The 2024 Rice Football recruiting class added another impact player from the Transfer Portal. Bucknell running back Coleman Bennett has committed to the Owls.
As the Early Signing Period approached it became clear the 2024 Rice football recruiting class was going to need another running back, preferably one with some experience. The Owls hit the Transfer Portal in search of that particular player and found him, landing a commitment this week from Bucknell transfer running back Coleman Bennett.
Bennett comes to South Main after a productive four-year career at Bucknell, most recently finishing seventh all of FCS in all-purpose yards per game. A speedy rusher, Bennett also led the Patriot League with 541 kick return yards, accumulating all that return yardage across just six games.
“The amount of love I received from the coaching staff really made me feel wanted,” Bennett told The Roost. “And you always want to be apart of something that makes you feel wanted.”
Bennett’s addition gives the Owls some lightning to the Owls’ high school running back commit, Rhys Phillips. Bennett can run like the wind while Phillips is more of a traditional h-back that will be utilized as a blocker in addition to his ball-carrying skills. Bennett should also be able to step into some of the role left by departing senior Juma Otoviano.
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Bennett’s quickness and burst jump out immediately when you glance at his highlights. He can put his foot in the ground, make one cut and explode downfield with intensity. At 6-foot, 195 pounds, his game looks rather similar to current Rice running back Dean Connors.
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