The source for Rice sports news

Rice Football Recruiting: WR Artis Cole commits to Owls

By

The 2025 Rice Football recruiting class just picked up more offensive reinforcements. Former Louisiana-Monroe wideout Artis Cole has committed to the Owls.

The spring additions to the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class have come from near and far with several new faces taking multiple stops along their college football journey before arriving on South Main. The latest pledge is no different, hoping to make his mark in his lone season with Rice. Louisiana-Monroe wide receiver Artis Cole has committed to the Owls.

Cole went the junior college route out of high school before transferring to Fresno State prior to the 2023 season. He redshirted that year with the Bulldogs, not appearing in any games before transferring to Louisiana-Monroe and seeing his first FBS action in 2024. He caught 13 passes for 168 yards and one touchdown, appearing in 12 games for the Warhawks.

Now the 6-foot, 190-pound receiver is heading to Rice, where he’ll join an offensive skill group that has picked up a few pieces in the spring transfer season so far. Prior to Cole’s commitment, the Owls received commitments from Coastal Carolina slot receiver Max Balthazar as well as Kennesaw State quarterback Lucas Scheerhorn.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

There’s not a ton of tape on Cole, but the highlights that are out there give a good feel for the type of weapon he could be on South Main. He’s a big, physical receiver who is hard to bring down on first contact and has some innate playmaking ability. Adding that type of player this late in the cycle is a low-risk addition with upside to bolster the receiver room this fall.

Become a Patron!

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

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting: Khary Crump’s path to the Owls

By

The most recent addition to the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class, corner Khary Crump has taken an eventful journey to South Main.

Subscriber content. Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.
Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting: CB Khary Crump commits to Owls

By

The 2025 Rice Football recruiting class fills a significant need in the secondary with this latest addition. Houston Christian corner Khary Crump has committed to the Owls.

A swathe of graduations and injuries made it abundantly clear that the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class would need help in the secondary this spring, most specifically at corner. Rice did their homework on various available defensive backs and landed an extremely talented transfer from Houston Christian. Corner Khary Crump has committed to the Owls.

Last season, Crump led the Southland Conference in passes defended, registering 10 breakups and three interceptions during his only season with the Huskies.

More: Khary Crump’s path to South Main

Crump began his collegiate career at Arizona in 2020, where he did not see any game action before transferring to Michigan State. Crump appeared in nine games for the Spartans across three seasons, playing sparingly before landing in a full-time role for the first time at Houston Christian in 2024, where he excelled.

With the addition of Crump, Rice has now added a host of players in the spring transfer window on the defensive side of the ball, including one other in the secondary: Oregon State safety Jack Kane. Rice also picked up pledges from defensive linemen VJ Bronson (North Texas) and Sam Carrell (Texas Tech).

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

The tape is fantastic. At 6-foot,180 pounds, Krump is a physical corner who can hold his own on the outside, something the Owls’ demand in their defensive scheme. He’s an extremely talented defender who should challenge for a starting spot at South Main upon his arrival.

Become a Patron!

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

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting: DE Sam Carrell commits to Owls

By

More depth in the defensive trenches is on its way. Former Texas Tech defensive end Sam Carrell has committed to the Owls.

Spring is the season to make sure the roster is ready for the year ahead and with the program light in the defensive trenches, adding at least a couple of defensive linemen to the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class. That group gained another member this week. Texas Tech defensive end Sam Carrell has committed to the Owls.

Carrell’s college football career began as an offensive lineman at Washington State before he transferred to Texas Tech following a redshirt season with the Cougars and flipped to the defensive side of the ball. He split time between defensive end and outside linebacker with the Red Raiders across three seasons, primarily playing a support role and entering the Transfer Portal this spring.

When it came to arriving at South Main, Carrell credited the staff and the scheme, first and foremost calling head coach Scott Abell and defensive line coach Ty Warren “the kind of people I want to play for,” crediting the staff with establishing a unit that allows him to “play confident and free.”

Carrell’s commitment comes amidst a run of recent defensive additions for the Owls in the portal. North Texas defensive lineman VJ Bronson committed a few days prior and Oregon State safety Jack Kane announced his pledge on the same day. That’s a lot of experience added to the roster in a short window of time.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

At 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, Carrell certainly has the frame to play on the line in this scheme. He’ll slide in as a pass rusher off the edge, providing another veteran hand in a room in need of depth. “I’m very proud of my versatility, strong hands, and pass-rush ability,” Carrell told The Roost.

Become a Patron!

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

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting: SAF Jack Kane commits to Owls

By

A veteran presence in the secondary is joining the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class. Oregon State safety Jack Kane has committed to the Owls.

Adding experience to a defense replacing so many veterans was paramount as the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class bolstered its members before the upcoming season. A veteran from the Pac-12 ranks, Oregon State safety Jack Kane has committed to the Owls.

“I think coach Abell is a coach that knows how to win and knows how to do it right,” Kane told The Roost. “You can tell from the men and women in the building that he is a great leader and person. There’s something special about a staff that comes from so many different areas and are this connected over football.”

A former walk-on, Kane earned his scholarship prior to this past season, which proved to be his most productive collegiate season thus far.

Kane appeared in 31 games for Oregon State over the last three seasons, growing his role significantly following a redshirt season in 2021. Most recently, he racked up 32 tackles last season and led the Beavers with two interceptions. Getting contributors this late in the transfer cycle is encouraging, but landing someone with the level of experience and talent of Kane in late April is particularly noteworthy.

With Kane on board, the spring recruiting haul is up to six new faces from the portal ranks, including two others on defense: North Texas defensive lineman VJ Bronson and Texas Tech defensive lineman Sam Carrell.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

Perhaps the biggest perk of a player with the level of experience of Kane is the ability to be in the right place at the right time and make the plays in front of you. Kane’s interception against UNLV from earlier this season showcases just that. He’ll be a tremendous fit in the Owls’ defensive scheme.

“I’m hoping to bring some experience and excited to meet the guys and learn with them,” he said. “The defense dominated last year and the stats prove that. I want to help elevate the standards and grow as much as possible with defense to dominate again this upcoming season.”

Become a Patron!

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

Recent Posts