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Rice Football Recruiting: Kicker Conor Hunt commits to Owls

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The 2022 Rice Football recruiting class isn’t done yet. Days after National Signing Day, the Owls have picked up a commitment from kicker Conor Hunt.

Head coach Mike Bloomgren made a point to note the 2022 Rice Football recruiting class was not complete when he stood in front of the microphone on National Signing Day to discuss the Owls’ newest crop of signees. It only took a few days from that address for Rice to add another important piece to the fold, picking up a commitment from Georgetown transfer kicker/punter Conor Hunt.

Special teams were a disaster for Rice football last season. The return game had its bright spots, but the Owls connected on 5-of-11 field goal attempts, demoting starting kicker Collin Riccitelli midway through the season in favor of Elon transfer Christian VanSickle who hadn’t attempted a field goal in a collegiate game prior to lining up for a 41-yard attempt against Southern Miss.

Riccitelli is no longer on the roster. VanSickle is. But the Owls made it clear by their willingness to go for it on fourth down rather than settle for even a moderately long field goal they needed help at the position

Hunt will join Washington transfer Tim Horn and walk-on Enoch Gota in a three-way battle for the starting kicker job. His experience as a punter will also push Charlie Mendes, who regressed in both average distance and net distance last season.

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Hunt made 7-of-12 field goal attempts for the Hoyas last season, hitting from a long of 45-yards with one kick blocked. He punted 48 times, averaging 41.7 yards per punt with nine punts of 50 yards or longer. His versatility has the potential to be invaluable to the Owls who need to shore up the kicking game headed into the 2022 season.

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The Roost Podcast | Ep 105 – 2022 Rice Football National Signing Day Review

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The 2022 Rice Football recruiting class took one more step toward completion this week. Who are the new Owls and how do will they fit in?

The Roost Podcast is back after a short break to discuss the 2022 Rice Football recruiting class. Our last episode weighed in on the Early Signing Period, but the Owls have added six new names to the fold since then and might have a few more spots available. Matthew and Carter talk through those names and address a few big-picture questions that still remain.

Check out full updates on every position, including breakdowns of the offense as well as the defense and special teams when you subscribe on Patreon.

You can find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 105.

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 updates from fall camp, practices and more.
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  • 2022 Rice Football Recruiting Class – We talk about the six new additions since the Early Signing Period plus discuss some farther-reaching topics such as:
    • Reviewing the new signees since the Early Signing Period
    • The shift towards Transfer Portal players
    • Remaining gaps in the Owls’ roster heading into the spring
    • Luke McCaffrey moving from quarterback to wide receiver
    • Changes to the Rice football recruiting staff and its impact on the program

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.

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Rice Football Recruiting: Breaking down the 2022 signees – Defense, Sp. Tms.

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The 2022 Rice Football Recruiting class is anchored in the defensive trenches with a top-flight playmaker in the secondary.

Rice signed 12 players during the Early Signing Period and added five more on National Signing Day. Of those players, nine are current high school seniors and five of them play on the defensive side of the ball as well as one specialist, the focal positional areas of this update.

We’ve gone position by position breaking down each new Owl and how where they project to fit for this program moving forward.

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

Defensive Line (2) – Davion Carter, Chibby Nwajuaku
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Last updated on 2/2/2022 to reflect National Signing Day additions
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Rice Football Recruiting: Breaking down the 2022 signees – Offense

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The 2022 Rice Football Recruiting class packs a punch with a host of offensive skill players that promise to have bright futures at South Main.

Rice signed 12 players during the Early Signing Period and added five more on National Signing Day. Of those players, nine are current high school seniors and 11 of them play on the offensive side of the focal point of this update. We’ve gone position by position breaking down each new Owl and how where they project to fit for this program moving forward.

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

Quarterback (1) – AJ Padgett

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Last updated on 2/2/2022 to reflect National Signing Day additions
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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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