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2019 offensive lineman Nick Wagman commits to Owls

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Offensive line will be a priority in the 2019 Rice football recruiting class which now includes preferred walk-on Nick Wagman.

As a former offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Stanford, Mike Bloomgren understands life in the trenches. Part of that wisdom will require the addition of some new players up front, something that has already been made clear in the Owls’ 2019 recruiting class.

It wasn’t a coincidence Bloomgren’s first commitment of the 2019 class came from an offensive lineman. Dallas, TX guard Regan Riddle pledge his commitment to Rice this summer. The Owls have since added to their offensive line haul with the addition of Potomac, MD offensive lineman Nick Wagman. The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder will most likely play along the interior of the line at South Main.

Wagman will walk on at Rice, just like his brother Jack did this year at Maryland. He won’t count toward the Owls’ football scholarship limit, something that will enable the program to take in as many players as possible in this group. This team needs an injection of talent; the more they can get the better.

Walk-on or not, Wagman is ready to contribute as quickly as he can. He had the opportunity to visit campus during the Owls’ junior day this spring and walked away extremely impressed. “You could tell as soon as you walked into the building that there was something special happening,” he said.

A refreshing endorsement from someone outside the program looking in, Wagman has now jumped into the Rice family. He cited his relationship with associate head coach and special teams coordinator Pete Lembo as a key factor in his recruitment. Lembo has been busy along the eastern seaboard, keeping tabs on several prospects of interest to the Owls. Wagman could be just the beginning.

 

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Owls hand out flurry of new 2019 offers

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Rice football extended a few new offers during the Owls’ bye week. Here’s a bit more on a few new names to know in the 2019 class.

With the recent decommitment of corner Gabe Jeudy, some good news on the recruiting front would be more than welcome for the Owls. That news comes in the form of a few new offers that went out this week.

WR Tyler Hudson – Klein Oak

Few have started their senior seasons as well as Hudson, a 3-star recruit per 247 Sports. In his first two games he caught 18 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns. He returned a punt for a score and picked up 24 yards on his lone carry of the year. He averaged just over 17 yards per catch as a junior and continues to be a deep threat for the Panthers.

Finding someone else that can make plays on the ball on the outside is still a need in the Rice offense. Brendan Harmon is continuing to develop as a redzone threat, but the depth behind him and Aaron Cephus is lacking. Hudson would be an excellent addition.

WR Keshunn Abram – Northwest (LA)

Another big play threat, JUCO wideout Keshunn Abram is an interesting target. The Owls are in early on Abram, who doesn’t appear to have any other D1 offers so far. In two games so far this season he’s tallied seven catches for 167 yards with one touchdown.

Someone that can take the top off the defense is an important piece for the “Stanford offense”. Right now the Owls have some shifty guys, but they could benefit from a more polished college pass catcher that can stretch the field.

OL Alec Bank – Tesoro (CA)

Adding size up front continues to be a focal point for this staff. Alec Bank tips the scales at 265 pounds and stands 6-foot-4. Rice has done a good job building depth in the 2019 class from inside the state of Texas and out of state. Blake is one of their out of state offers, and recruiters don’t get on a plane and fly to the west coast for someone they aren’t keenly interested in.

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2019 Corner Gabe Jeudy excited to come back to Texas

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Rice football is building on an impressive 2019 recruiting base. One of those players. 2019 cornerback Gade Jeudy, is excited to get back to the great state of Texas.

More: Breaking down Jeudy’s commitment to the Owls

A Texas boy is coming home. 2019 cornerback Gabe Jeudy, who committed to the Owls in early August, is looking forward to a return to the Lone Star State next year. Currently a senior at Ardey Kell High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, Jeudy grew up in Austin, Texas. He moved to the east coast shortly before his freshman season in 2015.

In four years at Ardey Kell, Jeudy has emerged as a lock down, physical corner. Defensive coordinator Brian Smith hasn’t revealed much of his scheme at Rice so far, but the need for corners that can win one-on-one battles is already apparent. “I come from a man-to-man system”, said Jeudy, “I feel as though I can come in and make a difference.”

The Owls could use his height and size. At 6-foot-1, 172 pounds, Jeudy would tie Justin Bickham and Isaiah Richardson as the tallest defensive backs on the Rice roster. A season in the Hans Straub’s strength and conditioning program will go a long way to building up his muscle and could turn Jeudy into a weapon on the outside.

Jeudy is excited to be a part of the culture of Intellectual Brutality that coach Mike Bloomgren is cultivating at Rice. Stressing the importance of having a strong defense, Jeudy hopes to help the Owls become a complete football team. He took notice of the dynamic rushing attack, praising the offenses’ ability to “keep ticking off the clock while the defense is holding it down on the other side.”

Jeudy doesn’t have any visits to South Main planned just yet, but he’s hopeful he’ll have the chance to make it to a game this fall.

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2019 Target John Hunter Henry buying into Intellectual Brutality

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Rice football should be considered a frontrunner for 2019 defender John Hunter Henry, a player that’s already buying into Intellectual Brutality.

There were a lot of changes made at South Main when Mike Bloomgren took over as the 19th head football coach at Rice. Some were subtle, others were front and center. One of the programs’ more obvious pivots was the adoption of the phrase “Intellectual Brutality”.

A blend of high football IQ and tenacious effort, the catchphrase has quickly been assimilated into the culture of Rice football. And recruits are already starting to take notice.

2019 linebacker/safety John Hunter Henry couldn’t be more thrilled about the direction Rice is heading right now. “Intellectual Brutality really fits me well,” he said, “I love that saying because I have a very physical style of play and coaches have always said I have a high football IQ.” Recruits that fit that mold, like Henry, will be the building blocks for a new regime at Rice.

The versatile defender has an offer from the Owls and will be a priority this fall. He’s played linebacker, corner and safety in high school and considers himself a jack-of-all-trades of sorts on the defensive side of the ball. Henry couldn’t put himself in any one box, “I can play anywhere and be comfortable,” he admitted, “I understand the game of football and what offenses are trying to do to me.”

A 3-star recruit from Lake Travis High School in Austin, Henry has five offers so far – HBU, Liberty, Princeton, Texas State and Rice. The Owls got into the race for his commitment early and had him on campus this summer, an experience that Henry loved.

Henry plans on getting back to campus at least once to catch a game this fall. After that, he anticipates a decision on his future in the coming months. He doesn’t have a specific timetable as of yet.

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2019 Athlete TD Ayo-Durojaiye could be defensive gem for Owls

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Rice football continues to fill up their 2019 recruiting class. Could Maryland athlete TD Ayo-Durojaiye be another out-of-state commitment for the Owls?

The recruiting focus has spread across the nation since Mike Bloomgren arrived at South Main late last year.  The Owls have six commitments from inside the Lone Star state so far. They also have four more out-of-state commits: Garrett Braden (Linebacker, Connecticut), Trevor Bycznski (Quarterback, Ohio), Zach Hoban (Kicker, New Jersey) and most recently Gabe Jeudy (Cornerback, North Carolina).

If things work out the right way, Rice will add at least a few more commitments from outside the state of Texas. One of those possibilities is 2019 athlete TD Ayo-Durojaiye.

Ayo-Durojaiye plays his high school ball in Damascus, Maryland. He was already being recruited by Assistant Head Coach Mike Lembo last year while Lembo was at Maryland and has kept up that relationship as Lembo transitioned further south to Rice. Lembo was impressed enough with what he saw from Ayo-Durojaiye so far that the Owls went ahead and offered him a scholarship earlier this summer, despite the fact that he’s never set foot on campus at Rice.

That trust spoke volumes to Ayo-Durojaiye. “I think it shows the coaches really believe in my athletic ability,” he said regarding the out of state offer, adding that the coaches told him “he’d fit well” on the team and have a shot at early playing time as the Owls revamp their depth chart.

The potential fit between Ayo-Durojaiye and the Owls is intriguing. A 6-foot, 180-pound athlete, Ayo-Durojaiye has 17 offers so far across a variety of positions. A natural linebacker, he’s also been offered at running back and safety. The latter is where he feels he’ll have the best long-term success in college. That fits perfectly with how Rice plans to use him.

The three safety scheme (free, strong and viper) employed by defensive coordinator Brian Smith offers plenty of flexibility for different skillsets in the secondary. Ayo-Durojaiye’s burst and power would make him a great option near the line of scrimmage.

Whether or not the Owls can land Ayo-Durojaiye remains to be seen. He hasn’t scheduled any visits yet, but don’t be surprised to see head coach Mike Bloomgren will try to find a way to get him on campus this fall. Ayo-Durojaiye doesn’t plan to make any decisions regarding his future until the end of the season. That give’s Rice some time, but rest assured, they won’t be caught sleeping.

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