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Rice Football 2024 Rising Star: Ty Morris

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A breakout sophomore season solidified linebacker Ty Morris as the 2024 Rice Football Rising Star.

There might not be an official statistic for it, but Ty Morris led the Rice football in “Woah” plays on defense. The kind of plays that force onlookers to straighten up in their seats and take a closer look at the game. The kind of plays that spark questions like, “Who did it?” and “Was that Number Three?”

Yes, it probably was Number Three, Ty Morris. The Owls sophomore linebacker plays the game with what, at times, feels like a supernatural awareness of where the football is and the best path to move himself through bodies to meet it. If there was a big play to be made, it’s a good bet that Morris was the one to make it.

“You could see it coming last year. You knew that there was going to be some good things down the road for him,” Rice football interim head coach Pete Alamar said of Morris toward the tail end of this season. “I think active would be a great word to describe Ty, as far as seeing how he plays. He’s all over the place. He runs hard. He plays hard all the time. Those are good hallmarks for young linebackers.”

The sophomore linebacker developed a knack for making plays in the opposing backfield, leading the team in sacks and finishing second to defensive end Charlie Looes in tackles for loss. And when he wasn’t taking the ballcarrier down himself, he always found a way to get into the mix, leading the team in assisted tackles.

More: 2024 Rice Football Season Superlatives

Morris credits his leap in production with a good spring, having extra time to familiarize himself with the scheme and the playbook, enabling him to think less and do more.

“It gets me to play confident,” Morris said of that added level of understanding. “It gets me to play fast and physical. I feel like that’s the way I feel this year.”

That internal confidence is translating to external production. That’s part of what has made Morris’ rise through the defensive ranks so exciting. As a freshman he had made a few plays here and there, but he wasn’t quite read to be the sort of player that stayed on the field for 50 or 60 snaps and took care of the dirty work from down to down. Now he is. And that growth hasn’t come by happenstance.

“He works hard. He practices hard,” defensive coordinator Brian Smith said of Morris. “He’s really taken off and made a jump this year.”

Morris had at least one tackle in every game and was involved in at least one play that went for a loss of yardage in nine of the Owls’ 12 games this year. That next step from flashy moments to sustained success arrived and with it came an up-and-coming player who was prepared to seize the moment.

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If Morris has anything to say about it, that trajectory won’t stop now. As veterans on the defense graduate and others opt to move on with the wave of changes surrounding the program as it swaps head coaches and offensive schemes, Morris has an opportunity to position himself at the forefront of what this team will look like in 2025 and beyond.

“He’s somebody who should lead this defense for years to come. That should be his next step, being that guy that’s able to take over and be a leader on the field,” Alamar projected. “As he grows and gets older, his voice will become louder.”

Perhaps this rising star has only just began his ascent.

** Photo Credit: Maria Lysaker **
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Rice Football 2024 Defensive Newcomer: Charlie Looes

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An Ivy League pass rusher headed South for one last ride, defensive end Charlies Looes is our 2024 Rice Football Defensive Newcomer of the Year.

Expectations were high when Ivy League-leading sackman Charlie Looes made the decision to transfer from Dartmouth to South Main for his final season of collegiate eligibility. He made the most of his time in Texas, tying for the lead among all Owls’ defensive linemen in sacks on his way to earning honors as our 2024 Rice Football Defensive Newcomer of the Year.

Looes, like many before him, was limited by Ivy League eligibility restrictions which bar graduates from playing in the league. For graduates who still want to play college ball, they must go elsewhere. That opened a door for him to become the next in a growing pipeline of Rice football players who honed their craft in the Ivies before transferring south for their final season.

More: 2024 Rice Football Season Superlatives

Returns were positive early on as Looes seamlessly fit into the scheme and learned the defense during spring practices. “They’ve been bought in since we recruited them,” defensive line coach Cedric Calhoun said about Looes and fellow transfer Michael Daley from BYU, making it clear he was happy with what he’d seen from the newcomers thus far.

But when Coleman Coco’s waiver for another season was denied during the summer, the pressure on Looes to be productive started to ramp up. Coco, another Ivy League transfer, had led the Owls in sacks the prior season and was expected to compliment Looes on the line in 2024. Now that aspiration was squarely on Looes who did not disappoint.

In his second play in a Rice football uniform, Looes burst through the line and sacked Sam Houston quarterback Hunter Watson, killing the drive which led to a quick three-and-out. Rice wouldn’t win the game, but Looes would rack up another half sack and four total tackles in his debut.

“He didn’t make you wait long to learn his name if you didn’t already know it,” then head coach Mike Bloomgren remarked. “Really proud of Charlie stepping in there and doing that.”

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As injuries and shifting personnel around him ebbed and flowed, Looes kept working and finding ways to contribute. He would go on to lead the team in tackles for a loss (nine) and was the only player to both force a fumble and recover a fumble this season, he had two of the latter. He even had a pass breakup, too.

A finalist of the Bushnell Cup in his final season at Darthmouth, an award given annually to the league’s best defensive player, Looes was a bonafide plug-and-play disruptor in the defensive trenches during his time at Rice.

Often times it’s hard for a team to know exactly what they’re getting when they sign a player out of the Transfer Portal. Getting the kind of season they got from Looes is a deal worth taking every time. If you’re only getting a guy for one year he needs to show up and show out, something Looes did with flare.

Looes would bookend his season on South Main with a sack in his first and last game, playing a meaningful role in a Senior Day win that assuredly meant so much to him and a host of Rice football veterans that played their final game in the season finale against South Florida. Like those seniors, Looes did all he could to send this team out on a high note and his efforts were rewarded.

** Photo Credit: Maria Lysaker **
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The Roost’s 2024 Rice Football Season Superlatives

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The Roost’s 2024 Rice Football Season Superlatives exist to honor exceptional Owls who made a difference on the field this season. Here’s the complete list.

There were many individual performances worth recognizing in the 2024 Rice Football season. In addition to the more traditional awards below, make sure to check out The Roosties, our sixth annual award show from The Roost Podcast, which features a different angle of honors. From our favorite plays to the players that surprised us the most, we cover some of the more creative superlatives on the show. This list comprises the more traditional recognitions.

Offensive Newcomer of the Year — OL Chad Lindberg | Full Story

Excerpt: “Because of other injuries that had accumulated around him, Lindberg was asked to move again, suiting up at left tackle for three games, including the program’s first AAC win of the year. Warner was sacked only twice in Lindberg’s three-game stretch as his blind side protector, always pushing himself and his teammates to do more.”

Defensive Newcomer of the Year — DL Charlie Looes | Full Story

Excerpt: “Often times it’s hard for a team to know exactly what they’re getting when they sign a player out of the Transfer Portal. Getting the kind of season they got from Looes is a deal worth taking every time. If you’re only getting a guy for one year he needs to show up and show out, something Looes did with flare.”

Rising Star — LB Ty Morris | Full Story

Excerpt: “Yes, it probably was Number Three, Ty Morris. The Owls sophomore linebacker plays the game with what, at times, feels like a supernatural awareness of where the football is and the best path to move himself through bodies to meet it. If there was a big play to be made, it’s a good bet that Morris was the one to make it.”

Special Teams Player of the Year — RB Quinton Jackson | Full Story

Excerpt: “Jackson “hit it” that day, but that play was one of 22 kick returns Jackson had during the season. Jackson averaged 26.8 yards per return, eighth nationally among all players. His 589 total return yards ranked fourth and his 49.1 kick return yards per game ranked fifth.”

Offensive Player of the Year — WR Matt Sykes | Full Story

Excerpt: “The SOS was answered emphatically by Sykes who delivered a walk-off touchdown reception against UTSA, one of 52 receptions he registered against AAC opponents, the most by any pass catcher in the conference by seven grabs. He averaged 78.9 yards per game in league play, finally surpassing the century mark in his final game, a 118-yard performance against South Florida on Senior Day.”

Defensive Player of the Year — SAF Gabe Taylor | Full Story

Excerpt: “On a defense flush with impactful veteran talent like defensive tackle Izeya Floyd, linebackers Josh Pearcy and Myron Morrison and the aforementioned corners and fellow members of the safety room, Taylor managed to stand out. That’s a testament to his effort, ability and a never wavering desire to be the best. No matter the box score, Taylor delivered on that goal this season.”

Iron Man — LB Josh Pearcy | Full Story

Excerpt: “Pearcy leaves Rice in the Top 10 all-time in tackles for a loss (8th) and sacks (5th), especially impressive totals when considering he played special teams during his four-game redshirt in 2019 and played in just five games in the Owls’ shortened 2020 season. Pearcy wasn’t just an average player who played in a lot of games and racked up stats. He reached those totals in essentially four years.”

Team MVP — RB Dean Connors | Full Story

Excerpt: “Connors never complained or questioned his usage. He just took the ball whenever it was handed (or thrown) to him and kept on running. For him, the team was always more important than any individual accolades or aspirations. He touched the ball 220 times across 12 games. The next closest player, Matt Sykes, had 67 plays from scrimmage.”

Check out the 2023 Rice Football Season Superlatives here.
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Rice Football 2024 Offensive Newcomer: Chad Lindberg

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A rock on an ever-changing offensive line, Chad Lindberg, our 2024 Rice Football Offensive Newcomer of the Year.

Just weeks before the start of summer workouts, Chad Lindberg committed to transfer from Georgia to South Main. Even with the short runway to get acclimated to the program and the offense, Lindberg delivered in a big way on his way to becoming our 2024 Rice Football Offensive Newcomer of the Year.

A former blue-chip recruit who saw the field in a reserve role in the SEC, the plan when Lindberg arrived on campus was for him to take over one of the guard spots and stick there for the season. Lindberg was able to participate in summer workouts, but an injury sidelined him during much of fall camp. He missed the Owls’ season-opening game against Sam Houston, kicking off the first of a myriad of iterations in the trenches.

Lindberg made his Rice football debut in Week 2 against Texas Southern at left guard. His unit kept quarterback EJ Warner upright for a full 60 minutes, allowing no sacks against the FCS opponent. The following week they allowed just one sack in a loss to Houston, the Owls’ only Power Conference opponent of the season. Then the musical chairs began in earnest.

More: 2024 Rice Football Season Superlatives

Right guard John Long was injured against Houston, forcing Lindberg to switch to the right side of the line the following week against Army. Rice lost starting left tackle Ethan Onianwa in that game, another significant blow to an offensive line that seemed to finally be finding its stride.

Because of other injuries that had accumulated around him, Lindberg was asked to move again, suiting up at left tackle for three games, including the program’s first AAC win of the year. Warner was sacked only twice in Lindberg’s three-game stretch as his blind side protector, always pushing himself and his teammates to do more.

“We take it personal when anyone gets close to EJ. We don’t want to give up any pressures, much less a sack,” he said during that run. “We feel like we’re talented enough and we’re a very talented unit. The expectation is to not let anyone close to him. That’s what we try to do every week.”

When Onianwa returned, Lindberg moved back to left guard, the position he thought he was going to be playing all season long. He would, at least, finish the year there as the Owls flip-flopped the other guard spot during the final stretch of games but kept Lindberg in one place.

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Center David Stickle and right tackle Brant Banks were the only two Rice offensive lineman to play a full 12 games, accounting for every start at their respective positions during the season. Lindberg played in all but one contest was the only player on the line to play three different positions. Only one other, Weston Kropp, played two, and that included a single spot start at right guard in six total appearances.

Despite all the upheaval and injuries, including six unique line combinations in 12 games, Rice turned in one of its most impressive showing in the offensive trenches in years. The team ranked seventh nationally in sacks allowed, ceding 11 sacks in 12 games, just one of 11 programs in the nation to allow fewer than one sack per contest. Two of the teams in front of the Owls, Army and Navy, run option offenses that rarely throw the ball.

Rice ranked ninth nationally in pass attempts per game. They threw the ball an incredible amount and yet still managed to keep their quarterback’s jersey remarkably clean. To that point, Rice ranked second nationally in sacks allowed per pass attempt. Lindberg’s versatility and consistency played a pivotal role in that. Not every Transfer Portal addition works out. This one paid off in droves.

** Photo Credit: Maria Lysaker **
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Rice Football 2023 Team MVP: JT Daniels

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This offseason Mike Bloomgren finally landed quarterback JT Daniels. The veteran quarterback delivered and became the 2023 Rice Football Team MVP.

It’s not every day national news media are buzzing about the latest happenings on South Main, but that was certainly the case when word broke last winter that long-traveled quarterback JT Daniels was headed to Rice. Expectations were high. Daniels delivered. He’s our 2023 Rice Football Team MVP.

On that day, Bloomgren stepped to the podium and explained the process that allowed the two sides to come together, after almost a decade of attempts from Bloomgren himself to get Daniels onto his team.

Bloomgren started recruiting Daniels in high school, while Bloomgren was on staff at Stanford, and followed every step of his college football journey. From USC to Georgia to West Virginia and, finally, to Rice.

“I’ve known him forever and have wanted to coach him forever,” Bloomgren said then. “As he and I are saying now, the fourth time’s the charm. I’m just really glad it’s working out.”

The pairing, alongside offensive coordinator Marques Tuiasosopo, proved to be lightning in a bottle. Following seasons of a dogmatic commitment to the running game, the Owls leaned fully into an aerial attack in 2023 with Daniels at the center.

Take the ECU game, for example. Rice averaged less than two yards per carry, running the ball just 20 times. They turned to Daniels to air it out, tossing 32 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns.

“I really don’t care about the word balance in the context that I used to when I was trying to manage the game and shorten the game. Now I feel like we can score points,” Bloomgren said after that game. “I don’t really care how we do it, how we move the sticks and end up in the zone right now.”

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Move the sticks, Rice did. The Owls led the American Conference — a conference with a slew of talented quarterbacks — in passing while Daniels was on the field as Daniels climbed program leaderboards with each successive feat. He became the first Rice quarterback in program history to throw for 400+ yards twice in a single season, and tossed a career-best 21 touchdowns, which were fourth all-time in a single season at Rice.

It wasn’t just volume that powered Daniels up the charts, though, it was an unbelievable playmaking ability that you had to see to believe. Wide receiver JoVoni Johnson said it best. “It feels like he’s Houdini. Whenever he’s put in really tough situations, he always makes a play or finds something, somewhere on the field,” Johnson mused. “He makes all the plays he’s supposed to make, but when things break down and he has to make a split-second decision, he’s always finding something positive on the field.”

Every week, Daniels dazzled. From off-scheduled heaves down the field to laser-lined balls put into pockets with defenders on either side, no throw was too much for Daniels. He made them all. His prowess was so stunning that it almost became a running joke among his pass-catchers.

“I wasn’t even expecting the ball on the play I scored on. They were literally calling out my route while I’m sitting there,” freshman receiver Landon Ransom said, recalling his touchdown grab against Tulsa. “He can put the ball anywhere. I’m never surprised. That’s why I always run my routes to full potential because he can put it anywhere that he wants to, whenever.”

More: 2023 Rice Football Offensive Player of the Year — Luke McCaffrey

Injury would prove to be the only way to slow down Daniels’ dealing. He suffered an ankle injury that forced him out of the end of the USF game, a game many onlookers contend Rice could have won had they had Daniels down the stretch.

Playing on essentially one leg with no practice the following week, Daniels led Rice football to victory over ECU. Afterward, when asked about the injury to his leg, Daniels joked he spent a good portion of the game “basically trying not to use it.”

Without the luxury of rest, Daniels and the Owls marched on. He led Rice to a primetime win over Tulsa and nearly knocked off Tulane at home the following weekend, falling by two points. His season would come to a premature end the following weekend when he suffered a blow to the head against SMU, a hit that would end his playing career once and for all.

Daniels would not play for Rice football again after that game, suffering a concussion that would eventually lead doctors to recommend he medically retire from the sport. Even still, Daniels’ productivity and impact in nine games is hard to understate.

Daniels led a run-first team, with an explosive back in Dean Connors, to the top of the AAC leaderboard in passing. He took a team that hadn’t beaten crosstown rival Houston in 12 years to a thrilling overtime victory, the only Power 5 win by an AAC program in the regular season. Lastly, with Daniels leading the charge, Rice football reached six wins and a bowl game, their second-consecutive postseason trip.

“He’s one of the best guys I’ve ever coached,” Tuiasosopo declared after the regular season. “It would have been fun to have a fun version of him healthy. You know? What could have been?”

For better or worse, that will be the question that lingers from Daniels’ time with Rice football. He took the Owls to new heights, but how much higher could this program have gone had Daniels been able to finish the season healthy?

That question will never be answered, but the evidence Daniels delivered in his healthy games will be remembered by Rice football fans for decades to come. He was special.

“Everyone believed,” Tuiasosopo said. “When they see this guy perform, they’re like, ‘We have have a chance.’ And that’s exciting. ”

* Photo Credit: Maria Lysaker *

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