The source for Rice sports news

Rice Football 2022 Iron Man: Shea Baker

By

In a season filled with ups and downs, offensive lineman Shea Baker steadied the offense on his way to being named our 2022 Rice Football Iron Man.

To some extent, everything about the Rice football program has changed in the past five seasons. A new head coach, upgraded facilities and a revamped roster make it hardly recognizable from the scene head coach Mike Bloomgren walked into when he was hired following the 2017 season. But at least one thing has been constant, our 2022 Rice Football Iron Man award winner Shea Baker.

When Baker donned his helmet for the final time against Southern Miss in the Lending Tree Bowl he put an exclamation point on a Rice football record that won’t soon be broken, if ever. Baker leaves Rice as the all-time leader in career starts, making 53 starts over his six-year career.

Prior to Baker, Chris Boswell held the record at 51 starts. Starting statistics weren’t officially kept in Rice game books until the mid-1990s. Even then, redshirt rules weren’t what they are today and teams didn’t even play 12-game regular season schedules with regularity for many years afterward. Few players in Rice football history have appeared in 53 games, let alone started.

Want More Rice sports news? Subscribe on Patreon

Setting start records was never what Baker set out to achieve when he arrived at South Main. He wanted to leave a legacy and help rebuild a program that had fallen on hard times. “It makes you realize how long I’ve actually been here,” Baker said of the record. “It feels good that I’ve broken a record, I can leave a footprint or a legacy and in the process helping this program get to a bowl game.”

How Baker reached that record only served to further amplify how impressive it was. Baker became the skeleton key along the offensive line, flip-flopping between center and guard, sometimes on a week-to-week basis.

Frequent position changes might have fazed some, but not Baker. “I’m used to it,” Baker admitted. “Over the years I’ve gone guard and center more times than I can count. I think I’m about even on starts with guard and center so to me, both are natural positions now. It’s really no issue at all.”

By mid-September, Baker had played more than 3,000 snaps in his Rice football career, a number that is probably closer to 3,500 now. He missed just one start — he was sick during the week with the flu and missed the walk-through — but entered that game in the first quarter anyways.

More: Rice Football Rising Star — Blake Boenisch

It’s going to be surreal watching a Rice football game without number 58 lined up somewhere in the middle of the line. Whether with the ball in his hands or standing just next to center, Baker has been a mainstay in a program that’s changed so much in such a short time. For Baker, he wouldn’t have his legacy remembered in any other way.

When asked about his legacy, Baker’s everyday availability was near to his heart. “Playing as hard as I can, whenever I can, every play,” Baker said. “Being dependable, being the most consistent and best player I can be.”

Because of Baker’s example, Rice football has a standard in the offensive trenches that will live on well past the time he’s done strapping on shoulder pads. Baker was a true iron man, someone that showed up every day to work and set the stage for what he, and others, hope will be an even better future.

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

Recent Posts

Rice Football 2022 Rising Star: Blake Boenisch

By

From a reserve to a marquee defensive player, Blake Boenisch was a difference maker this season and our 2022 Rice Football Rising Star.

If spring ball was any indication, Rice football was going to have an abundance of riches on the defensive line entering the 2022 season. Unlike at wide receiver where injuries thinned the group near the bare minimum number of bodies needed to operate, the defensive line was relatively healthy this year. Which made the emergence of Blake Boenisch, our 2022 Rice Football Rising Star, even more impressive.

When Boenisch arrived on campus, all the reports were glowing. Head coach Mike Bloomgren called him a “big specimen” with “a great mindset” heading into Boenisch’s true freshman season in 2021. The true freshman from Needville, TX would appear in two games, but not record any statistics.

Boenisch would be one of the first to tell you he had to get adjusted to the college game. Everything was a step up, from the workouts to the practice field. The coaching staff was patient, challenging him and working with him until things started to click this spring.

Want More Rice sports news? Subscribe on Patreon

“The kid is a freak of nature,” fellow teammate and captain Trey Schuman said of Boenisch. “He’s 6-3, 330 and can move. It’s not every day that you see somebody like him. Really the thing about Blake is his maturation process has been insane.”

Following the spring game, Bloomgren began a short synopsis of who he viewed as the players who stood out the most during the sessions. Blake Boenisch was near the top of the list.

“Blake Boenisch made the jump you want someone to take from freshman ball to spring,” Bloomgren said. “And I’m really encouraged by what he’s doing.” Those wishful platitudes would turn into bonafide praise soon enough.

Boenisch saw some action against USC but really made his mark in the Owls’ first home game of the year against McNeese State. De’Braylon Carroll was forced to exit the game early with an injury, opening the door for Boenisch who wasted no time in announcing his presence.

He racked up five tackles including 1.5 sacks, flashing time and time again. It was impossible not to notice how much impact he was having on the field, regardless of whether or not he registered any tangible statistic on the play. He changed the game, no small praise for someone working in just their fourth collegiate contest.

It was wheels up from that point onward. Boenisch would no longer be a “break glass in case of emergency” reserve. He became part of the active rotation, seeing meaningful minutes from that point onward.

More: Special Teams Player of the Year — Christian VanSickle

Boenisch had four tackles against UAB and four more against UTEP on his way to 28 total tackles for the season. Only Quent Titre (31) had more tackles from the interior line position and outside of Josh Pearcy (43 tackles) off the edge, Boenisch finished just five tackles short of Ikenna Enechukwu who is expected to be an NFL Draft selection this offseason.

When asked to sum up just how impactful the second-year player had been for the Owls, Bloomgren was almost at a loss for words. “Blake’s a lot to deal with,” he remarked, praising Boenisch on the heels of his second consecutive start of the season, which came against UTSA in mid-November.

Rice football will always employ a heavy rotation on the defensive line. Keeping players fresh is a maxim defensive coordinator Brian Smith will forever hold true. But make no mistake, Boenisch has climbed very near to the top of that pecking order and he’s not backing down any time soon.

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

Recent Posts

Rice Football 2022: NFL Owls Regular Season Recap

By

Rice Football is well represented on 2022 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls from this week and the season as a whole.

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 18 Result Next
Denver Broncos Calvin Anderson (OL)
Elijah Garcia (DL)		 vs Chargers W, 31-28  —
Detroit Lions Jack Fox (P) at Packers W, 20-16  —
Indianapolis Colts Kylen Granson (TE) vs Texans L, 32-31  —
LA Chargers Bryce Callahan (DB)
Christian Covington (DL)		 at Broncos L, 21-28 at Jaguars
LA Rams Austin Trammell (WR) at Seahawks L, 19-16 (OT)  —
Pittsburgh Steelers Chris Boswell (PK) vs Browns W, 28-14  —
Seattle Seahawks Myles Adams (DL) vs Rams W, 19-16 (OT) at 49ers
Tampa Bay Bucs Nick Leverett (OL) at Falcons L, 30-17 vs Cowboys

Offense

Calvin Anderson – OT, Broncos

Anderson appeared in 14 of the Broncos’ games this season, including seven starts. Before this year, he’d started five games in the 2020 and 2021 seasons combined. The Broncos did not make the playoffs.

Kylen Granson – TE, Colts

Granson set career-best marks across the board, making four starts for the Colts this season. He caught 31 passes for 203 yards. The Colts did not make the playoffs.

Nick Leverett – OT, Buccaneers

Leverett started his tenth consecutive game this weekend. He’s appeared in every game for the Bucs following Week 7 after making two appearances for the Bucs a season ago with no starts. The Bucs host the Cowboys in a Wild Card game on Monday night.

Austin Trammell – WR, Rams

Trammell played in the Rams’ final six games, catching two passes for 13 yards. His primary role was on special teams this season where he played roughly a third of his total snaps. The Rams did not make the playoffs.

Defense

Myles Adams – DL, Seahawks

Adams appeared in a career-high 10 games for the Seahawks this season, tallying 16 tackles with one tackle for a loss, one quarterback hit and one pass defended. The Seahawks visit the 49ers in a Wild Card game on Saturday.

Bryce Callahan – CB, Chargers

Callahan appeared in a career-high 15 games for the Chargers this season, setting career highs in starts (11), tackles (47) and interceptions (3). He also posted six passes defended, two tackles for a loss and two quarterback hits. The Chargers visit the Jaguars in a Wild Card game on Saturday.

Christian Covington – DL, Chargers

Covington appeared in four games for the Chargers this season before being placed on Injured Reserve after suffering a pec injury in the Chargers’ Week 10 game against the 49ers. He finished the season with 12 tackles. The Chargers visit the Jaguars in a Wild Card game on Saturday.

Elijah Gacia – DT, Broncos

Garcia was signed off the Rams practice squad and appeared in his first game with the Broncos in Week 17. He recorded his first career tackle a week later against the Chargers. The Broncos did not make the playoffs.

Special Teams

Jack Fox – P, Lions

Fox punted 52 times this season with a long of 66 yards. He pinned 14 balls inside the 20 and averaged 48.6 yards per punt, the sixth-best mark in the league. The Lions did not make the playoffs.

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

Boswell made 20-of-28 field goal attempts this season and all 18 of his extra point tries. He was lethal from long range, converting on 7-of-9 field goal tries from 50+ yards away. The Steelers did not make the playoffs.

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.

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

Recent Posts

The Roost Podcast | Ep 138 – Rice Football 2023 Recruiting Class Early Signing Roundup

By

From JT Daniels to a few ultra-athletic individuals, the 2023 Rice Football Recruiting Class is flush with talent. We recap everything from the Early Signing Period.

The nation was talking about the addition of JT Daniels to the 2023 Rice Football recruiting class, but that was just the tip of the iceberg on the Owls’ highest-ranked signing class in program history. On this week’s edition of The Roost Podcast we dig into the 24 additions, discuss where they fit with the makeup of the Owls’ roster and put a few more items on our wish lists for the Owls to add to the fold before the class is complete.

You can find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 138.

Episode Notes

Housekeeping

  • Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast on your platform of choice. Every little bit helps.
  • Please support us on Patreon. Be the first to get the inside scoop on what’s going on with Rice football and stick around for even further analysis. That includes practice updates, analysis and more. Your support matters and makes The Roost better.
    Become a Patron!

2023 Rice Football Recruiting Early Signing Period Recap

  • JT Daniels’ journey to Rice, his prospects as a player and what he means for the Owls’ offense as a whole
  • Star power and athletic measurables becoming more and more common in Rice football recruiting classes
  • 10 early enrollees, including four from the high school ranks
  • What positions Rice still needs to target over the next few months

Where can you find us?

Download and subscribe to The Roost Podcast on any of your favorite podcast providers. The show is available on iTunes, GooglePlay, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn and PodBean. Please consider leaving a review wherever you listen.

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

Recent Posts

The Roost’s 2022 Rice Football Season Superlatives

By

The Roost’s 2022 Rice Football Season Superlatives exist to honor exceptional Owls who made a difference on the field this season. Here’s the complete list.

There were many individual performances worth recognizing in the 2022 Rice Football season. In addition to the more traditional awards below, make sure to check out The Roosties, our fourth annual award show from The Roost Podcast, which features a different angle of honors. From our favorite plays to the players that surprised us the most, we cover some of the more creative superlatives on the show.

Offensive Newcomer of the Year — WR Isaiah Esdale | Full Story

Excerpt: “Esdale would go on to catch 42 passes as a Rice Owl. 25 of them went for a first down. 13 of them were for 15+ yards or longer. He was a chain mover and a big-play maker, coming through in clutch moments time and time again. While Bradley Rozner and Luke McCaffrey were the wideouts that most often found paydirt and racked up the yards, Esdale’s contribution was clutchness.”

Defensive Newcomer of the Year — LB Chris Conti | Full Story

Excerpt: “After a parade of reliable all-conference caliber linebackers that have passed through the Rice football locker room in recent years, finding someone who could fill those shoes was a daunting task. The Owls found at least one such man in Conti. And fortunately enough, he still has two more seasons of eligibility to make a difference at South Main.”

Sp. Teams Players of the Year  — PK Christian VanSickle | Full Story

Excerpt: “In that span, he made six kicks from beyond 30 yards. Rice had one such make all of last season. He had four go through the pipes from 40+ yards away. And this after attempting his first collegiate field goal last season. For someone brand new to the position to give his team the utmost level of reliability was truly remarkable.”

Rising Star — DL Blake Boenisch | Full Story

Excerpt: “The kid is a freak of nature,” fellow teammate and captain Trey Schuman said of Boenisch. “He’s 6-3, 330 and can move. It’s not every day that you see somebody like him. Really the thing about Blake is his maturation process has been insane.”

Iron Man — OL Shea Baker | Full Story

Excerpt: “When Baker donned his helmet for the final time against Southern Miss in the Lending Tree Bowl he put an exclamation point on a Rice football record that won’t soon be broken, if ever. Baker leaves Rice as the all-time leader in career starts, making 53 starts over his six-year career.”

Off. Player of the Year — WR Luke McCaffrey | Full Story

Excerpt: “The emergence of McCaffrey coincided with an offensive awakening that never seemed to be fully realized. Rice football is better with McCaffrey on the field and the Owls are fortunate he’s got more eligibility to spend catching football at South Main.”

Def. Player of the Year — LB Josh Pearcy | Full Story

Excerpt: “Pearcy would go on to make more plays, including tying a season-high seven tackles with one sack and 1.5 tackles for a loss in the Owls’ Lending Tree Bowl matchup with Southern Miss. All three of those measures tied or lead the team outright. In another big moment, Pearcy showed up. Because that’s what great players do.”

Team MVP — WR Bradley Rozner | Full Story

Excerpt: “Making it back to the field in any capacity and contributing to the offense would have been a relief for Rozner who hadn’t seen the field in such a long time. Becoming a go-to game-breaker was even more impressive. In many ways, it’s just like that game-winning score against UTEP. Someone gave Rozner a chance. He did the rest.”

Check out the 2021 Rice Football Season Superlatives here.
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts