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Rice Football Recruiting: WVU WR Isaiah Esdale commits to Owls

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The 2022 Rice Football recruiting class has added another piece from the Transfer Portal. Former WVU wideout Isaiah Esdale has committed to the Owls.

The first surprise of National Signing Day for the 2022 Rice Football recruiting class was a good one. After scouring the Transfer Portal for weeks, Rice has landed a commitment from former West Virginia wide receiver Isaiah Esdale.

Esdale was the primary punt returner for West Virginia last season and played in nine games, catching 29 passes for 362 yards and one touchdown. A slot receiver by trade, Esdale also has a 24-yard touchdown pass via a trick play under his belt as he heads to South Main to join the Owls wide receiving corps. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

When it comes to wide receivers from the Transfer Porta, Rice has had tremendous success. Bradley Rozner (2019) and Tre Patterson (2021) have both left their marks on the program in recent years. The Owls also signed former Tulsa wideout Sam Crawford in December, giving Rice one of the most experienced and deep receiving rooms they’ve had at any point under head coach Mike Bloomgren.

Esdale will slot right into the mix, competing for snaps in the crowded room. Rice football saw a large uptick in four-wide and five-wide sets last season, opening room for another slot player opposite Jake Bailey in such formations.

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Esdale has sure hands and packs a bit more of a punch than you might expect from a typical slot receiver. He can go up and get the football and win against defensive backs at the point of attack. Being a trusted outlet for quarterbacks gets you on the field and Esdale proved he can deliver when the ball is thrown his way.

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Rice Football Recruiting: JUCO CB Ichmael Joseph commits to Owls

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The secondary of the 2022 Rice Football recruiting class got a boost this week with the commitment of JUCO corner Ichmael Joseph.

There are a few players that fly under the radar in every cycle that have the potential to make a difference at the next level. The 2022 Rice Football class hopes its found one of those hidden gems in JUCO corner Ichmael Joseph who committed to the Owls in the days leading up to National Signing Day.

Prior to the Owls swooping in at the final hour, Joseph only had Division II offers from Allen University and West Liberty. Now he’s off to play FBS football with Rice.

Part of what undoubtedly made Joseph appealing and projectable at the net level is his stature. The up-and-coming corner stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 183 pounds. Given the propensity to play a large amount of man-to-man defense, especially at the corner spots in the Owls’ defense, going after someone who can handle the physicality of receivers at the line becomes a must.

Joseph is one of a half dozen players in the 2022 Rice Football recruiting class which the Owls found in the Transfer Portal. He comes with the added benefit of three years of eligibility remaining.

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Joseph’s ability to win on an island flashes as soon as you turn on the tape. He has the strength to battle through jump balls and the discipline to use his body to his advantage, boxing out wide receivers and forcing them into difficult positions. Given some additional time with this staff to hone his craft, Joseph has the potential to make a nice impact in the Owls’ secondary in the coming years.

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Rice Football Recruiting: 2022 National Signing Day Live Blog

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The 2022 Rice Football Recruiting class is winding down. Follow all the action here as the Owls close out another quality class.

The recruiting front has been one of the most successful facets of this program in recent years. The 2022 Rice Football recruiting class hopes to continue on that newly established tradition of successes. This live tracker will follow all the latest news and updates through the day, with further updates on the class as its finalized. If you’re not a subscriber yet, here’s your chance.

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As we did during the Early Signing Period, we’ll have a Live Blog up and running with updates throughout the day. (Not a subscriber, we’ve unlocked this post to give you a flavor of what to expect — live updates, when we get them).

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Which newcomers are program-changing talents? Who is the diamond in the rough? More to come. For the time being, let’s dig into the latest from National Signing Day, below.

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Rice Football Recruiting: Grad LB Cam Dillon commits to Owls

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On the ever of National Signing Day, the 2022 Rice Football recruiting class has picked up a commitment from transfer linebacker Cam Dillion.

Getting a seasoned linebacker has been a priority for the 2022 Rice football recruiting class as it nears its completion. The Owls handed out several offers to players at the position in the final weeks between the Early Signing Period and National Signing Day. Columbia grad transfer Cam Dillion answered the call, committing to Rice in the hours before National Signing Day.

Dillon entered the Transfer Portal on December 10 weeks after finishing up his season which netted him Second Team All-Ivy honors at the linebacker position. Unlike many high school recruitments, there was no string of publicized offers made to Dillon along the way, just the final announcement on Tuesday evening.

Ivy League players often transfer to play out their final season of eligibility due to league rules. The universal COVID-19 waiver will give Dillon two extra seasons remaining upon his arrival to South Main.

The need for depth at the linebacker position became increasingly evident following the season when Rice lost several players at the position to the Transfer Portal following the season. Dillon will provide much-needed support to the Owls’ remaining corps of young linebackers featuring Myron Morrison, Aidan Siano, DJ Arkansas, Kenny Seymour and others.

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Dillon finishes his tackles, that’s one of the first thing that jumps off his film. He shows good range and great instincts when the ball is in the air. Linebackers are asked to wear a variety of hats in the Rice defense. He should be able to juggle those roles well. At the very least, he should be able to find a specialized role that emphasizes what the coaching staff feels he does best.

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Rice Football Recruiting: What to expect from 2022 National Signing Day

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The 2022 Rice Football recruiting class will be nearly complete on Wednesday. Here’s what we’re watching on National Signing Day and beyond.

National Signing Day is on Wednesday, February 2. As we did during the Early Signing Period, we’ll have a Live Blog up and running with updates throughout the day. (Not a subscriber, we’ve unlocked this post to give you a flavor of what to expect — live updates, when we get them).

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After the dust settles, there will be more. Make sure you’re subscribed to The Roost Podcast wherever you listen to your podcast and stay locked in here for further recruiting notes in the coming weeks. Our subscribers will get breakdowns of both sides of the balls well as details on how the new Owls will fit into the existing roster and who could make an immediate impact on the field this fall.

For those checking in for the first time, or those returning, a quick programming note. Recruiting updates like this are reserved for our subscribers. Get access to all practice notes, special features and more like this one when you subscribe on Patreon today.

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