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Rice Football 2023: NFL Owls Regular Season Roundup

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Rice Football was well represented on 2023 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.

Team NFL Owl(s) This Week Result Playoffs
Denver Broncos Elijah Garcia (DL) at Raiders L, 27-14  —
Detroit Lions Jack Fox (P) vs Vikings W, 30-20  vs Rams (WC)
Indianapolis Colts Kylen Granson (TE) vs Texans (Sat) L, 23-19  —
Los Angeles Rams Austin Trammell (WR) at 49ers W, 21-20  at Lions (WC)
New England Patriots Calvin Anderson (OL) vs Jets L, 17-3  —
Pittsburgh Steelers Chris Boswell (PK) at Ravens (Sat) W, 17-10  at Bills (WC)
Seattle Seahawks Myles Adams (DL) vs Cardinals W, 21-20  —
Tampa Bay Bucs Nick Leverett (OL) at Panthers W, 9-0  vs Eagles (WC)

Offense

Calvin Anderson – OT, Patriots

Anderson appeared in five games for the Patriots this season, making two starts including the season opener against the Eagles. He was active for the final nine games of the regular season but did not see action down the stretch.

Kylen Granson – TE, Colts

Granson posted career highs in starts (seven), targets (50), receiving yards (368) and caught his first NFL touchdown this season. His celebratory photoshoot drew plenty of laughs.

Nick Leverett – OT, Buccaneers

Leverett was active for the Bucs in every game this season, but only saw action on three occasions, participating with the special teams unit.

Austin Trammell – WR, Rams

Trammell became an everyday player for the first time in his professional career, serving as the Rams’ primary return specialist this season. He returned six kicks for 101 yards and 25 punts for 183 yards. He also caught four passes, including three on a career-best offensive outing against the Seahawks.

Defense

Myles Adams – DL, Seahawks

Adams was in and out of the Seahawks’ lineup this season, serving as one of the primary alternatives in cases of injuries or emergencies. He made one start (week 15 against the Titans) and got his first career sack (Week 4 against the Giants), as well as playing several snaps on special teams.

Elijah Garcia – DL, Broncos

Garcia was active in three games for the Broncos, all at the beginning of the season. He picked up his first career sack in his final appearance, a Week 5 game against the Jets.

Jack Fox – P, Lions

Fox compiled another productive season in Detroit, punting 57 times with a 46.4-yard average with a long of 70 yards which came in Week 2 against Dallas. His 21 returnable punts ranked sixth fewest in the league among full-time punters.

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

Boswell made 29-of-31 field goals this season, with one block and one miss from 40+. He was perfected from 39 yards and inward. He also delivered 27-of-28 successful extra points.

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

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Rice Football 2023 Offensive Newcomer of the Year: Boden Groen

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A JUCO transfer in his second year on campus, Boden Groen broke through in a major way to become our 2023 Rice Football Offensive Newcomer of the Year.

Spring ball and fall camp often serve as proving grounds for up-and-coming players. The fresh faces have their moments in the sun, earn a spot on the depth chart and, eventually, get their chance to produce on Saturday. Translating those practice successes to game day is the biggest challenge, but tight end Boden Groen did so with ease. He’s our 2023 Rice Football Offensive Newcomer of the Year.

Groen made his Rice debut in 2022, catching nine passes across 12 games as he worked to fully integrate himself into the Owls’ scheme after transferring from Saddleback College where he played the year prior. It was a somewhat inconspicuous start for a tight end presumed to be stuck behind multi-year starter Jack Bradley on the depth chart, but while he might have flown under the radar of spectators, the Rice coaching staff and his teammates were watching.

The first rumbles of Groen’s impending emergence began in the spring. The drum beat was unmistakable. “Boden Groen is a different player right now than he was last fall,” head coach Mike Bloomgren said in the spring. “The confidence he has, it’s pretty cool. He knows what he’s doing. He’s playing fast. He’s playing hard.”

If that wasn’t a strong enough endorsement, starting quarterback JT Daniels made a point to praise Groen in his comments following the conclusion of the spring game. “I wish more people took note of Boden,” Daniels said. “I think he’s going to be an absolute killer at the Y and F spot.”

At that point, Groen was flying under the radar no longer. Garnering the attention and praise of your head coach and star quarterback before that trio ever took the field together is hard to ignore. Then came fall camp where Groen took that buzz and grew it into a chorus.

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“He can run at his size. Those guys are hard to cover,” offensive coordinator Marques Tuiasosopo said of Groen’s skillset. “The ability for that position to run-block and threaten the middle of the field with athleticism and speed, that is a game-changer.” And finally, “We think Boden can be in that [Travis Kelce] mold for us in this conference.”

When the games arrived, expectations were mounting. Groen responded by leading the team in receptions in the season opener against Texas. He built on that with at least one reception, usually more, in every game of the season. The only other Rice player to achieve that in 2023? Star wide receiver Luke McCaffrey.

Groen scored his first collegiate touchdown against Tulane. A few weeks later he had a multi-touchdown performance against Florida Atlantic, propelling the Owls to their sixth win and bowl eligibility. With the season on the line and McCaffrey pulling copious amounts of attention, Groen was the clear No. 2 option in the passing game.

In fact, Groen finished the season second among all AAC tight ends with 37 receptions and third with 376 receiving yards. Those 37 catches were the most by a Rice football tight end since Vance McDonald in 2011. His yardage total was the highest since McDonald in 2012.

More: 2023 Rice Football Iron Man — Clay Servin

Through it all, Groen stayed calm and humble. “Our coaches put together a great scheme every week,” Groen said. “And every week, I know that they’re going to call plays that are going to get me open, they’re gonna get Luke [McCaffrey] open, they’re going to get Dean [Connors] open.”

Coincidentally, that trio (Groen, McCaffrey and Connors) represented the top three pass catchers for Rice football this season. That’s a strong start for Groen to build on in 2024.

* Photo Credit: Maria Lysaker *
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Rice Football Recruiting: JUCO LB Blaise Tita commits to Owls

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The 2024 Rice Football recruiting class picked up another transfer this week. JUCO linebacker Blaise Tita has committed to the Owls.

The first junior college transfer in the 2024 Rice Football recruiting class is officially in the fold. A local product who played his high school ball just down the road at Alief Taylor High School, Killgore Junior College linebacker Blaise Tita has committed to the Owls.

Tita spent the 2022 season with Lamar, initially playing sparingly before finishing the season with 19 tackles in his final three games. From there he transferred to the JUCO level, looking for a bounce back. When he reentered the portal this offseason he had received offers North Alabama, Southeastern, Mississippi Valley State and Abilene Christian. Then Rice swooped in and sealed the deal.

“It’s truly a blessing,” Tita told The Roost. “I can’t wait to make the most of it.”

Tita is the first commitment since the early signing period when Rice formally announced 13 additions to their program. He’s the second linebacker in the class and should pair well with incoming freshman Kaleb Blanton. Tita has at least two seasons of eligibility remaining, with the potential for a third.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker.

Tita is always ready to deliver a big hit. A quick look at his play from his stint at Lamar makes that abundantly clear. And unlike a perfectly cut up highschool highlight reel, Tita’s season’s worth of action at Lamar lays his play out in the open. He’s aggressive and instinctive and appears to have some range. Rice football definitely knows what it wants from an outside linebacker at this point. Tita fits the bill.

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The Roost Podcast | Ep 171 – Rice Football Season Review and Signing Day

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It’s time to put a bow on the 2023 Rice Football Season as we recap the bowl game loss, break down signing day and more.

There are bad quarterback days, and then there’s the sort of disastrous day Rice football experienced in the First Responders Bowl against Texas State. The end result stung and there’s a lot to unpack. Where does Rice go from here? And how do we make sense of that game? Also, some closing thoughts on the season as a whole and a look at the Owls recent signing class.

You can find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 171.

Episode Notes

DCTF

The Roost Podcast is now part of the Dave Campbell’s Republic of Football Podcast Network. You’ll still get the same content with the same hosts, but now under the DCTF banner.

Homefield

We’re thrilled to partner with Homefield Apparel, the premier proprietor of college football clothing. First-time buyers can use the code ROOST for 15% off their order. The Owls hoodie is a personal favorite. So is the brand new Luv-Ya-Owls shirt. Shop the Rice collection or pick up something else (or both)!

Homefield

Patreon

Get exclusive insight on Patreon. Be the first to get the inside scoop on what’s going on with Rice football and stick around for even further analysis. That includes practice updates, analysis and more. Your support matters and makes The Roost better.

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Rice Football End of Season Review

  • What went wrong for the Owls in the bowl game?
  • Can we write off the anomalously bad quarterback play and what needs to be fixed?
  • Did the defense quietly post its most impressive outing of the season?
  • The most encouraging moments from the season
  • Reasons to be concerned moving forward
  • Highlights from the 2024 Rice Football recruiting class and more

Where can you find us?

The Roost Podcast is part of the Dave Campbell’s Republic of Football Podcast Network. You can find this podcast and all of our partner podcasts on Apple, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.ri

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The Roost’s 2023 Rice Football Season Superlatives

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The Roost’s 2023 Rice Football Season Superlatives exist to honor exceptional Owls who made a difference on the field this season. Here’s the complete list.

There were many individual performances worth recognizing in the 2023 Rice Football season. In addition to the more traditional awards below, make sure to check out The Roosties, our fifth annual award show from The Roost Podcast, which features a different angle of honors. From our favorite plays to the players that surprised us the most, we cover some of the more creative superlatives on the show. This list comprises the more traditional recognitions.

Iron Man — OL Clay Servin | Full Story

Excerpt: “Four of those five players transferred before their senior season. The fifth, offensive lineman Clay Servin, stuck with the program for the long haul, sticking with Rice football from that point onward through the next six seasons. In the era of the Transfer Portal which has made player movement more possible than ever before, Servin has been the rock Rice football has built on for more than half a decade.”

Offensive Newcomer of the Year — TE Boden Groen | Full Story

Excerpt: “When the games arrived, expectations were mounting. Groen responded by leading the team in receptions in the season opener against Texas. He built on that with at least one reception, usually more, in every game of the season. The only other Rice player to achieve that in 2023? Star wide receiver Luke McCaffrey.”

Defensive Newcomer of the Year — DE Coleman Coco | Full Story

Excerpt: “Always the first to credit his coaches for his growth and his teammates for an assist that set up a big play, Coco’s energy was contagious. It seemed impossible to be morose or downtrodden when he was next to you and his mentality permeated the locker room. No matter the score or the situation, Coco was convinced Rice would come out on top. And he hasn’t stopped preaching that message.”

Rising Star — RB Dean Connors | Full Story

Excerpt: “With the Owls’ backs against the wall, in need of two wins in two weeks to clinch bowl eligibility, Connors delivered a combined 33 carries for 259 yards, the best two-game stretch of his entire career. Rice won both games and made it to the postseason, thanks in large part to Connors’ efforts.”

Special Teams Player of the Year — Peyton Stevenson | Full Story

Excerpt: “The blocked punt score was the first for the Owls since Sam McGuffie in 2012. It was Stevenson’s second blocked kick of any kind, a first for any Rice player since Christian Covington blocked a pair of kicks in 2013. Already in rarified air amongst Rice history, Stevenson was one of just four players in the country this season to have blocked both a punt and a place kick.”

Defensive Player of the Year — Sean Fresch | Full Story

Excerpt: “Fresch began the season strong, tallying three pass breakups in the Owls’ upset win over the Houston Cougars and leading a secondary that would go on to finish second in the AAC in yards per game allowed through the air. Fresch started every game and provided a spark on special teams with his dynamic punt return abilities. Opposing defenses didn’t key in on him anymore. In fact, they started going the other way.”

Offensive Player of the Year — Luke McCaffrey | Full Story

Excerpt: “Three years ago, McCaffrey committed to Rice football with aspirations to play quarterback. He leaves South Main as one of the most productive wide receivers the school has ever seen. McCaffrey was a team captain and a leader, someone his teammates and the entire coaching staff leaned on in big moments. Time and time again, he delivered.”

Team MVP — JT Daniels| Full Story

Excerpt: “Daniels led a run-first team, with an explosive back in Dean Connors, to the top of the AAC leaderboard in passing. He took a team that hadn’t beaten crosstown rival Houston in 12 years to a thrilling overtime victory, the only Power 5 win by an AAC program in the regular season. Lastly, with Daniels leading the charge, Rice football reached six wins and a bowl game, their second-consecutive postseason trip.”

Check out the 2022 Rice Football Season Superlatives here.
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