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Rice Football 2025 Spring Practice Notebook 3: Defense takes shape

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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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Rice Football 2024: Charlotte Game Week Practice Report

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Rice football takes on Charlotte this week with eyes on a bounce-back win. Here’s what we learned from the Owls at practice this week.

It’s midseason and injuries are starting to take a toll on the Rice football roster. The Owls have made a lot of adjustments to counteract those personnel losses this week and keep tweaking the offense as they go. How much improvement can they make in a short window of time as they face a must-win game against Charlotte on Saturday.

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Can I get a safety, please?

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Rice Football 2024: TXSO Game Week Practice Report

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Rice football looks to bounce back this week against Texas Southern. What adjustments can be made? Here’s what we learned from the Owls at practice this week.

Last week was a rude awakening for Rice football. The entire locker room was put on notice as head coach Mike Bloomgren called for leaders to step up and hold this program regain its football before Texas Southern arrived on campus this coming Saturday. Who suits up, and who will miss this matchup only further adds to the rising stakes in this Week 2 contest.

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Following the Leaders

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Rice Football 2024: SHSU Game Week Practice Report

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Rice football opens the season against Sam Houston State, their first home opener in six years. Here’s what we learned from the Owls at practice this week.

After practicing against guys wearing the same colored jersey for weeks, everyone around South Main is ready for Rice football to kick off its season this coming Saturday against Sam Houston. That includes some somewhat unexpected starters, a few key transfer pieces nursing injuries and a few new tech toys for head coach Mike Bloomgren and his program to incorporate into their new reality.

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Freshmen on the Two Deep and in the game?

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2024 Rice Football Season Preview: Corner

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

The corner room has made a lot of progress in recent seasons, but once again will ask some relatively new faces to step into large roles on a defense that asks a lot from this position. How well this unit adjusts to those demands and develops throughout the year will determine just how high the ceiling is for the defense as a whole in 2024 and beyond.

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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