The source for Rice sports news

Rice Football Recruiting: 2023 WR Drayden Dickmann commits to Owls

By

More speed is coming to the 2023 Rice Football recruiting class. Wide receiver Drayden Dickmann has committed to the Owls.

The fireworks continue at South Main as Houstonians prepare for the Fourth of July weekend. The latest boom for the 2023 Rice football recruiting front comes in the form of an in-state wideout from Georgetown, TX: Drayden Dickmann has committed to the Owls.

Dickmann had several offers at the time of his commitment to Rice. North Texas had thrown their hat in the ring, as had Navy, Army, Air Force and several Ivy League institutions. For Dickmann, Rice was home. “I loved the feel of it,” he told The Roost. “The campus, the area, the staff, the facilities, the current players. Everything there felt like home for me.”

Beyond the aesthetics and the atmosphere, Dickmann was drawn to the pro-style system. For Dickman, having offensive coordinator Marques Tuiasosopo calling the shots was exciting. Coach Tui hasn’t been afraid to take shots over the top in his time as the Owls’ OC. Dickmann is a burner who can and will run past opposing defensive backs. This pairing should be an exciting one.

Dickmann is the second wideout in the fold so far, following Byron Nelson (TX) receiver Landon Ransom who committed to Rice two weeks before Dickmann arrived at his decision.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

The raw speed jumps out from Dickmann’s highlights as soon as you hit play. He plays at a velocity that just can’t be taught. And at 5-foot-10 and 169 pounds, he won’t be a pushover wherever he lines up relative to the line of scrimmage. Dickmann moves well and has game-changing ability, something the Owls will always welcome to South Main.

Become a Patron!
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting: 2023 P/K Reese Keeney commits to Owls

By

The first specialist is on board in the 2023 Rice Football recruiting class. Punter/Kicker Reese Keeney has committed to the Owls.

Scholarships for specialists don’t grow on trees. That’s what makes the most recent commitment to the 2023 Rice football recruiting class most notable. A dual-skilled punter and kicker, Farragut (TN) product Reese Keeney has committed to the Owls.

Keeney was one of two specialists that picked up offers from the Owls this month. He quickly took Rice up on their bid, making his pledge official two weeks later.

Noted kicking specialist Chris Sailer had high praise for Keeney. In Sailer’s profile on Keeney, he calls him “an outstanding kicker” who “hits a clean ball and easily has 50+ yard range.” He also noted that Keeney “excels at directional punting” and can handle kickoffs as well.

The kicking game was an adventure for Rice football last fall, so the renewed emphasis on finding a longer-term solution at the position seems prudent. Rice brought in several options for the 2022 season, but isn’t leaving the future to chance, either.

Keeney is the 14th commitment in the 2023 Rice football recruiting class that has picked up significant steam this summer. He’s the first — and likely last — specialist.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

For those who don’t spend hours grinding punter and kicker tape, the highlights should suffice. Keeney puts his field goals between the pipes and boots his punts down the field.

During his junior season, Keeney averaged 39.5 yards per punt with a long of 62 yards. He placed 15 of his 40 punts inside the 20. He’s converted 74-of-76 extra-point tries (97.4 percent) in his high school career and made 6-of-12 field goals (50 percent), including a long of 43 yards this past season.

Become a Patron!
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting: 2023 DL Chris Clark commits to Owls

By

The 2023 Rice Football recruiting class added its first defensive pledge in the trenches. Defensive lineman Chris Clark has committed to the Owls.

After stockpiling a small army along the offensive front, the focus of the 2023 Rice football recruiting class has pivoted back toward the other side of the football. With five offensive lineman already committed, Rice has landed their first pledge from a defensive lineman in this cycle. Furr High School product Chris Clark has committed to the Owls.

Clark was initially offered by Southeast Missouri on May 12, but picked up his Rice offer shortly afterward on May 17. He also had offers from Air Force and Alabama State by the end of June when he decided he was ready to pull the trigger and proclaim his allegiance to Rice.

The addition of Clark wraps up one of the most productive June recruiting months in recent Rice football recruiting history.

The 2023 Rice football recruiting class picked up six public commitments in throughout the month, even though MacArthur CB AJ Stephens, the first commitment of the month, didn’t announce his decision until June 9. The remaining five commitments transpired in the span of 15 days. The class now sits at 13 commitments.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

While Clark’s offer list isn’t too exciting, his film speaks for itself. For a man of his size (6-foot-6, 251 pounds, he flashes some burst. Clark profiles as an interior player at the collegiate level, but he told The Roost he’s comfortable lining up everyone along the line and particularly enjoys playing defensive end.

Watching him combine speed power and some nimble feet to find ways into the offensive backfield is exciting. Clark is versatile, a coveted trait among the Rice coaching staff and one that should serve him well at South Main in the future.

Become a Patron!
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football 2022 Season Preview: Tight Ends

By

As part of our 2022 Rice Football Preseason Preview series, this week we’ll dive into the tight end position and discuss the Owls’ plans for that group on the offense this season.

The tight end position has played a pivotal role in the Rice football offense, which is rooted in the old Stanford scheme that saw the rise of playmakers at the position like Zach Ertz, Coby Fleener, Austin Hooper and Dalton Schultz. NFL talent at the position certainly makes things easier, but that’s not the only factor that might see this position group utilized slightly differently than they’ve been in years past. Here’s our 2022 Tight End Preview.

Rice Football Preseason Preview: Check out the rest of the series here.

This piece is part of our 2022 Rice Football Season Preview. Get access to it, as well as all other preview posts such as positional breakdowns, depth chart and schedule analysis and more when you subscribe on Patreon today. New subscribers get our Conference USA Football Season Preview for FREE! 

Subscriber content.<br /> Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.
Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football: What to expect from the kicking game — Patreon Q&A

By

The kicking game was an adventure for Rice football last season. Will it be better this year? We tackle that question in this month’s Patreon Q&A.

Rice football made five field goals last season, the fewest in all of college football. Their 45.5 percent conversion rate on their 11 tries was dead last in the FBS. Quite literally, there is nowhere to go but up. But what does that look like? We tackle what Rice has done to address the kicking game in this month’s Patreon Q&A.

Subscriber content.<br /> Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.

For those checking in for the first time, or those returning, a quick programming note. Special features like this are reserved for our subscribers. Have questions? You can get those answered in our monthly Q&As and get access to all practice notes, recruiting updates and features like this one when you subscribe on Patreon today.

Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts