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Rice Football: Jersey numbers revealed for incoming freshman class

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The incoming Rice football freshman is one step closer to taking the field for the first time. The new Owls have been assigned jersey numbers.

The past few months have been unique for everyone. The incoming Rice football freshman class has been no exception. In a more traditional offseason, each player would have received a virtual copy of the playbook and instructions to study up before they got to campus for summer workouts. Their understanding would have been primarily driven by their own study and willingness to get ahead of the curve.

The virtual learning environment brought about in response to the COVID-19 pandemic allowed for those freshmen to mee with their teammates. In many ways, they’ve had more exposure to the program and the scheme than any class has had before them. Rather than begin their learning cover in earnest over the summer, the incoming class had a significant head start.

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With voluntary workouts set to begin soon, Rice football players and staff will begin to arrive on campus. That will include the 27 true freshmen that Rice will add to the team for the 2020 season. Here are the jersey numbers for those newcomers:

6. Griffin, Khalan (RB)
13. Narcisse, Lamont (CB)
14. Kamper, Nate (TE)
16. Doddridge, Jonah (S)
23. Tawa, Casey (WR)
25. Dunbar, Jordan (CB)
25. Mason, Andrew (WR)
26. Taylor, Gabe (S)
27. Awe, Andrew (LB)
28. Campbell, Kobie (RB)
29. Fresch, Sean (CB)
34. Ellis, Terreance (LB)
40. Reeves, Jalen (DE)
41. Wyatt, Plae (S)
42. Hibbard, Brian (FB)
44. Hargon, Geron (LB)
52. Nutter, Braedon (OL)
53. Leone, Mike (OL)
61. Witt, Harry (OL)
69. Lovell, Payton (OL)
72. Phillippi, Trey (OL)
81. Chappelle, Caleb (WR)
83. Wallace, Ryan (WR)
89. Haack, Michael (WR)
95. James, Caleb (DT)
98. Heitmann, Van (DE)
99. Latos, Cole (DE)

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Rice Football Recruiting: Owls add Richmond transfer TE Andrew Tsangeos

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The 2020 Rice football recruiting class has added a grad transfer from the FCS. Former Richmond tight end Andrew Tsangeos will play his final season with the Owls.

The 2020 football season is currently proceeding as planned. The Owls are managing their affairs as if they’ll play a game on September 3 against Houston. Part of those preparations includes filling out the roster with players the staff believes can help the team this season. To that end, the Rice staff has paid careful attention to the Transfer Portal in recent weeks, looking for the final pieces of the 2020 Rice Football recruiting class.

Former Richmond tight end Andrew Tsangeos is the newest such addition. Tsangeos has committed to the Owls as a graduate transfer for the upcoming season after spending the past four years in the FCS ranks.

Tsangeos cited the “intelligence, passion, and commitment of the coaching staff especially Coach Monfiletto and Coach Bloomgren” as a key reason for his decision. Adding that the staff “cares about their players as more than just athletes, but as men too.”

The Roost Podcast: Listen now to our Extended Offseason Interview Series

Tsangeos was a former high school quarterback who signed with Richmond prior to the 2015 season. He redshirted his freshman year, eventually moving to the tight end position. His first meaningful action came as a junior in 2018 when he played 10 games, catching eight passes for 90 yards. He added six receptions for 57 yards during his senior season.

Along the way, Tsangeos started a total of three games in his junior and senior seasons. He won’t be a starter for Rice, but his experience playing meaningful minutes for a traditionally strong FCS program will pay dividends at South Main.

Rice will use Tsangeos in a variety of ways. A converted quarterback, his adaptability and versatility will not go unnoticed. He’s a trustworthy blocker who will spend a lot of time playing on the line of scrimmage. He’ll also have the requisite flexibility to be split out in the slot when needed.

Tsangeos, who recently arrived in Houston, said the team has “welcomed [him] with open arms” and that he “felt like [he] fit in with the family right away.” He joins former Boston College wide receiver Christian McStravick as post-signing day additions to the 2020 class. McStravick’s commitment came earlier in the summer.

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The Roost Podcast | Ep. 37 – UAB Football Preview with Evan Dudley

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The Roost Podcast welcomes UAB Football beat writer Evan Dudley and gets his perspective on the Blazers and their expectations for 2020.

The first stanza of our Extended Offseason interview series has come to an end. To this point, we’ve welcomed mostly Rice-centric guests, from World Series Champion Anthony Rendon to repeat guest an avid MCU fan Christian Covington. If you’ve missed an episode or are just joining us, make sure you give those a listen on the podcast page or anywhere you get your podcasts.

This week we shift forward toward the return of college football. Part 2 of our Extended Offseason series will pivot toward the gridiron. Each week we’ll welcome a new guest familiar with the Owls’ upcoming opponents. We start this week with Evan Dudley, UAB beat writer from AL.com.

Give a listen to our chat with Evan on Episode 37.

Episode 37 Notes

  • Housekeeping — Thanks to all of you who have followed the show on Twitter and left a review on iTunes. It’s quick, but it makes a difference. Make sure you follow Evan Dudley on Twitter and let him know you enjoyed having him on the pod.
  • George Floyd — The murder of George Floyd has sparked important, meaningful conversation in our nation. After getting to know JP Heath and Nate Griffin over the past several years, their interview on The Texas Porch Podcast speaks to the situation better than either Matthew or Carter could. We recommend giving that show a listen.
  • Rice news — Rice announced return to campus plans on Thursday. Read more detail on the announcement here. Matthew and Carter discuss the ramifications of bringing athletes back, testing and more.
  • Evan Dudley joins the show — Dudley shares his insight on UAB under the direction of Bill Clark and what to expect from the Blazers in 2020, including:
    • How long will Clark stay at UAB?
    • Tyler Johnston and hope for the UAB offense
    • How will the Blazers replace departing stars on defense?
    • Takeaways from the shortened spring practice
    • The first edition of the Lightning Round

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: Owls announce return to campus timeline

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Rice Football has a plan to return to campus and the athletic department has announced its plan to reengage amid COVID-19 concerns.

Rice football, soccer, volleyball and men’s and women’s cross country teams have a plan to return to campus. The Roost has confirmed those athletes will be tested as part of pre-participation COVID-19 screening on Thursday, June 11. Voluntary workouts are scheduled to begin on June 17.

As far as the logistics go, student-athletes will be organized into sport-specific workout groups. Those groups will be assigned times for conditioning work and medical treatments. Everyone entering the facilities will be required to wear a face covering expect for during the scheduled workouts. Sports medicine staff will wear masks as well as all strength and conditioning staff members.

Athletic Director Joe Karlgaard detailed the process in a statement:

“We are excited to welcome our local, fall sport student-athletes back to campus for voluntary workouts. Our staff has worked very thoughtfully on a plan that promotes safety and allows for mitigation in the event of any positive occurrences of the virus. We hope June 17 marks the beginning of our transition to having all of our student-athletes successfully return for fall semester.”

For the time being, the Owls’ first game is still scheduled to kick off on Thursday, September 3 against Houston. As of Tuesday, the Cougars do not plan to test their athletes unless they exhibit symptoms of the virus.

The Roost Podcast: Listen now to our Extended Offseason Interview Series

When addressing that subject earlier in the summer, Karlgaard noted the decision to plan for the upcoming football season was intentional. “We have to proceed as if we’re going to have those seasons because you can’t do the reverse,” he said, citing the immense challenges that would arise should teams seek to organize a game that had been canceled on short notice.

Establishing a return to campus plan had to come first. Rice football has achieved that milestone. The rest will follow in the coming weeks and months. Stay tuned as the situation develops. Further details are available here.

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Rice Football: Owls cautious with return to campus plans

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Rice football decision-makers are currently evaluating a plan to return to campus. When that will be and what it will look like remain to be seen.

The future of college football is as uncertain now as its ever been, but a light has seemingly appeared on the horizon. The NCAA opened the door for college athletes to return to campus in June. That decision came after nearly a 3-month hiatus from all university athletic facilities. What that looks like, and when it will occur, vary from conference to conference and school to school.

The SEC opted for a uniform decision. League presidents voted to allow athletes to return to campus starting June 8 for voluntary workouts. Conference USA has left it up to each member institution. The Houston Cougars open their facilities across town for their student-athletes on June 1.

The ramifications of decisions of this kind rose to the forefront quickly. Three Marshall players tested positive for COVID-19 upon their return to campus. Outside of Conference USA, five Alabama players tested positive for the virus after interacting with roughly 50 players who had also returned to campus.

The Roost Podcast: Listen now to our Extended Offseason Interview Series

On May 29, Rice Athletic Director Joe Karlgaard issued an update on the Owls’ decision-making process in that area:

Speaking of return to campus, the NCAA has approved student-athletes to return to their respective campuses on a voluntary basis beginning June 1. We have not yet set a date for our own return to campus and will work with Rice leadership to ensure we can bring back our staff and student-athletes as safely as possible. We remain on track to begin our fall sports seasons on time, but with a rapidly changing and fluid situation, we are also prepared to make calendar adjustments as necessary.

The Owls are going to be cautious about this. The positive test results from other schools add to the reason for concern.

“We have to make the best decisions that we can when we’re required to make them with the information we have on hand knowing that information could change tomorrow,” Karlgaard said following the release. He added that he feels “really good about where we are and our approach.”

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