The source for Rice sports news

Rice Football 2025 Spring Practice Notebook 8: Defensive Takeaways

By

Now led by defensive coordinator Jon Kay, the Rice football defense made strides this spring. Here are a few things that stood out the most.

The Rice football defense lost a lot of leaders to graduation this offseason. Having a familiar face in Jon Kay take over as the coordinator helps, but there was still plenty of dust to knock off as the Owls went through spring practices over the last several weeks. With new staff and new players, the program had plenty to work on from a defensive perspective.

More: Rice Football Spring Game Takeaways

“I think there’s a fair amount of new,” Kay said, addressing those changes during the offseason. This spring practice review tackles some of that new, some of the old and takes a more holistic look at what this side of the ball looks like with spring practices complete.

Ty Morris, you’re up

Subscriber content. Please login to see the full post or visit our Patreon page.
Sorry! This part of content is hidden behind this box because it requires a higher contribution level ($10) at Patreon. Why not take this chance to increase your contribution?
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting: DE Sam Carrell commits to Owls

By

More depth in the defensive trenches is on its way. Former Texas Tech defensive end Sam Carrell has committed to the Owls.

Spring is the season to make sure the roster is ready for the year ahead and with the program light in the defensive trenches, adding at least a couple of defensive linemen to the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class. That group gained another member this week. Texas Tech defensive end Sam Carrell has committed to the Owls.

Carrell’s college football career began as an offensive lineman at Washington State before he transferred to Texas Tech following a redshirt season with the Cougars and flipped to the defensive side of the ball. He split time between defensive end and outside linebacker with the Red Raiders across three seasons, primarily playing a support role and entering the Transfer Portal this spring.

When it came to arriving at South Main, Carrell credited the staff and the scheme, first and foremost calling head coach Scott Abell and defensive line coach Ty Warren “the kind of people I want to play for,” crediting the staff with establishing a unit that allows him to “play confident and free.”

Carrell’s commitment comes amidst a run of recent defensive additions for the Owls in the portal. North Texas defensive lineman VJ Bronson committed a few days prior and Oregon State safety Jack Kane announced his pledge on the same day. That’s a lot of experience added to the roster in a short window of time.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

At 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, Carrell certainly has the frame to play on the line in this scheme. He’ll slide in as a pass rusher off the edge, providing another veteran hand in a room in need of depth. “I’m very proud of my versatility, strong hands, and pass-rush ability,” Carrell told The Roost.

Become a Patron!

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting: SAF Jack Kane commits to Owls

By

A veteran presence in the secondary is joining the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class. Oregon State safety Jack Kane has committed to the Owls.

Adding experience to a defense replacing so many veterans was paramount as the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class bolstered its members before the upcoming season. A veteran from the Pac-12 ranks, Oregon State safety Jack Kane has committed to the Owls.

“I think coach Abell is a coach that knows how to win and knows how to do it right,” Kane told The Roost. “You can tell from the men and women in the building that he is a great leader and person. There’s something special about a staff that comes from so many different areas and are this connected over football.”

A former walk-on, Kane earned his scholarship prior to this past season, which proved to be his most productive collegiate season thus far.

Kane appeared in 31 games for Oregon State over the last three seasons, growing his role significantly following a redshirt season in 2021. Most recently, he racked up 32 tackles last season and led the Beavers with two interceptions. Getting contributors this late in the transfer cycle is encouraging, but landing someone with the level of experience and talent of Kane in late April is particularly noteworthy.

With Kane on board, the spring recruiting haul is up to six new faces from the portal ranks, including two others on defense: North Texas defensive lineman VJ Bronson and Texas Tech defensive lineman Sam Carrell.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

Perhaps the biggest perk of a player with the level of experience of Kane is the ability to be in the right place at the right time and make the plays in front of you. Kane’s interception against UNLV from earlier this season showcases just that. He’ll be a tremendous fit in the Owls’ defensive scheme.

“I’m hoping to bring some experience and excited to meet the guys and learn with them,” he said. “The defense dominated last year and the stats prove that. I want to help elevate the standards and grow as much as possible with defense to dominate again this upcoming season.”

Become a Patron!

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

Rice Football Recruiting: QB Lucas Scheerhorn commits to Owls

By

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.

Premium: Rice Football Recruiting Offer and Commitment Tracker

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.

Become a Patron!

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts

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

By

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 **
Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

Recent Posts