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Rice Football Recruiting: LB Ty Thames commits to Owls

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After several additions on offense, the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class picked up a defensive stopper. Linebacker Ty Thames has committed to the Owls.

In a week that saw the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class haul in a number of new additions, it was the offensive side of the ball that saw the largest influx. Not to be left out, the defense has grabbed an impact player too. Wimberley linebacker Ty Thames has committed to the Owls.

Thames plays football and baseball at the high school. While he tells The Roost he’d be “honored to help the Owls in two places” if the chance presents itself, he’s fully committed to the football team at this moment in time. It sure looks like Rice will be able to utilize his skills on the gridiron.

The Owls were the first football offer for Thames, who fell in love with the program during his time on campus for an official visit this month. “The atmosphere was awesome,” he said. “You could really tell everyone loved what they were doing.”

Thames marks the 12th commitment in the 2025 class so far, nine of which have come in the past week. It’s been quite the run of recruiting success for the Owls’ program which looks to continue to bolster its future roster.

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On the field, Thames is a hitting machine. The linebacker loves contact and told The Roost, “Physicality is definitely the best part of my game.” That jumps out when you turn on the tape.  Thames is aggressive and quick with good range and a willingness to deliver the big hit. In a scheme that relies on linebackers who can be agile, yet strong, Thames projects to be a good fit.

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Rice Football Recruiting: QB Gavin Parkhurst commits to Owls

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The 2025 Rice Football recruiting class has its signal caller. All Saints Episcopal quarterback Gavin Parkhurst has committed to the Owls.

It’s always a good day when you get your guy. The 2025 Rice Football recruiting class punctuated their impressive run of new commitments this week with the addition of their QB1. All Saints Episcopal (Fort Worth) quarterback Gavin Parkhurst has committed to the Owls.

At the time of his commitment, Parkhurst held offers from Sam Houston and Incarnate Word, among others. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound passer wasted no time with his decision, making his pledge following his visit to campus where he was able to spend time meeting and bonding with a host of other targets and eventual commits.

Parkhurst was wowed by the atmosphere within the team, calling this program one of the most “invested” he had visited so far. Parkhurst also made it clear to The Roost the degree to which he believes in the direction the team is headed right now.

“From my perspective, you can tell Rice is going to do something special in the next few years,” he said.

Time with offensive coordinator Marques Tuiasosopo to review the intricacies of the offensive and discuss how Parkhurst’s talents mesh with the sort of things Rice wants its quarterback to be able to do was icing on the cake. Parkhurst left campus feeling encouraged. “I feel like my play style fits perfect for the Rice offense,” he said.

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Parkhurst’s tape is a fun watch. In addition to the arm strength and the ability to make plays with his feet, he’s an accurate passer with incredible field vision. His ability to create off-schedule has become more and more of a necessity in today’s game. Adding top-end athleticism to the mix further adds to the upside a player like Parkhurst can reach.

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Rice Football Recruiting: OL Colter Alberding commits to Owls

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More reinforcement up front is on the way for the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class. Allen offensive lineman Colter Alberding has committed to the Owls.

Many of the surnames in the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class will be new to fans. This most recent addition won’t. Allen offensive lineman and Rice legacy Colter Alberding has committed to the Owls.

Colter is the son of defensive lineman Shawn Alberding, a standout defensive lineman for the Owls in the early 1990s. He won the Jess Neely award, given annually to the team’s top defensive lineman, on two occasions. His son will follow in his footsteps, albeit on the other side of the line of scrimmage.

Colter picked Rice over offers from Texas State, Marshall, Tulsa, Arkansas State and others.

A tackle in high school, the plan as of now is for him to transition to the interior of the line at the next level. The Rice staff views him as a potential option at center in the long-term.

Wherever he lines up, Alberding told The Roost he’s excited about the direction the program is already headed. “I also like how Rice has been consistently improving over the years,” he said. “I wanted to be a part of the group to put Rice on the map again.”

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Even for those who don’t grind offensive lineman tape every day, Alberding stands out on film. That’s what elite high school linemen are supposed to do. He’s a people mover in the trenches who uses his 6-foot-3, 296-pound frame to make room in the run game and protect his quarterback. He’ll be starting from a strong foundation when he arrives on South Main.

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Rice Football Recruiting: TE Will Swartz commits to Owls

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Another impact offensive player has joined the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class. Hargrave tight end Will Swartz has committed to the Owls.

The recent run of commitments for the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. The program has added players on both sides of the ball, raking in future difference-makers as they go. That includes Hargrave tight end Will Swartz, who committed to the Owls this week.

Swartz chose Rice over offers from UTSA and Arkansas State in yet another head-to-head win over an in-state rival, a common theme among players the Owls have added in the last week.

When it came down to it, Swartz cited the people at Rice as one of his biggest deciding factors. “Everywhere you go at Rice people want you to succeed,” he told The Roost. “From professors to coaches to other players, it’s all around just great genuine people who want to see you flourish.”

A participant in the official visits on campus in mid-June, Swartz didn’t take long to make up his mind. He will be enrolling early next spring, the next in a relatively new high school early enrollment program the Owls launched last year.

Swartz joins fellow tight end Luke Tevis in the class, giving the Owls a tandem of players at the position to serve as building blocks for a unit that continues to grow. The 2025 group already has pledges from multiple offensive linemen, wide receivers and a quarterback.

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When asked to describe his style of play, Swartz delivered this all-timer of a response. “I’m definitely a big-bodied tight end who loves to block,” he said. “There’s no better feeling to me than to move someone against their will.” That toughness and physicality shine through in his film. He’s a reliable pass-catching option, too.

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Rice Football Recruiting: OL Erben Birkhoff commits to Owls

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The 2025 Rice Football recruiting class is bolstering its haul in the trenches. Tompkins offensive lineman Erben Birkhoff has committed to the Owls.

In a pro-style scheme, you can never have enough offensive linemen. Every successive Rice football recruiting class brings in a few big-bodied men in the trenches and the 2025 group is no exception.  That theme was prevalent in the program’s recent run of commits which included Katy Tompkins offensive lineman Erben Birkoff.

Birkoff chose Rice over an offer he received from UTSA last summer. Rather than head west to San Antonio, the Houston native will be sticking close to home for his collegiate career. Birkoff told The Roost that proximity did play a role in his decision.

“Rice is close to home,” he said, “I love the coaching staff and the players. They made it feel like I have a second family away from home.”

Birkoff was one of the many who were impressed with the recent runs of recruiting weekends on South Main. He soaked in the atmosphere at his official visit and committed publically just a few days later. He becomes the third offensive lineman in the 2025 class, joining Colter Alberding, another commitment this week, and Cole Principe who has been in the fold since early late April.

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There’s a lot to like about Birkhoff’s game when you turn on the tape. The 6-foot-4, 285-pound trench warrior is rather quick on his feet, considering his size, and moves well in space. That’s an asset that will serve him well in the Owls’ running scheme, especially after some time in the weight room with Hans Straub and company. Add in some position flexibility with experience at guard and tackle and you get a strong prospect the Owls are excited to get.

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