinton Jackson, Rawson MacNeill, Reese Keeney, Rhys Phillips, Rice Football, Ryan Guillo, Sean Fresch, Shawn Irwin, Shawqi Itraish, Shepherd Bowling, Spencer Cassell, Taji Atkins, Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman, Tim Horn, trace norfleet, Trey Kibbles, Ty Morris, Tyler Day, Tyson Flowers, Tyson Thompson, Weston Kropp, wyatt freeman

Rice Football 2024 Spring Notebook 10: Unanswered Questions

April 23, 2024 By Matthew Bartlett

A few outstanding questions remain for Rice football after the conclusion of spring practice. Let’s address a few unknowns and potential concerns.

It was largely an encouraging spring for Rice football. Both sides of the ball had their moments. New quarterback EJ Warner looked poised and productive in just a few short weeks. The coaching staff walked away happy, for the most part. But no football team is ever perfect after spring practices and they’ll have a few months to address the concerns that remain as best they can. What are those potential pain points? We highlight a few from the totality of spring practices below.

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A wide receiver room in transition

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Recent Posts

  • Rice Baseball blows past PVAMU at home
  • Rice Football Recruiting: WR David Kasemervisz commits to Owls
  • Hickson gem propels Rice Baseball to series win over Charlotte
  • Rice Football Recruiting: WR Artis Cole commits to Owls

Filed Under: Archive, Football, Premium Tagged With: Aquantis Clemmons, Blake Boenisch, Charlie Looes, Chibby Nwajuaku, Coleman Bennett, Daelen Alexander, Dean Connors, DeMone Green, EJ Warner, Elroyal Morris, Graham Walker, Izeya Floyd, Jalen Hargrove, Jordan Campbell, Joseph Mutombo, Josh Pearcy, Lamont Narcisse, Landon Ransom, Max Ahoia, Michael Daley, Michael Larbie, Owen Carter, practice notes, Quinton Jackson, Rawson MacNeill, Rice Football, spring practice, Taji Atkins

Rice Football 2024 Spring Practice Notebook 5: Scrimmage 2

April 5, 2024 By Matthew Bartlett

The defense punched back in the second scrimmage of Rice football spring practices, dominating the afternoon after the offense started the week strong.

On a beautiful spring afternoon, the Rice football defense roared back to life in the second scrimmage of spring practices, emphatically declaring their preeminence against the offenses’ best. In the words of head coach Mike Bloomgren, it was “complete domination to start” with the offense not really showing much life until later in the session. Here are the standouts, impact plays, stat lines and more from Scrimmage 2:

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“Nobody could move the ball on them”

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Recent Posts

  • Rice Baseball blows past PVAMU at home
  • Rice Football Recruiting: WR David Kasemervisz commits to Owls
  • Hickson gem propels Rice Baseball to series win over Charlotte
  • Rice Football Recruiting: WR Artis Cole commits to Owls

Filed Under: Featured, Football, Premium Tagged With: AJ Padgett, AJ Stephens, Beau Barton, Blaise Tita, Chibby Nwajuaku, Coleman Coco, DeMone Green, DJ Arkansas, EJ Warner, Enoch Gota, Josh Pearcy, Myron Morrison, practice notes, Rice Football, spring practice, Ty Morris, Tyson Flowers

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