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Rice Football Recruiting: TE Luke Tevis commits to Owls

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The 2025 Rice Football recruiting class is starting to pick up steam with a multi-commitment day. Tight end Luke Tevis has committed to the Owls.

As the summer camp cycle starts to pick up the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class is growing along with it. Rice added a pledge from wide receiver Keenan Arcega-Whiteside earlier in the day only to double down with another pass catcher that same morning. Paschal tight end Luke Tevis has committed to the Owls.

Landing Tevis represents a tremendous win for Rice, even if it comes relatively early in the recruiting calendar. The playmaking tight end already held offers from fellow AAC foes UTSA and North Texas, as well as Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech and a few service academies.

Winning head-to-head battles in Texas is always important, especially when it involves taking a player from the DFW area away from a rival program in the same league.

The addition of Tevis and Arcega-Whiteside brings the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class up to five players spanning both sides of the ball from the trenches to the skill positions. It’s a well-rounded start for a program that looks to build on a robust roster that returns the vast majority of its contributing players heading into the 2024 season.

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In a highlight-centric world, most offensive recruits open their film clips with a big play down the field ending in a touchdown. It’s probably fitting then that the very first highlight in Tevis’ full-season review is a punishing block that ends with a would-be tackler being laid horizontal with force. Tevis showcases his abilities as a receiver and runner, too, but that big hit says a lot about what he values about his game and undoubtedly was attractive to this coaching staff.

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Rice Football Recruiting: WR Keenan Arcega-Whiteside commits to Owls

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Head coach Mike Bloomgren and company are adding a familiar name to the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class. Wide receiver Keenan Arcega-Whiteside has committed to the Owls.

The football world is full of connections that go well beyond what meets the eye. Those relationships foster movement among staff and players alike and have brought at least one relatively familiar face into the 2025  Rice Football recruiting class. Keenan Arcega-Whiteside, brother of former Stanford standout JJ Arcega-Whiteside, has committed to the Owls.

This is not the first time Bloomgren’s Stanford connections have borne fruit for the Owls. In addition to adding special teams coordinator Pete Alamar to the staff and a few transfers directly from the Cardinal roster over the years, Bloomgren also coached Christian McCaffrey at Stanford before recruiting his brother, Luke, to come to South Main. That familiar connection paid dividends with an NFL Draft selection for Luke this past April

A multi-sport athlete, Keenan showcased his athleticism as a basketball player and a football player at the high school level. On the football side, he’d picked up a few offers this summer from the likes of Austin Peay, Gardner Webb and others before announcing his decision to commit to Rice.

Arcega-Whiteside was on campus for Junior Day earlier this year and clearly liked what he saw. His commitment is the fourth of the Owls’ 2025 class which could start to grow here in earnest following camp season.

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Already 6-foot-6 and 185 pounds, Arcega-Whiteside looks the part and his film backs it up. He’s the sort of big-body target this staff loves to utilize in the redzone and on chain-moving throws near the sticks. He’s fairly shifty for his size and while he probably won’t win a footrace against the speedier players the Owls bring into the fold in this class, bringing him down is no easy task. Rice has a good amount of speed on their roster right now. They need someone with some power. Arcega-Whiteside certainly delivers on that front.

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Rice Football Recruiting: WR Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman commits to Owls

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The 2024 Rice Football recruiting class has picked up another offensive playmaker. Former Florida wideout Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman has committed to the Owls.

The last few weeks have been somewhat quiet on the Rice Football recruiting front because the Owls have had been carefully selecting what amounts to the finishing touches on their 2024 roster, taking what they perceive to be the most impactful players available to them from the Transfer Portal. They landed another high-upside option this week when they gained a commitment from former Florida wide receiver and Top 100 recruit Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman.

Chiaokhiao-Bowman was a highly regarded member of the 2022 recruiting class and considered a top 10 JUCO wide receiver recruit in the nation and a top 100 JUCO player overall. He had his fair share of suitors at that time before ultimately spending the spring at Independence CC and transferring to Florida in the fall. The Minneapolis, MN native got on the field as a true freshman with the Gators, operating as a receiver receiver and a special teams player. He caught seven passes for 138 yards, averaging a healthy 19.7 yards per catch.

Injuries slowed him this past season, limiting him to two games in a redshirt season. He’ll have three years of eligibility remaining when he arrives on South Main. That’s a lot of football ahead for the 6-foot, 200-pound receiver who should provide an instant infusion of talent and further amp up the competition in the receiver room.

Chiaokhiao-Bowman joins Brown transfer Graham Walker and freshman Owen Carter as the most prominent additions for Rice football at the receiver position in this current recruiting cycle. That’s a lot of talent for a roster tasked with the arduous challenge of replacing Luke McCaffrey.

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As for Chiaokhiao-Bowman, the traits are there and jump off his film. He’s uber-athletic and already seems to run refined routes. He’s produced within an SEC offense and showcased ball skills and speed when given the opportunity. When it comes to Power 5 transfers, this is the kind of player worth betting on. He’ll be a great addition to the Owls’ pass catching stable that continues to grow.

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Rice Football Recruiting: DT Gentle Hunt commits to Owls

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The latest win on the Rice football recruiting front, Florida A&M defensive lineman Gentle Hunt has committed to the Owls for his final season of eligibility.

The bulk of the incoming Rice football recruiting class was on board before spring practices, but a few scholarships were left to fill. Getting a veteran defensive tackle was near the top of the priority list when it came to assigning those last few spots. The Owls did just that with their newest addition. Per a report from 247’s Mark Zenitz, Florida A&M transfer defensive tackle Gentle Hunt has committed to the Owls.

A 5-foot-11, 290-pound Florida native, Hunt was in high demand as soon as he made the decision to enter the portal. Reports circled of his name in connection to several Power 5 programs, including the Owls’ crosstown rivals in the Big 12. After taking a few weeks to mull things over, though, the multi-time All-SWAC honoree opted for Rice.

Hunt brings a padded stat sheet with him to South Main. He amassed 89 tackles, 24 tackles for a loss and 11.5 sacks in three seasons with FAMU, including 11 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks last season. He can slide right into the interior spot on the defensive line vacated by De’Braylon Carroll, who transferred this past offseason and compete with Blake Boenisch and Izeya Floyd for starting reps. Regardless of who wins the job, Hunt’s presence provides critical depth up front.

Hunt is the second impact player the defense has added in this post-spring portal cycle. Former Utah corner Faybian Marks committed last week. Both players should compete for significant playing time when fall camp arrives, bolstering a defensive roster that was already shaping up to be one of the better units in the AAC.

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Hunt is a disruptor that will set up shop in the middle of the Owls’ defensive line. He’s a gifted athlete who looks more than ready to make the step up into the FBS ranks. And while he’s being brought in for his prowess at the line of scrimmage, he’s the kind of playmaker who won’t be limited to just one portion of the field. Look no further than this touchdown return he scored against Bethune-Cookman.

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Rice Football Recruiting: CB Faybian Marks commits to Owls

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One of the final touches of an already strong 2024 Rice Football recruiting class, Utah corner Faybian Marks has committed to the Owls.

Finding reinforcements at the corner position was one of the top priorities for Rice football recruiting following spring practices. After taking a few weeks to assess the mark, the Owls have zeroed in on their man and landed a commitment from former Utah corner Faybian Marks,

Marks is originally a class of 2020 player from Richmond, Texas who picked the Utes over offers from Baylor, Kansas State, Kansas, Washington State and others. He saw action immediately upon his arrival in Salt Lake, appearing in 32 games across four seasons with the Utes, including seven starts.

Injuries suffered midway through the 2021 season seemed to hamper his ascent. He spent most of the last two seasons operating as a reserve and playing special teams but still possesses a skillset that makes him an intriguing add for the Owls.

Marks told The Roost the Owls’ culture and environment are what set Rice football apart saying it “just felt like I was apart of the family as soon as I got there.”

He’ll add competition to a corner room that is relatively unproven at the FBS level outside of returning starter Sean Fresch. Max Ahoia had played well at the other corner spot through the spring, but even if the staff believes in Ahoia it was always going to be prudent to get another playmaker in that room.

At a minimum, one of the two becomes quality depth with the upside that either Marks or Ahoia becomes a true difference maker. Regardless of the outcome, adding a player of Marks’ resume to the fold is a definite win.

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On the field, Rice is getting a seasoned veteran with plenty of in-game experience. Marks prides himself on his speed and physicality, two things that show up in his highlights. He’s a willing tackle and has the speed to stay step for step with receivers on the outside. The George Ranch High School native returns to Texas with the intent of making plays on the field. He’ll be an interesting name to follow during camp as he battles with Ahoia for playing time.

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