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Rice Football 2022: FAU Game Week Practice Report

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Rice football travels to the Sunshine State this weekend to play FAU. Here’s what we learned from practice as the Owls prep for C-USA’s other Owls.

Rice football returns from their bye week in search of their first road win of the season. FAU, the only Conference USA squad Rice head coach Mike Bloomgren has yet to play, promises to be another good test for this rising team.

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This week’s roundup highlights changes on the team during the bye week, focusing on some up-and-coming players and a few healthy players set to make their 2022 debuts after injuries sidelined them earlier in the year. Plus, continuity on the offensive line… finally!

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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.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

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 2022: FAU presser quotes and depth chart

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Rice football travels to FAU this week. Here’s what Mike Bloomgren had to say about the matchup at hand and a few depth chart notes.

Head coach Mike Bloomgren and a pair of players met with the media for their customary weekly availability. They recapped the UAB win and looked at the week ahead, detailing what they’re expecting to see when FAU takes the field.

More: Rice Football – Blue and Gray Preview Show

We touch on those items, then dig into the Rice football depth chart and what the team looks like heading into the weekend. First, the quotes:

Press Conference Quotes

“I’m really confident in the way we’re preparing right now. I think our teams is excited. I think we’re all excited for this trip to Boca Raton. We understand what we’re up against. FAU is a very well-coached team, from Coach (Willie) Taggart to all of his coordinators right on down the line. It’s just a great staff. They have great athletes. So we understand what a great challenge its going to be for us this weekend. But, at the same time, we’re doing what we do. We’re worrying about us. That’s exactly how we want it to be.” – Mike Bloomgren on facing FAU

“I think you’re playing a team from South Florida. You’re going to have great speed. You’re going to have great length and you see those things. You see some twitchy dudes that make plays. Let’s start with quarterback. N’Kosi Perry was a very highly recruited kid. He started his career at The U. Now he’s been at FAU for two years. He has the ability to affect the game with his legs and he’s got a great arm. It starts there. All of their skill [players] run so incredibly well. Their lines have gotten better and better every year. Looking at the jump they made from last year to this year, both their offensive and defensive lines are tremendously improved.” – Mike Bloomgren on the FAU roster

“Listening to people that know [offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon], he doesn’t want to be one of these air raid gurus. He doesn’t want to throw the ball. He actually wants to create lanes to run the ball and he wants to run the ball down your throat so that’s going to be a big matchup for our run stopping defnese against their creative offense. And then how can we do a great job in the secondary making sure N’Kosi Perry doesn’t get those fast guys behind us?” – Mike Bloomgren on key matchups vs FAU 

“They have good athletes all around so that’s going to be something we have to be cautious of, but I obviously think we have good athletes as well so it’s going to be a good matchup for us. There athletes and the way they fly around for the ball, I think it’s going to be a good challenge for us.” – Quarterback TJ McMahon on FAU’s strengths 

“Their o-line is solid. They have a very athletic quarterback, you can’t just run in there with your hair on fire. We’re getting ready to stop that and we have a good gameplan going forward.” – Linebacker Chris Conti 

Depth Chart

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Depth Chart Notes

There were two changes to the offensive depth chart, the first being a mere formality. Isaac Klarkowski, who started at right guard for the Owls against UAB is officially listed back on the depth chart this week as the team readies for FAU. The only other change on that side of the ball is at tight end where Nate Kamper is listed and could be in line for his 2022 debut.

The Roost Podcast: Recapping Rice football vs UAB

The defense is arrayed exactly the same as it was last week, at least on paper. Make sure you’re tuned in on Patreon for a practice update later in the week with any adjustments and changes as we look ahead to Saturday against FAU.

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Rice Football 2022: NFL Owls Week 5 Roundup

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Rice Football is well represented on 2022 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls in action in Week 5.

There are former Rice football players scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player.

Team NFL Owl(s) Week 5 Result Week 6
Denver Broncos Calvin Anderson (OL) vs Colts (TNF) L, 12-9 at Chargers (MNF)
Detroit Lions Jack Fox (P) at Patriots L, 29-0 — BYE —
Indianapolis Colts Kylen Granson (TE) vs Broncos (TNF) W, 12-9 vs Jags
LA Chargers Bryce Callahan (DB)
Christian Covington (DL)		 at Browns W, 20-28 vs Broncos (MNF)
Pittsburgh Steelers Chris Boswell (PK) at Bills L, 38-3 vs Bucs
Seattle Seahawks Myles Adams (DL) at Saints L, 39-32 vs Cardinals
Tampa Bay Bucs Nick Leverett (OL) vs Falcons W, 21-15 at Steelers

Offense

Calvin Anderson – OT, Broncos

Anderson was called upon for extended action on Thursday Night Football when starter Garrett Bolles left the game with an injury. He’s expected to miss the remainder of the season, meaning Anderson could see a lot more involvement moving forward.

Kylen Gransen – TE, Colts

Gransen snagged one pass in the Colts’ Week 5 loss to the Broncos. He’s now caught at least one pass in each of the team’s first five games this season.

Nick Leverett – OT, Buccaneers

Leverett was active but did not play for the Bucs in their Week 5 win over the Falcons.

Defense

Myles Adams – DL, Seahawks

Adams picked up his first tackle of the season on Sunday against the Aints, playing a season-high 29 percent of the defensive snaps in the process.

Bryce Callahan – CB, Chargers

Callahan made two tackles on Sunday in the Chargers’ win over the Browns. That marks the fifth consecutive game this season in which he’s accounted for multiple tackles.

Christian Covington – DL, Chargers

Covington was active for the second consecutive game, making two solo tackles and one tackle for a loss on Sunday in the Chargers’ win over the Browns. He’s now had multiple tackles in every game he’s been active this season.

Special Teams

Jack Fox – P, Lions

The Lions were shut out by the Patriots this past weekend, but surprisingly still only called upon their punting unit two times. Fox booted a long punt of 56 yards and put one ball inside the 20.

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

Boswell went one of three on his field goal attempts on Sunday against the Bills, mirroring an unsuccessful day from the team as a whole.

More Owls in the NFL

From practice squads to current free agents, there are other Owls on the cusp of returning to active rosters. Find more detail on current contractual agreements and former Rice football players waiting for their next opportunity here.

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Rice Football 2022 Game Preview: FAU

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Fresh off a bye, Rice football heads east to the beach this week to play FAU. How to watch, key stats, x-factor picks and more.

After a grueling opening month, both Rice football and FAU were off this past weekend, giving them time to recover and get healthy before they start the second half stretch of their 2022 seasons. Prior to the break, Rice upset UAB for the second time in as many years while FAU fell to North Texas in Denton just up the road. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup of Owls against Owls.

Kickoff time | 5:00 PM CT
Venue | FAU Stadium – Boca Raton, FL
TV | ESPN+ (Viewing Guide)
Radio | Sports Map 94.1 (FM) / Stretch Internet (Online)

Audio / Visual Preview

We’ll preview Rice football vs FAU on this week’s episode of the Blue and Gray Preview Show, streaming live on Wednesday at Noon on the Rice Athletics YouTube channel. Look for a recap of the game on the site afterward as well as on The Roost Podcast, which should be released early next week. Find us on the podcast page or wherever you like to listen to podcasts. (And consider leaving us a 5-star review while you’re at it.)

Sizing up the contenders

FAU enters the game in a precarious position. Following a tough nonconference stretch that included games against Purdue and UCF, the Owls fell at home to North Texas. They bring a 2-4 record into their first game after the break. A win would help their bowl aspirations and keep them in the mix for a conference title run. A loss might knock them out of both.

Conversely, Rice football is feeling much better about where they’re at exiting their open week. 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference. These Owls can take another step forward with a win on the road against a team that was originally projected to finish near the top of the conference standings.

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Series History

All Time | Rice leads, 2-1
Last Five | Rice leads, 2-1
Last Meeting | Home 2016, FAU won 42-25

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Rice Football Stat Notables

Passing | McMahon – 87/136 (64.0 percent), 1080 yards, 9 TD, 7 INT
Rushing | Broussard – 75 carries, 192 yards (2.6 yards per carry), 8 TD / Montgomery – 24 carries, 186 yards (7.8 yards per carry), 0 TD
Receiving | McCaffrey – 31 receptions, 361 yards (11.7 yds/rec), 3 TD / Rozner – 15 receptions, 312 yards (20.8 yds/rec), 3 TDs / Esdale – 19 receptions, 239 yards (12.6 yds/rec), 0 TD
Tackles | Taylor – 26 / Conti, Morrison – 25 / Nyakwol – 19
Pass Breakups | Dunbar – 3 / Morrison, Taylor, Fresch – 2 / Three others tied with one
Interceptions | Taylor – 2 / Morrison, Nyakwol, Chamberlain – 1

FAU Notables

Passing | Perry – 115/203 (56.7 percent), 1512 yards, 15 TD, 5 INT
Rushing | McMammon III- 84 carries, 512 yards (6.1 yards per carry), 2 TD / Mobley – 63 carries, 325 yards (5.2 ypc), 3 TD
Receiving | Wester – 39 receptions, 442 yards (11.3 yards per reception), 8 TD / Edrine – 19 receptions, 287 yards (15.1 yds/rec), 2 TD
Tackles | Williams – 58 / Adams – 34 /  Toombs – 33
Pass Breakups | Mungin – 3 / Antoine – 2 / Adams, Toombs, Young, McKithen, Cook – 1
Interceptions | Toombs – 2 / Young, McKithen – 1

FAU X-Factor | Keep the ball in front of you

Florida Atlantic is tied for eighth in Conference USA in explosive plays allowed on defense. Only two programs have allowed more 20+ yard plays than the Owls (28) who have also been burned on plays of 50+ yards on five separate occasions. The latter is one play better than Charlotte which owns the second-worst defense in the FBS.

Interestingly enough, FAU has actually been pretty good when it comes to getting off the field on defense if they can keep the ball in front of them. They rank second in Conference USA in opponent’s third down conversion rate (33.8 percent). It’s been the big play that’s done them in time and time again.

Through five weeks, Rice has only produced 18 plays of 20+ yards, which ranks 10th in the conference. But the Owls do have plenty of playmakers capable of breaking off a big run or racking up copious amounts of yardage after the catch. FAU needs to be ready.

Rice X-Factor | Get the run game going

Rice football has found ways to win, ultimately that’s what really matters, but running the football efficiently really hasn’t been as critical to the team’s success as one might have expected. The Owls have averaged 3.6 yards per carry or worse in each of their last three games and haven’t reached the 150-yard rushing mark against any of their FBS opponents yet this season.

FAU is the worst run defense Rice has faced this season, coming in at 100th nationally allowing 173 yards per game on the ground. North Texas ran for 300 yards against this team in their last game and as a result, FAU was never able to get their offense into rhythm.

That’s exactly the kind of game Rice would love to play, especially on the road. Better still, it would serve as one more data point in the Owls’ 2022 offensive resurgence. Putting together a complete game, one where the defense stands tall and the offense can move the ball through the air and on the ground would continue to push Rice towards the top of the conference where they want to be.

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One Final Thing

Florida Atlantic was picked to finish fourth in the conference in the Conference USA preseason media poll. Rice was picked tenth. Rice has already beaten the No. 2 team, UAB, and gets the No. 1 team (UTSA) at home to end the season. The Texas-based Owls enter this game red-hot while the Floridians aren’t playing their best football. Rice needs to take advantage of this opportunity, even if it does come away from home.

To date, all of the Owls’ 2022 wins have come at Rice Stadium, but Rice has won big games away from Houston in each of the past seasons. The road factor shouldn’t play a large factor in the outcome of this game, instead, that should be decided by how well Rice prepares during the bye week.

Rice football head coach Mike Bloomgren said it best following the teams’ upset over UAB, “If you look at the second half, if we can learn to play that way for 60 minutes, I don’t know who can beat the Rice Owls right now but the Rice Owls. We just gotta play our game.”

Bloomgren and this team have the opportunity to prove themselves right on that account this coming Saturday. A win would lift them to 2-0 in conference with a real chance to contend for a conference title which suddenly isn’t feeling quite so elusive anymore. All the Owls need to do is play their game.

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