The first Transfer Portal addition to the defensive trenches in the 2026 Rice Football Recruiting has landed. Former Eastern Washington edge Tariq May has committed to the Owls.
The first wave of commitments to the 2026 Rice Football recruiting class came at quarterback and defensive back, but the Owls weren’t stopping there. Fortifying the pass rush was important, too, and they’ve officially taken their first step in that direction in the Transfer Portal this cycle. Former Eastern Washington edge Tariq May has committed to the Owls.
May is a fascinating addition. Lightly recruited out of high school as an athlete, May began his college career at tight end before switching over to defense in the spring of his second season. That’s where he been ever since, seeing his first collegiate action this fall at defensive end. May appeared in 10 games, registering two sacks and eight tackles.
With May on board, the 2026 class is starting to take shape as the cycle begins to wind down and the portal closes. He joins on the same day Rice football picked up commitments from linebacker Jesus Machado (Houston) and corner Jamir Benjamin (UCLA).
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Readily available highlights are harder to find in the MAC, and while six year old high school film might not be indicative of what type of player Rice football is getting, watching May dazzle as a wide receiver should show just how athletic and versatile of a player he is. There’s upside here if the staff can get the most out of him.
