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Rice Football Recruiting: WR Aaron Turner commits to Owls

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The 2025 Rice Football recruiting class just landed its first offensive addition from the Transfer Portal. Cincinnati transfer WR Aaron Turner has committed to the Owls.

The new offensive scheme was always going to require some new pieces, several of which were destined to come from the Transfer Portal. The first new addition by Scott Abell and his staff on that side of the ball is official in. Former Cincinnati wide receiver Aaron Turner has committed to the Owls.

Rice will be Turner’s third stop as a college player following a pair of two-year stints, first at UConn and then to Cincinnati. Turner was the Huskies’ leading receiver as a true sophomore in 2022 before moving on to the Big 12 where he was limited to 16 receptions over the past two seasons. He’s also seen frequent use as a runner, carrying the ball 26 times across his collegiate career.

Turner is one of three transfer commits the Owls have received this month joining a pair of JUCO defensive backs, Jerrick Harper and Jo Chavez. That trio will work to complement a strong high school class which largely stayed intact during the coaching transition.

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The 5-foot-9, 175-pound athlete wins with speed and elusiveness. A high school running back, Turner has been utilized in a variety of ways at each of his stops since. That sort of versatility jumps out on his film and undoubtably is what made him so appealing to the Owls.

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Rice Football Recruiting: CB Jerrick Harper commits to Owls

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The first transfer portal addition in the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class is in the fold. JUCO CB Jerrick Harper has committed to the Owls.

JUCO corner Jerrick Harper is the first transfer addition of the 2025 Rice Football Recruiting class and the first non-high school signee of the Scott Abell era. Abell made it clear his focus when he arrived was keeping the high school class intact. Once he achieved that, signing a dozen players during the early signing period, he moved to the portal where he landed this pledge from Harper.

In Harper, Rice is getting a prototypical outside corner (6-foot, 185-pounds) who should be able to step in and fill a hole on the roster left by departing Sean Fresch, who completed his final season of eligibility this past fall. Harper didn’t seen daunted by the high standard left by those before him.

“I loved the defense because I can play a lot of man coverage,” he told The Roost. “Guys on the back end can play fast and fly around.”

Harper had reported offers from Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Alcorn State, Eastern Michigan and Louisiana Tech, among others. He has multiple seasons of eligibility remaining after spending the past two years at Trinity Valley where he averaged just under one pass break up per game.

Quality cover corners with the necessary skillset and athleticism to play on an island on the outside aren’t in abundance in the Transfer Portal. That Harper is the type of player who can do that speaks highly of him and the Owls recruiting efforts to land him even before finalizing their coaching staff. Harper cited corners coach Jeremy Modkins as a reason for his decision.

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Harper’s film is a fun watch. He does a good job staying aware of where the ball is an positioning himself to have the right leverage in coverage. Some of the JUCO quarterbacks leave a lot to be desired when it comes to accuracy, but you can still see Harper’s good hands and quick feet setting him up for success.

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Rice Football Recruiting: 2025 Early Signing Period Live Blog

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The first of the 2025 Rice Football Recruiting class will become signees during the Early Signing Period. Follow all the action here.

In one of his first official acts as head coach, Scott Abell will welcome the first members of the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class on Wednesday when the Early Signing Period opens. The first flock of new Owls will come primarily from the high school ranks, with supplemental talent from the portal trickling in where the fit makes sense.

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This live tracker will follow all the latest news and updates throughout the day, with some notes along the way on the class as it is finalized. If you’re not a subscriber yet, here’s your chance.

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Which newcomers will make sizable impacts as soon as they arrive on campus like Blaise Tita, Chad Lindberg, Charlie Looes, Michael Daley and others did this past fall? This class has plenty of talent that could find its way to the field soon.

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A Quick Look at the 2025 Rice Football Recruiting Class before the Early Signing Period

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The Early Signing Period begins Wednesday, December 4. Here’s where the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class stands entering the week.

In the midst of hiring a new coach and wrapping up a season, Rice football recruiting continues to press on. Some attrition was to be expected, but the Owls are still likely to put together a rather strong high school signing class despite all the changes currently happening at South Main. Here’s the latest:

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Rice Football Recruiting: LB CJ Witten commits to Owls

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A tackling machine has joined the ranks of the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class. Liberty Christian linebacker CJ Witten has committed to the Owls.

The 2025 Rice football recruiting class heated up in earnest this summer with players attending camp on campus and getting up close and personal with the staff. While that run of recruits has slowed down, the Owls aren’t finished with their upcoming haul just yet, adding another promising playmaker on defense this week. Liberty Christian linebacker CJ Witten has committed to the Owls.

Witten was among the large contingent of players who received offers during the summer months. His came back in late June, one of a half dozen programs to extend him an offer to play at the next level. Ultimately Witten opted for Rice over nearby Lamar and Houston Christian, also spurning the likes of Arkansas State, Army, Navy, UTEP and a few others, opting instead to come to South Main.

The son of former Dallas Cowboys great Jason Witten, CJ has developed into one of the most productive linebackers in the state. As a junior, he surpassed 100 tackles in a 14-game season and scored a pair of touchdowns.

He joins fellow linebacker Ty Thames, who joined the class back in June, to make up a strong tandem in the middle of the field. He’s the 19th commitment in the fold so far, a number that should rise, but should remain very competitive when it comes to earning the last handful of high school spots.

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It only takes a quick glance at the film to see what Witten brings to the fold. He’s explosive, instinctive and powerful. When he gets moving downhill he’s tough to avoid. Rice has put a premium on athleticism at this position in recent years. Witten certainly fits the bill and should be an excellent addition to an already potent linebacking corps.

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