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Rice Football 2021: NFL Owls Week 1 Stats Update

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Rice Football is well represented on 2021 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls in action in Week 1.

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

Week 1 results

Las Angeles Chargers (Covington) def. Washington, 20-16
Denver (Anderson, Callahan) def. New York Giants, 27-13 
Pittsburgh (Boswell) def. Buffalo, 23-16
San Francisco def. Detroit (Fox), 41-33
Tampa Bay (Leverett) def. Dallas, 31-29

Offense

Calvin Anderson – OT, Broncos

Anderson did not see any offensive snaps for the Broncos in their Week 1 game against the Washington Football Team. He’s primarily appeared on special teams since signing with the Broncos last year.

The Broncos visit the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2.

Nick Leverett – OT, Buccaneers

Leverett was inactive for the Buccaneers Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night. The Buccaneers host the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2.

Defense and Special Teams

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

Boswell was perfect in his 2021 debut. He converted all three of his field goal attempts, with a long of 45 yards. He was also successful on a pair of extra point tries. Scoring 11 of the Steelers’ 23 points on his own. The Steelers host the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2.

Bryce Callahan – CB, Broncos

Callahan made his return to the gridiron in Week 1 after battling injuries last season. He recorded two tackles. The Broncos visit the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2.

Christian Covington – DL, Chargers

Covington had a productive debut with the Los Angeles Chargers, finishing tied for third in tackles with five. He also had one tackle for a loss. The Chargers host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2.

Jack Fox – P, Lions

Fox punted three times against the San Francisco 49ers, averaging a whopping 50.7 yards per punt. His long traveled 57 yards. He did not have any touchbacks. The Lions visit the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football in Week 2.

More Owls in the NFL

From practice squads to current free agents, there are other 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.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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Rice Football: Austin Trammell signs UDFA deal with Atlanta Falcons

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Rice football did not see any players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, but former wide receiver Austin Trammell has since signed with the Atlanta Falcons.

The 2021 NFL Draft had a much smaller player pool this season than it typically does. Relaxed eligibility rules saw many draft-eligible upperclassmen choose to return to school, including several Rice football seniors. Wide receiver Austin Trammell was the only Owl to make a serious run at the professional ranks.

Trammell participated in the College Gridiron Showcase and did his NFL Pro Day with the University of Houston. He stopped by The Roost Podcast in the weeks prior to the draft to share what the process was like and talk about what life was like during the Owls’ unpredictable 2020 season.

After doing all he could to get himself on the radar of NFL teams, Trammell knows his next steps. Although he was not selected during the 2021 NFL Draft, Trammell has signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons.

Trammell’s signing is one of several such free agent agreements for Conference USA players. In total, Conference USA had four players chosen during the draft itself:

Rice Football recent NFL Draft history

The Owls’ streak of drafts without a selection has now stretched to six. Christian Covington is the most recent Rice football draftee. He was selected by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Covington’s selection marked the end of a nice run of selections for Rice. From 2009 to 2015 eight Rice football players were seelcted: Jarret Dillard (2009), James Casey (2009), Cheta Ozougwu (2011), Scott Solomon (2012), Vance McDonald (2013), Luke Wilson (2013), Phillip Gaines (2014), Christian Covington (2015). McDonald was the highest selection, going No. 55 overall to the San Francisco 49ers.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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Rice Football 2020: NFL Owls Divisional Round update

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Rice Football is well represented on 2020 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls in action in the Divisional Round.

There are former Rice football players scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player. Four Rice football alums made the playoffs this year.

Divisional Round Schedule

Green Bay def. Los Angeles Rams, 32-18
Buffalo def. Baltimore, 17-3
Tampa Bay def. New Orleans, 30-20
Kansas City def. Cleveland (Sendejo), 22-17

Championship Round Schedule

Buffalo at Kansas City, Sunday – 2:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Green Bay, Sunday – 5:40 p.m.

NFL Owls Update

Luke Willson, Chris Boswell and Vance McDonald were each eliminated from the NFL Playoffs in the Wild Card Round. Willson’s Seahawks fell to the Rams. Boswell and McDonald’s Steelers were bounced by the Browns.

Andrew Sendejo – Saf, Browns

Sendejo played in both of the Browns’ playoff games this season. He had five tackles and one pass deflection in their victory over the Steelers in the Wild Card Round. On Sunday against the Chiefs, he had one tackle. The Browns have been eliminated. Sendejo finishes the year with 72 total tackles and three pass deflections.

Offseason Owls

Jack Fox picked up more accolades this week, being named an NFL’s second-team All-Pro selection. He was the only Owl to receive All-Pro honors.

Former Rice football defensive lineman Myles Adams has signed a futures contract with the Seahawks. Adams spent time with the Panthers’ practice squad this year before signing with the Seahawks practice squad at the end of the season.

More Owls in the NFL

From practice squads to current free agents, there are other 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.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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Rice Football 2020: NFL Owls Wildcard Round update

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Rice Football is well represented on 2020 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls in action on Wild Card weekend.

There are former Rice football players scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player. Four Rice football alums are on playoff teams this year.

Wildcard Round Results

Buffalo def. Indianapolis, 27-24
Los Angeles Rams def. Seattle, 30-20
Tampa Bay def. Washington, 31-23
Baltimore def. Tennessee, 20-13
New Orleans def. Chicago, 21-9
Cleveland (Sendejo) def. Pittsburgh (Boswell, McDonald), 48-37

Divisional Round Schedule

Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay, Saturday – 3:35 p.m.
Tampa Bay at New Orleans, Sunday – 5:40 p.m.
Baltimore at Buffalo, Saturday – 7:15 p.m.
Cleveland (Sendejo) at Kansas City, Sunday – 2:05 p.m.

NFL Owls Update

Vance McDonald – TE, Steelers

McDonald was targeted twice, but did not catch any passes in the Steelers’ Wildcard Round defeat by the Browns. He has 17 career playoff receptions, but none in the Wildcard round. His 2020 season has come to an end.

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

After being listed as a limited participant in practice, Boswell returned to action this week following a few missed games over the latter third of the season. He made his only field goal attempt in the Steelers’ Wildcard Round defeat by the Browns, also converting a pair of extra points. His 2020 season has come to an end.

Andrew Sendejo – Saf, Browns

Sendejo missed the Browns’ regular season finale against the Steelers after being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list but made a return to the field for their Wildcard Round rematch. He tallied five tackles and one pass deflection in the victory. The Browns will visit the Chiefs in the Divisional Round next weekend. The game is set for Sunday at 3:05 p.m.

Luke Willson – TE, Seahawks

Willson rejoined the Seahawks in time for their playoff push but was not active for their Wildcard Round defeat by the Los Angeles Rams. Willson, who began the season with the Seahawks, last saw action with Baltimore in Week 13. His 2020 season is over.

Offseason Owls

Both Jack Fox and Bryce Callahan were named to the Pro Football Focus All-Pro First Team this past week.

More Owls in the NFL

From practice squads to current free agents, there are other 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.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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Rice Football 2020: NFL Owls final regular season update

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Rice Football is well represented on 2020 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls in action in Week 17.

There are former Rice football players scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player. Playoff matchups have been notated. Three Rice football alums are on playoff teams this year.

Week 17 results

Baltimore def. Cincinnati (Covington), 38-3
Cleveland (Sendejo) def. Pittsburgh (Boswell, McDonald), 24-22
Las Vegas def. Denver (Anderson, Callahan), 32-31
Minnesota def. Detroit (Fox), 37-35
Tennessee def. Houston (Gaines), 41-38
Seattle def. San Francisco (Walter), 26-23

Wildcard Round Schedule

Cleveland (Sendejo) at Pittsburgh (Boswell, McDonald) – Sunday at 7:15 p.m. CT

Offense

Calvin Anderson – OT, Broncos

Week 17 marks completed a full 17 game run for Anderson with the Broncos this season. He played in every game, making two starts and contributing weekly on special teams. The Broncos did not qualify for the playoffs.

Vance McDonald – TE, Steelers

McDonald saw an uptick in activity as a pass catcher in the Steelers’ Week 17 game against the Browns. He caught five passes on six targets for 33 yards. That’s the most receptions and targets he’s had this season and the most yards he’s tallied since a Week 4 game against the Texans when he had 35 yards.

He finishes the regular season with 15 receptions for 99 yards. This was the first year since 2014 in which he did not score a touchdown. The Steelers won the AFC North and will be the No. 3 seed for the AFC in the playoffs. They get a rematch with the Browns in the Wildcard Round.

Austin Walter – RB, 49ers

Walter was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list this week in time for the 49ers’ final game of the 2020 season. He returned two kickoffs against the Seahawks, with a long return of 18 yards.

After signing with the team midseason, Walter tallied five kick returns, one rush for three yards and one reception for 27 yards. The 49ers did not qualify for the playoffs.

Defense and Special Teams

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

For the third time in five games, Boswell was inactive because of injury. Instead, Matthew Wright handled field goal duties for the Steelers.

Boswell’s regular season stat line was impressive. He converted on 19 of 20 field goal attempts, with his lone miss coming beyond 40 yards. He made 34 of 38 extra point tries. The Steelers won the AFC North and will be the No. 3 seed for the AFC in the playoffs. They get a rematch with the Browns in the Wildcard Round.

Bryce Callahan – CB, Broncos

Callahan’s last game of the season came in Week 12 against the Saints, landing on injured reserve with a foot injury for the remainder of the year.

When he was healthy, Callahan was one of the best cover corners in the league. He had five passes defended, one shy of a career-high even with his shortened season. He also had one fumble recovery and one tackle for a loss on 42 tackles. Per Pro Football Reference, he was the allowed third-lowest passer rating in the league when targeted. The Broncos did not qualify for the playoffs.

Christian Covington – DL, Bengals

Covington had a season-high six tackles in the Bengals’ Week 17 regular season finale against the Ravens, giving him 39 tackles for the year, a career-best. Covington started 14 of the Bengals’ 16 games. Coming into the season, he’d started 15 games in five seasons, spanning stints with the Texans and Cowboys. The Bengals did not qualify for the playoffs.

Jack Fox – P, Lions

Fox finishes a Pro Bowl season among the league leaders in most punting statistics. He ranks third in punting average, second in net punting and tied for sixth with 26 punts inside the 20 yard line. He punted 59 times this season. The Lions did not qualify for the playoffs.

Phillip Gaines – CB, Texans

Gaines was inactive for the Texans’ final game against the Titans in Week 17. He finishes 2020 with 12 appearances, the most he’s had in a single season since 2014 when he was with the Chiefs. Gaines had one pass defended this season and 24 tackles, making two starts. The Texans did not qualify for the playoffs.

Andrew Sendejo – Saf, Browns

Sendejo missed the Browns’ regular season finale against the Steelers after being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list earlier in the week. His status for the Browns’ playoff game is unknown.

During the regular season, Sendejo accumulated 67 tackles, his highest mark since making 80 tackles in 2017. He also had two passes defended and one forced fumble. The Browns clinched a wildcard berth. They get a rematch with the Steelers in the Wildcard Round.

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.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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