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Rice Football Recruiting: JUCO CB Dylan Stephens commits to Owls

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The 2026 Rice Football recruiting class picked up some much-needed reinforcements in the secondary. JUCO cornerback Dylan Stephens has committed to the Owls.

Adding depth to the defensive backfield was a must for the 2026 Rice Football recruiting class. Entering the late fall with some attrition at those positions, the Owls swooped into the JUCO ranks to get another potential playmaker. Corner Dylan Stephens has committed to the Owls.

Stephens had offers from Army, Navy, Yale and a handful of local FCS programs coming out of high school before going the junior college route. After one season at Trinity Valley Junior College, he resurfaced and took aim at a D1 opportunity. Rice proved to be the perfect fit.

He joins fellow defensive back Jordan Mitchell as the anchors in the secondary for the 2026 class so far. He’s also the second JUCO commit in the group, with fellow JUCO product Brock Reddic offering support in the defensive trenches.

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Most of the tape from on Stephens comes from his high school days at Berkner High School in Richardson, TX, just a season removed from where he is today. He’s lanky with a quick twitch and has the ability to run. Those are good traits to bet on with a corner that will arrive on campus with some collegiate snaps already under his belt.

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Rice Football Recruiting: JUCO DL Brock Reddic commits to Owls

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The 2026 Rice Football recruiting class just added some in the trenches. JUCO defensive lineman Brock Reddic has committed to the Owls.

The first transfer addition to the 2026 Rice Football recruiting class is on the board. Following an initial build from the high school ranks, the Owls have nabbed a key player from the junior college ranks. Kilgore defensive tackle Brock Reddic has committed to the Owls.

Reddic originally signed with Northwestern State out of high school, playing sparingly before transferring to Kilgore Junior College last year. A strong season there earned him offers from programs like Florida Atlantic, Louisiana Monroe, PVAMU, McNeese State, Central Arkansas, and others. The Owls were the most recent to formally show interest and Reddic pulled the trigger soon after the offer came in.

The fourth defensive lineman in the class, Reddic should bring some experience to accompany high school commits Ian Harrell, Tyler Lavallier and Quincy Tchikou. In total, the class is up to 19 players with the early signing period right around the corner, beginning Wednesday, Dec. 3.

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Reddic’s highlights are intriguing. The 6-foot-4, 315 pound interior player has a couple moves already in his tool bag and shows good pursuit to the ball. Rice needs reinforcements in the trenches and Reddic looks to have the potential to slide in and contribute quickly.

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Rice Football Recruiting: LS Hamilton Sharpe commits to Owls

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The 2026 Rice Football recruiting class has landed a key special teams addition. Woodlands College Park long snapper Hamilton Sharpe has committed to the Owls.

Special teams offers at the D1 level are few and far between. For a school to spend a scholarship slot on one of those spots often requires an exceptional talent and a specific need. The 2026 Rice Football recruiting class required one such key piece. Long snapper Hamilton Sharpe has committed to the Owls.

A four-star rated long snapper by the Kohl’s Kicking Academy, Sharpe has offers from Florida Atlantic, UTEP and Prairie View before Rice jumped into the mix in mid-October. Weeks later, Sharpe had made his decision and committed to Rice.

“It is clear that Coach Abell and his staff are really committed to changing the standard at Rice and truly bringing success,” Sharpe told The Roost. “That’s something I really want to be a part of.”

Sharpe brings the commitment count of the 2026 class up to 18 players. He’s the second special teams representative alongside kicker Tommy Bauchiero, who committed to the Owls this summer.

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The tape is good, but that’s to be expected when recruiting a specialist, where consistency over hundreds of reps is the end goal. Sharpe certainly understands those expectations.

“My consistency is one aspect that I’m very proud of. Even though the snaps may not be perfect every time, there’s definitely a quality that is guaranteed,” he said. “That consistency takes a lot of stress off the holder and punter and allows for them to just focus on doing their job.”

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Rice Football Recruiting: RB Dionne Sims commits to Owls

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A dynamic local rusher is joining the 2026 Rice Football recruiting class. CE King running back Dionne Sims has committed to the Owls.

Because the position is the engine that drives head coach Scott Abell’s gun-option offense, there’s a high bar to clear for prospective running backs that could have been targets for the 2026 Rice Football recruiting class. Following an extensive search, the program has landed on its next man up at the position. CE King running back Dionne Sims has committed to the Owls.

Sims is a game-changer with no lack of interest across the nation. His first offer in high school came from Oregon before he added the likes of Illinois, Arizona, Houston, UTSA, Texas State and others to mix. He eventually committed to Stephen F Austin in June, but made the flip to Rice this week as the fall season started to wind down.

Outside interest aside, Sims’ potential makes him a significant win for the Owls. Those talents hit a high point earlier this season when he rushed for a school-record 435 yards and six touchdowns against Atascocita, no small feat.

Sims is the latest addition to a stable that includes other local standouts like D’Andre Hardeman (Northshore) and Tyvonn Byars (Lake Creek). He joins a 2026 Rice Football recruiting class that already includes skill players Preston Jackson, Jai Jacobs-Ford, led by quarterback commit Ayden Wilhelm.

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When it comes to the tape, there’s a ton to like with Sims. His vision is superb and he can a fantastic job putting his foot in the ground and exploding downfield. He’s a hard runner with a nose for the endzone that should find plenty of opportunity in an offense that loves to pound the rock.

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Rice Football Recruiting: WR Preston Jackson commits to Owls

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An offensive difference maker is joining the 2026 Rice Football recruiting class. Wide receiver Preston Jackson has committed to the Owls.

Concerns that a run-first offense would struggle to find dynamic receiver threats have largely proved overblown, to this point. The 2026 Rice Football recruiting class picked up another threat on the outside following an explosive day through the air for the Owls on the field. Forney wide receiver Preston Jackson has committed to the Owls.

Jackson was a highly sought-after prospect on the recruiting trail, holding offers from Tulane, Wake Forest, San Diego State, Utah State, Arkansas State and others at the time of his pledge. Rice formally jumped into the mix in August, landing a commitment from Jackson just a few weeks later.

For Jackson, that big decision was driven by relationships. “Seeing how close all the staff are to each other and the support they give to their athletes,” was a driving factor for Jackson, he told The Roost.

Jackson joins slot receiver Jai Jacobs-Ford and tight end Colten Cole as the primary receiving targets in the class to this point. The Owls will likely look to add a few more before signing day arrives this winter.

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The 6-foot, 173-pound Jackson is a natural fit on the outside in this offense. His acceleration is exciting, as is his ability to make plays after the catch in space. “I liked the shots down the field that they took while everyone expected the run,” he said. “I could just imagine myself in that position next year.”

The film showcases a player who can be a weapon down the field, something the Owls are seeking when they add players at this position to the offense.

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