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Rice Football Recruiting: 2023 WR Justin Williams commits to Owls

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The 2023 Rice Football recruiting class just picked up a playmaker. MacArthur wide receiver Justin Williams has committed to the Owls.

On May 6, Justin Williams committed to Louisiana. Rice football beat Louisiana on the field and the Owls’ edge didn’t stop there. The 2023 Rice Football recruiting class picked up an additional win over the Ragin’ Cajuns, snagging a commitment from their ranks. After fostering that relationship through the summer, the Owls won out. Williams has flipped his commitment to the Owls.

The Owls have now picked up multiple players in this class who were previously committed to other programs. A few weeks ago the program added a pledge from running back Daelen Alexander, formerly an Air Force commit.

As for Williams, there was plenty of interest in his services. In addition to Louisiana, Williams also held offers from Pittsburgh, UTSA and Air Force. A three-star recruit with Power 5 interest, Williams checks in near the top of the Owls’ current commits in the 247 Sports Rankings.

Williams is the third wide receiver commit in the 2023 Rice football recruiting class and at 6-foot-3, 180-pounds, he brings with him a completely different athletic profile than Drayden Dickmann and Landon Ransom, both of which committed to the Owls earlier this summer.

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Williams is a go-up-and-get-it type of receiver. His highlights showcase a player that can win contested catches at all levels of the field while still showcasing a great deal of athleticism. He’ll be an exciting fit on the outside in the Rice offense and could grow into an important redzone threat as he develops.

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Rice Football Recruiting: 2023 RB Daelen Alexander commits to Owls

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The first running back of 2023 Rice Football recruiting class has jumped on board. Pflugerville rusher Daelen Alexander has committed to the Owls.

On June 22, Daelen Alexander committed to Air Force, but that’s not where this story stops. Rice football swooped in a few weeks later and offered Alexander, despite his prior commitment. Now, officially, the Owls have won out. Alexander has flipped his commitment to the Owls and is the newest member of the 2023 Rice football recruiting class.

Alexander marks the first player Rice has flipped from another FBS program under head coach Mike Bloomgren’s tenure. Rice has historically been early to offer several of their eventual signees. Adding Williams to the fold is a particularly noteworthy advancement for the program on the recruiting front. He held offers from Air Force, Army and Navy at the time of his commitment.

Alexander is the first running back in the 2023 Rice football recruiting class and the first true high school running back commit the Owls have had since the 2020 class. Dean Connors was the only scholarship back the Owls added this past cycle and he came from the JUCO ranks.

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Alexander’s speed jumps off the screen in his film. When he hits the hole and accelerates it’s hard to catch him in open space. He can break free with a wiggle and then it’s off to the races. He has good vision and anticipation, setting himself up to make the next man miss while he’s already en route. At 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, he packs a punch on his way down the field, too.

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Rice Football Recruiting: 2023 Safety Ty Morris commits to Owls

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The 2023 Rice Football recruiting class has added a local product to the fold. Dekaney safety Ty Morris has committed to the Owls.

All the way back in March of 2021, the second offer for the 2023 Rice Football recruiting offer was extended to Dekaney safety Ty Morris. Even though it was extremely early in the recruiting cycle for the 2023 class, Rice knew from the beginning they liked what they saw in Morris. Now, more than a year later, Morris has committed to the Owls.

The addition of Morris is a big one for Rice. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound safety had more than a dozen offers at the time of his pledge. He ultimately picked the Owls over offers from Houston, Purdue, Tulsa, Louisiana Tech, Army, Marshall and others.

The win over a crosstown rival and a Power 5 program is another feather in a Rice football recruiting class that is shaping up to be a strong one. At the time of Morris’ commitment, Rice owns the No. 2 class in Conference USA and the No. 79 class nationally.

Following the decommitment of Jamarie Wiggins this summer, Morris is currently the lone safety in the 2023 class and the second member of the secondary, along with MacArthur corner AJ Stephens who committed in June.

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Listed as a safety in some places and a linebacker in others, Morris could fit in well in the Viper hybrid position at South Main. His film certainly highlights a player that’s comfortable in coverage yet still explosive running downhill. Versatility will always be valued on the defensive side of the ball at Rice, making Morris an exciting addition to the 2023 class.

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Rice Football Recruiting: Ratings bump boosts Owls’ 23 class

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The 2023 Rice football recruiting class is off to a strong start, checking in near the top of the latest Conference USA 247 Sports rankings.

Over the past several months, the 2023 Rice Football recruiting class has begun to pick up steam. Their first commitment, from Alief quarterback Chase Jenkins, came this March. Their most recent came from Joseph Mutombo, their highest-rated current commit, in late July. Here’s a quick rundown of what has changed in the weeks since.

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Rice Football Recruiting: 2023 DE Joseph Mutombo commits to Owls

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The 2023 Rice Football recruiting class finished the summer strong. Defensive end Joseph Mutombo has committed to the Owls.

A cluster of new offers for potential members of the 2023 Rice football recruiting class went out during the early signing period last December. Among those offers was Keller Central defensive end Joseph Mutombo who, after months of consideration, made his decision official. Mutombo has committed to the Owls.

Mutombo chose Rice over offers from Houston, Louisiana, Tulane, Navy and others. Any time Rice can post a recruiting win over their crosstown rivals is a good thing and it’s also encouraging to see some notable other G5 programs in the mix for a player the Owls coveted.

For Mutombo, that relationship was key. He told The Roost that Rice has “always shown me so much love, from even before I was offered.” The Owls’ steadfastness won the day, allowing them to secure his pledge.

After an early run on the offensive line, Mutombo marks the second defensive lineman the Owls have taken in their class so far. Furr High School product Chris Clark committed to Rice almost exactly one month prior.

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Getting to the quarterback is the top priority for someone at the edge position and that’s exactly what Mutombo’s highlights showcase. Mutombo told The Roost he spent the offseason focusing on his explosiveness, hopefully adding to his already impressive burst and pursuit abilities.

He’ll arrive at South Main with a few tricks already secure in his pass rush tool kit, showcasing an ability to win with power and speed to the inside and the outside. He’s long (6-foot-5) but still moves well with a good frame (215 pounds) to add to in the future.

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