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Rice Football Madness: The Owls’ best team in program history

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In lieu of March Madness and the lack of a bracket for the hardwood, we’ve put together one to determine the best Rice Football team in program history.

There have been many great Rice football teams throughout the years, but there can only be one champion. We’ve seeded the top 16 in a head-to-head bracket. Cast your votes on the form below. Voting closes daily at noon. We’ll be conducting one round of votes each day this week and crowning our champion on Friday. May the best team win!

More: Calvin Anderson joins The Roost Podcast (Oct. 2019)

Sweet 16

1) 1949 vs 16) 2001

Led by Jess Neely, the 1949 team (10-1, 6-0 SWC) finished its season as Cotton Bowl Champions, beating No. 19 North Carolina to cap off the first 10-win season in program history. The Owls were voted No. 5 in the nation in the AP Poll, the highest finish in program history. Notable victories included: No. 10 SMU, No. 10 Texas and No. 9 Baylor.

Led by Ken Hatfield, the 2001 team (8-4, 5-3 WAC) started the season 6-1 with wins over rival Houston, Duke, Hawaii, Boise State, Navy and Nevada. Those were the June Jones days of the Rainbow Warriors and the beginnings of the Broncos’ dynasty.

2) 1953 vs 15) 2006

Led by Jess Neely, the 1953 team (9-2, 5-1 SWC) went on to finish No. 6 in the nation, routing Alabama in the Cotton Bowl 28-6. Dicky Meagle set a single-season school record, averaging 7.31 yards per attempt rushing. The Owls lone losses came by a combined 11 points. Their wins were louder. Rice beat No. 15 Florida, No. 17 Baylor, Texas and TCU.

Led by Todd Graham in his lone season in Houston, the 2006 team (7-6, 6-2 C-USA) got off to a painful 1-5 start. Then the Owls righted the ship, winning their last six regular season games including a double-overtime contest against Tulsa. Rice would as the runner-up in the C-USA West, an impressive lead from the inauspicious start.

3) 2013 vs 14) 1996

Led by David Bailiff, the 2013 team (10-4, 7-1 C-USA) won the Owls’ only Conference USA Championship, defeating Marshall in the title game. Taylor McHargue and Charles Ross paced the offense while Christian Covington patrolled the defensive side of the ball.

Led by Ken Hatfield, the 1996 team (7-4, 6-2 WAC) finished second in the Mountain Division. The highlight of the season was a 51-10 thumping of then No. 20 Utah with Mike Fouts at quarterback. That year three different Owls had 100 or more carries with Chad Nelson leading the team with 801 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.

4) 2008 vs 13) 1961

Led by David Bailiff, the 2008 team (10-3, 7-1 C-USA) made a dramatic jump from Bailiff’s first Rice team in 2007. The 2008 Owls won seven more games, finishing tied for first place in the C-USA West and beating Western Michigan in the Texas Bowl. With Chase Clement at quarterback, the duo Jarett Dillard and James Casey was arguable among the best receiving combos in the nation.

Led by Jess Neely, the 1961 team (7-4, 5-2 SWC) boasts the program’s only trip to the Bluebonnet Bowl, then hosted at Rice Stadium. The Owls did not win the game, but they had a few other notable victories that season. including an upset of No. 5 LSU in their season opener.

5) 1946 vs 12) 2014

Led by Jess Neely, the 1946 team (9-2, 5-1 SWC) won the conference and finished the season No. 10 in the AP Poll. The Owls lost a 7-6 nailbiter to LSU on opening day before reeling off 9 victories in their final 10 games including an Orange Bowl win. Notable victories included: No. 3 Texas, No. 8 Tennessee.

Led by David Bailiff, the 2014 team (8-5, 5-3 C-USA) finished second in C-USA West despite an 0-3 start. The Owls rallied as soon as senior wideout Jordan Taylor re-entered the lineup. With Taylor on the field, Rice finished the season 7-2, highlighted by four separate 100-yard outings from Taylor.

6) 1937 vs 11) 1957

Led by Jimmy Kitts, the 1937 team (6-3-2, 4-1-1 SWC) won the Owls’ second SWC title in four seasons, rebounding from season opening losses to Oklahoma and LSU to finish the remainder of the year 6-1-2. Rice closed the season with a Cotton Bowl win over No. 16 Colorado. Notable victories included: No. 12 Auburn, No. 16 Arkansas.

Led by Jess Neely, the 1957 team (7-4, 5-1 SWC) won the SWC, riding All-American quarterback King Hill to one of the most exciting season finishes the home crowds at Rice Stadium have ever seen. Rice beat No. 12 Arkansas, No. 1 Texas A&M and Baylor in November to set up another trip to the Cotton Bowl.

7) 1934 vs 10) 1917

Led by Jimmy Kitts in his first season at the helm of the Owls, the 1934 team (9-1-1, 5-1 SWC) won the SWC for the first time in program history. Their seven-game winning streak is still tied for the third-best winning run in school history. Notable victories included: Purdue, SMU, Texas and Texas A&M.

Led by Phil Arbuckle, the first Rice football coach in program history, the 1917 team (7-1, 1-1 SWC) defeated Texas for the first time in school history and won their first seven games. The Owls’ tenacious defense allowed zero first downs against Austin College, still the fewest in school history.

8) 1919 vs 9) 1942

Led by Phil Arbuckle, the first Rice football coach in program history, the 1919 team (8-1, 3-1 SWC) marked the most victories the Owls had ever has in a single season. That mark would not be broken until 1934. Team captain Shirley Brick would become the first-ever Rice player selected to receive All-SWC honors.

Led by Jess Neely, the 1942 team (7-2-1, 4-1-1 SWC) finished second in the SWC, their highest conference finish since 1919. That season, the Owls celebrated victories over LSU, Arkansas, No. 18 TCU, Baylor and SMU. Their only loss to a Texas-based school came at home against No. 15 Texas in a close one, falling 12-7.

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Rice Football Recruiting 2021 Commitment Tracker

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The 2021 Rice football recruiting class is beginning to take shape. Here’s where the class currently stands with live updates with each commitment.

Follow every offer and commitment, get insight and analysis on the class and so much more on our official Rice Football Recruiting Tracker, available now for subscribers. Subscribe here for access.

Player Pos. Hometown Commit Date
DJ Arkansas LB Denton, TX 4/14/2020
Desmyn Baker LB Clinton, MS 12/16/2020
Blake Boenisch DL Needville, TX 3/9/2020
Jake Constantine QB Weber State [Transfer] 1/5/2021
Jayden Folmar WR Dothan, AL 11/20/2020
Jalen Hargrove DL Wallingford, CT 11/13/2020
Jaggar Hebeisen TE Colleyville, TX 4/6/2020
Shawqi Itraish QB Bradenton, FL 6/16/2020
Jojo Jean CB Lakeland, FL 11/30/2020
John Long OL Lampasas, TX 10/14/2020
Elroyal Morris DL Houston, TX 4/24/2020
Ethan Onianwa OL Katy, TX 4/30/2020
Tre Patterson WR New Mexico [Transfer] 12/19/2020
Faaeanuu Pepe OL Orange, CA 3/8/2020
Kenny Seymour LB Houston, TX 3/11/2020
Aidan Siano LB Prosper, TX 3/12/2020
Peyton Stevenson WR Demopolis, AL 9/17/2020
Michael Taaffe CB Austin, TX 11/5/2020
Connor Welsh FB Birdville, TX 11/12/2020
Marcus Williams Saf Hoover, AL 8/17/2020
Joshua Williams Saf Linden, AL 7/31/2020
Cal Varner DE Katy, TX 12/11/2020

*Denotes an early enrollee

This is the latest verbally committed players for the Rice Football 2021 recruiting classes. The list will be updated to reflect the Owls’ current commitments as information comes in. More information on the 2020 Rice Football recruiting class is available here. 2019 class information can be found here.

Each profile was written at the time of the commitment. Some secondary details may have changed, but player information and analysis remains relevant. As available, each profile will include relevant highlights and news regarding each recruit.

Important dates to know

The early signing period takes place in mid-December. The Owls expect the majority of their 2021 class to sign at that time, as has been the case in both the 2019 and 2020 classes under Mike Bloomgren. Recruits who don’t sign will wait until National Signing Day which falls on the first Wednesday of February.

What if this list doesn’t match a major recruiting service?

Recruiting services such as 247 and Rivals typically prioritize the highest ranked players. It’s not uncommon for 2-star and even 3-star players to not be accounted for immediately. The delay could become even more significant following 247’s changes to their recruiting model in 2019. Players won’t be considered for their composite ranking until they get a ranking by 247 themselves. For these reasons, The Roost list is the best list.

All football recruiting updates are maintained on our recruiting page. More timely updates can be found by following The Roost on Twitter and Facebook. Have questions? Reach out on either of those platforms, post in The Aviary, or shoot us a message using the contact form.

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Rice Football Recruiting: 2021 LB Aidan Siano commits to Owls

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Linebacker Aidan Siano from Prosper, Texas has committed to the Owls. He’s the fourth member of the 2021 Rice Football recruiting class.

It’s been an eventful spring around the world. And while some things matter much more than football, the Owls have done their due diligence on the recruiting front. Rice has done all they can to ensure the future remains bright at South Main. Those efforts have focused on the 2021 Rice Football recruiting class, which is now adding a new member.

Aidan Siano, a linebacker from Prosper, Texas, has committed to the Owls. That’s the fourth commitment of this recruiting cycle following the earlier additions of offensive lineman Faaeanuu Pepe from Orange, CA, defensive lineman Blake Boenisch from Needville, TX and fellow linebacker Kenny Seymour from Fort Bend Marshall in Houston.

Siano follows Seymour as the second linebacker in the class. Both were early offers in January who have stayed in close contact with the Rice coaching staff throughout the process. Siano was back for spring practice and has been trending in the Owls’ direction for a while. Now he’s taken the step and gone all in.

After positive initial first impressions, everything else he saw at South Main continued to reinforce that this was the place for him.”Playing the best football and getting the best education was a no brainer,” Siano said of his decision, adding that he was happy to commit early in the cycle so that he can “focus on improving for this coming season and helping bring other players to the best college in the country.”

Before he takes the field, Siano is prepared. He’s a film junkie. “Being able to identify a formation and anticipate what play is coming is a huge way I set myself up [for success],” he said.

On the field, Siano is relentless. He’s aggressive at the point of attack, but nimble enough to shed blockers at the line of scrimmage and find the football. His “Football IQ” sets him apart from many of his peers. He’s the kind of player you trust to diagnose and react to plays as they develop. Then he goes and makes the tackle, from sideline to sideline.

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Rice Football Recruiting: 2021 LB Kenny Seymour commits to Owls

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Linebacker Kenny Seymour from Fort Bend Marshall has committed to the Owls. He’s the third member of the 2021 Rice Football recruiting class.

The commitment train has not slowed down for the 2021 Rice Football recruiting class. Rice had no commitments in the class entering March. Over the course of a week, they’ve picked up three. Offensive lineman Faaeanuu Pepe from Orange, CA was first. Defensive lineman Blake Boenisch from Needville, TX was next. The Owls’ third pledge in four days on Wednesday came with the commitment of Houston’s own Kenny Seymour from Fort Bend Marshall.

Seymour is the first linebacker in the class and one of the Owls’ most sought-after candidates at the position. Like the prior two commitments, Rice was the first FBS program to offer Seymour, extending him an invitation to come play at South Main in mid-January. He later received offers from Dartmouth, Penn and Air Force.

The effectiveness with which Rice football recruiting is able to land their targets is second to none. Seymour marks the third of the Owls’ first two dozen offers to commit to Rice. The bulk of those offers (and commitments) came in the last eight weeks.

Seymour’s draw to the program was strong from the start. He cited the trajectory of the program as one of the reasons he knew Rice was the place for him. “The mindset of the players [is] cohesive with the coaching staff,” he said. “The trajectory is going up… and fast.”

On the field, there’s a lot to like about Seymour’s game. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker moves like he was fired out of a canon. He’s a tremendous tackler in the open field and an aggressive pursuer. He has a knack for finding the ball carrier, and he has the size and strength to take him down. He’ll slide into one of the insider linebacker spots when he arrives on campus.

The Rice linebacker room is one of the deepest on the team. Adding the right pieces at the position, like Seymour, will make them a mainstay on the defense for years to come. Seymour welcomes the opportunity and the competition. “I have every bit of faith that the [coaching staff] will set me up for success,” he said. His knowledge of the game and ability to process plays quickly and confidently will both serve him well at the next level.

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Rice Football Recruiting: 2021 Defensive Lineman Blake Boenisch commits to Owls

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The 2021 Rice Football recruiting class is growing quickly. After a recent visit to campus, defensive lineman Blake Boenisch has committed to the Owls

Sometimes good things come in waves. Two days before Blake Boenisch committed the 2021 Rice Football recruiting class was a blank slate, waiting for prospective Owls to add their names to the list. On Sunday March 8, offensive lineman Faaeanuu Pepe made his pledge. He was the first of multiple new Owls to make their decisions public.

Less than 24 hours after Pepe came on board the Owls added another big man in the opposite trenches. Needville offensive lineman Blake Boenisch has committed to Rice Football. This 6-foot-4, 300-pound bruiser is the latest in a growing line of torchbearers for the Intellectual Brutality culture being established one man at a time.

Like Pepe, Rice was the first to extend an offer to Boenisch. That offer came on National Signing Day while the staff was putting the finishing touches on their 2020 haul. One of the Owls’ primary targets in their current class, Boenisch reciprocated the Owls’ interest following his visit during spring practices. He hit it off with defensive line coach Cedric Calhoun and came aboard soon afterward.

Boenisch prides himself on his strength in the trenches. “I’m best at just out-powering the opponent,” he said. His walk matches his talk, check out Boenisch deadlifting 625 pounds.

https://twitter.com/JamesSmithey10/status/1228154862514376704

Boenisch’s strength is part of what endeared him to the Rice coaching staff. For him, it was the atmosphere and the energy of the program as a whole. “I just loved the vibe at practice,” Boenisch said, adding that he “loved how much energy [the team] had” on the field.

When it comes to defensive lineman, particularly ones that play inside like Boenisch, moving people is the primary objective. Getting past the line and wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks is the icing on the top. Boenisch brings that kind of athleticism.

Take a quick peek at his highlights below. He takes up space, forces mistakes and knows where to put his hands to add an extra layer of protection. Boenisch is going to be a great fit at South Main.

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