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Rice Football Recruiting: QB Lucas Scheerhorn commits to Owls

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The 2025 Rice Football recruiting class has added a transfer quarterback to its ranks. Kennesaw State triggerman Lucas Scheerhorn has committed to the Owls.

There was never going to be a rush to add just any transfer quarterback to the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class. Any potential candidate needed to fit the Owls’ scheme and have the prerequisite athletic ability to function at a high level within the offense. Rice found the man who fits both requirements: Kennesaw State quarterback Lucas Scheerhorn has committed to the Owls.

Scheerhorn played his high school ball at Klein Oak, not too far from South Main, and was recruited by head coach Scott Abell and his staff while they were at Davidson. Scheerhorn opted to go the FBS route, signing with Kennesaw State, which ran an option-oriented scheme at the time. He appeared in three games for the Owls, attempting three passes, operating as a reserve for most of the season.

Kennesaw State made a coaching change in November, moving on from Brian Bohannon and hiring former Rice football assistant Jerry Mack. With the coaching shift came a new offense, sending Scheerhorn and others to the portal, opening the door for him to return to Houston and finally sync up with Abell’s staff.

With four seasons of eligibility remaining, Scheerhorn will add depth to an inexperienced Rice quarterback room which includes Chase Jenkins, AJ Padgett, and Drew Devillier as well as signee Patrick Crayton Jr. 2026 quarterback Aiden Smalls committed this past week.

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Whether its the HUIDL film from high school or the practice tape from Kennesaw State, Scheerhorn possessions the mobility and ability to throw with power and accuracy down the field that make him an ideal schematic fit for this offense, something hard to find in the portal. Getting him to South Main with plenty of eligibility remaining is a nice pickup for Rice football as it attempts to reshape that room.

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Rice Football: OLB Josh Pearcy signs UDFA deal with Los Angeles Rams

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Rice football did not see any players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, but former outside linebacker Josh Pearcy has since signed with the Los Angeles Rams.

Pearcy was a mainstay for the Rice football defense over the course of six seasons on South Main. Initially beginning his tenure as a more traditional edge rusher with his hand in the dirt, Pearcy transitioned to more of an outside linebacker role over his final two seasons to showcase his versatility for NFL scouts.

While he wasn’t drafted Pearcy did impress enough to sign with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent. Rice announced the news on social media Saturday evening.

More: 2024 Rice Football Iron Man — Josh Pearcy

On his way to the NFL, Pearcy left Rice in the top 10 all-time in sacks and tackles for a loss, racking up most of those totals in his final three seasons as a full-time starter. His former teammate, Brant Banks, signed with the Green Bay Packers.

Rice Football recent NFL Draft history

Luke McCaffrey was a second-day selection of the Washington Commanders last season, coming off the board at No. 100 overall. He was the first Owl drafted since the Houston Texans selected Christian Covington in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Prior to Covington’s selection, the Owls had sent a steady flow of pros to the next level. From 2009 to 2015 eight Rice football players were selected: Jarret Dillard (2009), James Casey (2009), Cheta Ozougwu (2011), Scott Solomon (2012), Vance McDonald (2013), Luke Wilson (2013), Phillip Gaines (2014), Christian Covington (2015). McDonald was the highest selection, going No. 55 overall to the San Francisco 49ers.

** Photo credit: Maria Lysaker **
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Rice Football: OL Brant Banks signs UDFA deal with Green Bay Packers

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Rice football did not see any players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, but former offensive lineman Brant Banks has since signed with the Green Bay Packers.

Banks began his collegiate career at Nebraska before transferring to South Main before the 2023 season. There, he became a multi-year starter for Rice football, leading the entire team in offensive snaps in his first season, anchoring a line that experienced a myriad of shifting parts along the way.

Following the conclusion of his eligibility, Banks returned to Nebraska for his Pro Day workouts in hopes of catching on with an NFL team either via the NFL Draft or afterwards. The latter came true on Saturday when Banks signed as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers following the end of the draft. That news was first reported by Packers’ insider Zach Jacobson.

His former teammate, Josh Pearcy, signed with the Los Angeles Rams.

Rice Football recent NFL Draft history

Luke McCaffrey was a second-day selection of the Washington Commanders last season, coming off the board at No. 100 overall. He was the first Owl drafted since the Houston Texans selected Christian Covington in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Prior to Covington’s selection, the Owls had sent a steady flow of pros to the next level. From 2009 to 2015 eight Rice football players were selected: Jarret Dillard (2009), James Casey (2009), Cheta Ozougwu (2011), Scott Solomon (2012), Vance McDonald (2013), Luke Wilson (2013), Phillip Gaines (2014), Christian Covington (2015). McDonald was the highest selection, going No. 55 overall to the San Francisco 49ers.

** Photo credit: Maria Lysaker **
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2025 Rice Football Spring Transfer Portal Tracker

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The 2025 Rice Football spring practices are complete, and the Transfer Portal is officially open. Here’s the latest on who’s coming and going from South Main.

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Rice Football Recruiting: Slot Max Balthazar commits to Owls

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Another Transfer Portal addition is on his way to join the 2025 Rice football recruiting class. Coastal Carolina playmaker Max Balthazar has committed to the Owls.

Adding experienced playmakers on both sides of the ball is the ideal use for the spring Transfer Portal window and the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class has done just that. A running back at his previous stop who will line up as a slot at South Main, Coastal Carolina athlete Max Balthazar has committed to the Owls.

After a redshirt season in 2021, Balthazar started to grow his role at Coastal Carolina. He played in eight games in 2022 before appearing in every game the following season, seeing work as a rusher and receiver out of the backfield. Unfortunately, he would miss the entirety of his 2024 season with an injury before opting to enter the portal this spring.

A 5-foot-11, 205-pound back, Balthazar carried the ball 70 times for 352 yards (5.0 yards per carry) while catching 11 passes for 82 yards. That versatility makes him an ideal piece to transition to the slot. Before his addition, the Owls didn’t have anyone on the roster at that position of his size.

“I feel like I’ll fit in really well,” Balthazar told The Roost. “It’s an offense that puts the ball in their playmakers’ hands, and it’s tough to stop. I believe it’s going to be a lot of fun running this system.”

Balthazar is the third transfer addition of the spring cycle for Rice football so far. Earlier in the week, the Owls received commitments from SMU running back LJ Johnson and North Texas defensive tackle VJ Bronson.

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Balthazar says he views himself as “a very balanced back,” adding “I don’t believe I’m one dimensional.”

It only takes a cursory look at Balthazar’s tape to see the fit. He’s a physical runner who moves well in space. That will give head coach Scott Abell and the offensive staff another chess piece to work with as they work to assemble the offense in the fall.

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