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Rice Football Recruiting: DT Dillan Botts commits to Owls

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The 2025 Rice Football Recruiting class gained some reinforcements in the trenches. Mary Hardin-Baylor transfer defensive lineman Dillan Botts has committed to the Owls.

Following a high school-centric Early Signing Period, the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class continues to pick up steam from Transfer Portal additions this winter. The latest hails from the DIII ranks. Sought after Mary Hardin-Baylor defensive tackle Dillan Botts has committed to the Owls.

Botts still racked up seven tackles for a loss and three sacks as a sophomore last season for Mary Hardin-Baylor, a longtime DIII powerhouse. Upon entering the portal he drew offers from the likes of Boise State, Texas State, North Texas and others. After time to consider his options, Botts chose South Main.

“The academic opportunities, degree and resources available at Rice can prepare you for the future,” Botts told The Roost regarding why he was drawn to Rice. “Also, the family atmosphere is unmatched.”

Botts played up and down the line last season but projects as primarily an interior player in the Rice defensive scheme which has historically been willing to take advantage of versatile players later Botts, who told The Roost he prides himself on that versatility and his ability to stop the run.

With Botts in the fold, Rice has quietly stockpiled an array of transfer commitments with the spring semester slated to begin soon. That includes a pair of offensive linemen, two defensive backs, a receiver and a former all AAC kicker.

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Whether one looks back at Botts’ high school film or the limited clips available from his time at Mary Hardin-Baylor, there’s a lot to like. For someone who stands 6-foot-2 and 270 pounds, he moves quickly and meets would-be blockers with power. Getting a veteran presence in the defensive trenches was a must this offseason and Botts looks to have all the tools to fill that role.

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Rice Football Recruiting: OL Sean Sullivan commits to Owls

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The Ivy League pipeline is paying dividends for the 2025 Rice Football Recruiting picks. Yale transfer offensive lineman Sean Sullivan has committed to the Owls.

Over the years Rice Football recruiting has reaped the benefits of Ivy League rules which restrict graduate students from participating in sports. That’s left many high academic football players searching for the right fit for their final season of college football. This time, it’s a Yale product making his way to South Main. Former Yale Bulldog offensive lineman Sean Sullivan has committed to the Owls.

Sullivan credited the vision of head coach Scott Abell with his decision to head to Houston. “Coach Abell is awesome and has been in this situation before, as a first year head coach,” Sullivan told The Roost. “I think he’s got a really good vision of how to succeed in this conference.”

Sullivan is a veteran in the trenches who has played up and down the line, everywhere but center. That versatility will come in handy as head coach Scott Abell and his staff look to piece together the strongest front five they can this coming season. For the time being, Sullivan says he expects to play tackle.

The fifth transfer in this cycle so far, Sullivan joins UTSA kicker Chase Allen, JUCO defensive backs Jerrick Harper and Jo Chavez and former Cincinnati wide receiver Aaron Turner.

With so many moving parts along the offensive line and the departures of many veteran players, landing someone with the experience of Sullivan was crucial for this class. Sullivan appears ready to step into those big shoes. “I’m excited for the opportunity and ready to get to work,” he told The Roost.

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Being able to move people and (quickly) move yourself is crucial for offensive linemen Abell’s offensive scheme and Sullivan certainly flashes those traits on film.

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Rice Football 2024: NFL Owls Regular Season Roundup

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Rice Football is well represented on 2024 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls in action this season.

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

TeamNFL Owl(s)This WeekResultPlayoffs
Detroit LionsJack Fox (P)
Myles Adams (DL)		vs Vikings (SNF)W, 31-9BYE
Indianapolis ColtsKylen Granson (TE)vs JaguarsW, 26-23 (OT) —
Jacksonville JaguarsAustin Trammell (WR)at ColtsL, 26-23 (OT) —
Arizona CardinalsNick Leverett (OL)vs BillsW, 47-24 —
New York GiantsElijah Garcia (DL)at EaglesL, 20-13 —
Pittsburgh SteelersChris Boswell (PK)
Calvin Anderson (OL)		vs Bengals (Sat)L, 19-17at Ravens (Sat)
Washington CommandersLuke McCaffrey (WR)at CowboysW, 23-19at Bucs (Sun)

Special Teams

Jack Fox – P, Lions

Fox and Boswell were both selected to the NFL Pro Bowl this offseason, marking the first time Rice football has had multiple players selected for the Pro Bowl since 1961.

As for Fox, he punted 45 times for 2,295 yards, an a staggering average of 51 total yards and 46.2 net yards per punt, second and first in the league in those marks, respectively. He also converted a fake punt this season, throwing for 17 yards on the pass.

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

Boswell went 41-of-44 on field goals this season, leading the league in scoring and tying for the fifth most points by a kicker in league history. He was three made field goals shy of the NFL record for field goals in a season (44) set by David Akers in 2011. Boswell’s only misses this season came from 62 yards, 58 yards and a blocked 42 yard try.

Offense

Calvin Anderson – OL, Steelers

Anderson played a reserve role for the Steelers this season. After joining the team in Week 4 he was active for every remaining contest, seeing action in four games.

Nick Leverett – OL, Patriots and Cardinals

Leverett began the season with the Patriots and saw action in each of the team’s first five games before being released. He was subsequently signed the the Cardinals practice squad before being elevated to the active roster and making his Arizona debut in their regular season finale against the 49ers.

Luke McCaffrey – WR, Commanders

A third round pick by the Commanders in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCaffrey caught 18 passes for 168 yards during the regular season. He also made an impact on special teams, returning 10 kickoffs for 299 all purposes yards.

Austin Trammell – WR, Jaguars

Trammell signed to the Jaguars practice squad this offseason and was promoted briefly to the active roster in November where he was immediately pressed into action. He caught two of three passes thrown his way against the Eagles that week before reverting back to the practice squad where he finished the season.

Kylen Granson – TE, Colts

In his fourth season with the Colts, Granson made six starts, catching 14 passes for 182 yards and playing in all 17 games.

Defense

Myles Adams – DL, Seahawks and Lions

Adams began the season with the Seahawks, playing in three games before he was waived in November. He immediately signed with the Lions and was elevated to the active roster, playing in four of the Lions’ final five games of the season and registering his first sack of the season.

Elijah Garcia – DL, Giants

Garcia made his 2024 debut with the Giants in Week 13 shortly after being elevated from the practice squad. He played in the final five games of the season, making three starts and recovering this game-sealing fourth quarter fumble to secure a win over the Colts. He finished the year with 14 tackles.

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 details on current contractual agreements and former Rice football players waiting for their next opportunity here.

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Rice Football Recruiting: K Chase Allen commits to Owls

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The 2025 Rice Football Recruiting class has its specialist. UTSA transfer kicker Chase Allen has committed to the Owls.

Head coach Scott Abell has continues to add to the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class through the transfer portal. He’s supplemented a large high school signing class with several Transfer Portal additions, so far, including this newest veteran addition from among the special teams ranks. Former UTSA kicker Chase Allen has committed to the Owls.

Allen served as UTSA’s primary kicker during the 2023 season, originally transferring to San Antonio from Alabama, where he served as the Crimson Tide’s kickoff specialist in 2020. With the Roadrunners in 2023, Allen made 13-of-15 field goals and all 49 of his extra point attempts, leading the AAC in field goal percentage and finishing among the Top 15 in the country in that mark. He was named second-team all-conference for his efforts.

In 2024 he made 4-of-9 kicks before ceding the job to Tate Sandell who would finish off the season. Allen leaves UTSA with a career 75 percent field goal percentage (18-of-24).

The addition of Allen immediately fills a gap opened when Landon Schaffer, who had committed to the Owls’ previous staff, opted to decommit from the program. He’ll presumably compete with Enoch Gota and Reese Keeney in the Rice special teams room. Adding someone like Allen that has all-conference honors as a kicker in this conference on his resume is a really nice pickup this winter.

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Allen is the fourth transfer addition to the class at this point. He joins JUCO defensive backs Jerrick Harper and Jo Chavez as well as former Cincinnati wide receiver Aaron Turner.

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Rice Football 2024 Offensive Player of the Year: Matt Sykes

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The last man standing in the wide receiver room this season, Matt Sykes is our 2024 Rice Football Offensive Player of the Year.

A year removed from a one-catch season, Matt Sykes was expected to enter the fall as, at best, the fourth option in the Owls’ passing game. Instead, he became the go-to guy and the somewhat surprising 2024 Rice Football Offensive Player of the Year.

The journey from a second-string receiver to the Owls’ No. 1 downfield target was almost meteoric and came almost as much by necessity as by ability. Even still, Sykes had to seize the opportunity and make the most of it, and reality that proved more and more necessary as the injuries around him began to snowball.

Between the spring and the start of fall camp, Landon Ransom suffered an injury that would keep him out for the season. Florida transfer Thai Bowman made it one practice in camp before a lower-body injury sidelined him for the better portion of two months. Even still, Sykes was far from a lock to be the starting outside “X” receiver until Rawson MacNeill went down at the end of camp.

By the time Rice football opened its 2024 season it was Sykes — who had one Rice reception to his name at that point — who had emerged as the must trustworthy receiver for new starting quarterback EJ Warner.

More: 2024 Rice Football Season Superlatives

Sykes led the team in receiving in their opening game against Sam Houston. He caught his first touchdown with the Owls the following week against Texas Southern. Then, after a quiet two-catch game against Houston, Sykes took off in earnest, hauling in six or more passes in seven of the Owls’ final nine games.

Sykes’ emergence right around the start of conference play coincided with a meaningful step forward in the team’s offensive production. It was also around this time it became clear no more reinforcements were on their way. Bowman would be the only receiver expected to make a return during the year and even his reinsertion into the lineup was far from a sure thing.

The task of reinvigorating the offense fell to the few healthy weapons left in the passing game, Sykes at the forefront among then once again when tight end Boden Groen suffered an injury that would keep him out for the remainder of the year, another dose of bad news in a receiving corps that was running out of bodies.

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The SOS was answered emphatically by Sykes who delivered a walk-off touchdown reception against UTSA, one of 52 receptions he registered against AAC opponents, the most by any pass catcher in the conference by seven grabs. He averaged 78.9 yards per game in league play, finally surpassing the century mark in his final game, a 118-yard performance against South Florida on Senior Day.

Sykes wasn’t as flashy as Luke McCaffrey and he didn’t post the absurd touchdown tallies that Bradley Rozner did a few years prior. But he was consistent, reliably answering the call and helping a wounded offensive move the ball when all other external factors seemed to be against them. He was rewarded with AAC Honorable Mention status for his efforts, underappreciating just how impactful he was for this team.

Meant to be a reserve, Sykes led Rice football in receptions, yards and receiving touchdowns. He more than doubled the production of the next most active receiver alongside him, emerging from obscurity when his teammates needed him most. Dean Connors was the engine that made this offense go, but Sykes was the conductor that kept it on the tracks.

** Photo Credit: Maria Lysaker **
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