(RB Dean Connors – Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB Dean Connors, WR Rawson MacNeill, WR Landon Ransom-Goelz, TE Boden Groen, OG Brant Banks, OG John Long, OT Ethan Onianwa, LB Chris Conti, LB Myron Morrison, LB Josh Pearcy, LB Plae Wyatt, CB/PR Sean Fresch, FS Gabe Taylor, SS Jonathan Jean, KR Quinton Jackson, PK Tim Horn, and PT Conor Hunt.
Key Players Departing:
QB JT Daniels, WR Luke McCaffrey (Commanders R3), OG Lavel Dumont, OT Clay Servin, DE De’Braylon Carroll, DE Coleman Coco, CB Tre’shon Devones, and CB Jordan Dunbar.
(QB Drew Devillier – Star Local Media)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: OT Chad Lindberg (Georgia transfer), QB Drew Devillier (Plano, Texas), DS LaVonte Johnson (Houston, Texas), QB EJ Warner (Temple transfer), LB Kaleb Blanton (Manvel, Texas), WR Owen Carter (Cypress, Texas), OT Luke Miller (Round Rock, Texas), RB Taji Atkins (Houston, Texas), EDGE Charles Looes (Dartmouth transfer), and OT Lane Jeffcoat (Centerton, Arkansas).
2023 Results:
G01 @ #11 Texas L 10-37
G02 HOUSTON W (OT) 43-41
G03 TEXAS SOUTHERN W 59-7
G04 @ South Florida L 29-42
G05 EAST CAROLINA W 24-17
G06 UCONN L 31-38
G07 @ Tulsa W 42-10
G08 #22 TULANE L 28-30
G09 SMU L 31-36
G10 @ UTSA L 14-34
G11 @ Charlotte W 28-7
G12 FAU W 24-21
BOWL vs. Texas State L 21-45
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 6-7 (6th in CUSA West)
Home: 4-3
Away: 2-3
Neutral: 0-1
CUSA: 4-4
Non-CUSA: 2-3
Head Coach: Mike Bloomgren
Rice: 22-46
Career: 22-46
Bowls: 0-2
(CB Sean Fresch – USA Today Sports)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: AJ Padgett (71-117, 721 yards, 60.7%, 6.2 avg.,8 TD, 6 INT)
Rushing: Dean Connors (121 car., 771 yards, 6.4 avg., 7 TD)
Receiving: Dean Connors (43 rec., 408 yards, 9.4 avg., 3 TD)
TD’s Scoring: Dean Connors (10)
Sacks: Demone Green (RS SO)
Tackles: Myron Morrison/Plae Wyatt (80)
Interceptions: Gabe Taylor (2)
Pass Deflections: Gabe Taylor (9)
Tackles For Loss: Josh Pearcy (7)
Forced Fumbles: 9 Tied (1)
Kick Returns: Quinton Jackson (17 ret., 393 yards, 23.1avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Sean Fresch (16 ret.,150 yards, 9.4 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Tim Horn (8-12 fg/fga., 67%, 47-47 xp/xpa., 71 pts.)
Punting: Conor Hunt (54 punts, 2123 yards, 39.3 avg., 7 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 13 EJ Warner (JR/TR)
RB: 0 Dean Connors (SR/TR)
WR: 80 Rawson MacNeill (RS SO)
WR: 17 Landon Ransom-Goelz (SO)
WR: 2 Kobie Campbell (SR)
TE: 14 Boden Groen (SR/TR)
LT: 75 Miguel Cedono (RS SO)
LG: 77 Brant Banks (GR/TR)
OC: 64 David Stickle (GR/TR)
RG: 69 Chad Lindberg (RS SR/TR)
RT: 78 Ethan Onianwa (RS JR)
KR: 16 Quinton Jackson (RS SO)
PK: 15 Tim Horn (RS SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 94 Charlie Looes (GR/TR)
NT: 75 Blake Boenisch (RS JR)
DE: 50 Izeya Floyd (RS SR)
LB: 5 Josh Pearcy (RS SR)
LB: 11 Chris Conti (RS SR/TR)
LB: 33 Myron Morrison (RS SR)
LB: 41 Plae Wyatt (RS JR)
CB: 1 Sean Fresch (RS SR)
CB: 13 Lamont Narcisse (RS JR)
FS: 26 Gabe Taylor (SR SR)
SS: 22 Jonathan Jean (RS JR)
PR: 1 Sean Fresch (SR)
PT: 23 Conor Hunt (RS SR/TR)
(OT Ethan Onianwa – Houston Chronicle)
Team Grades
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: B
Kicking: B
Punting: C
Schedule:
08/31 SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS | Rice leads the series 16-1. The Owls won (14-13) the last meeting between schools in 1993.
09/07 TEXAS SOUTHERN TIGERS | Rice leads the series 2-0. The Owls won (59-7) the last season’s meeting between schools, and they won (48-34) the inaugural meeting in 2021.
09/14 @ Houston Cougars | Rice trails the series 12-33. The Owls are 1-4 since restarting the series in 2017, and their last series loss (27-34) was in 2022.
09/21 @ Army Black Knights | The series is tied 4-4-1. The Owls lost (7-14) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
09/28 CHARLOTTE 49ERS | Rice leads the series 3-2. The Owls won (28-7) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (26-56) was in 2022.
10/12 UTSA ROADRUNNERS | Rice trails the series 3-8. The Owls are 1-8 since 2014, and their last series win (17-7) was in 2014.
10/19 @ Tulane Green Wave | First meeting between schools.
10/26 @ UCONN Huskies | Last season’s 31-38 loss was the first meeting between schools.
11/02 NAVY MIDSHIPMEN | Rice trails the series 2-4. The Owls lost (14-63) the last meeting between schools in 2009.
11/08 @ Memphis Tigers | The series is 2-2. The Owls lost (10-14) the last meeting between schools in 2012.
11/23 @ UAB Blazers | Rice trails the series 5-6. The Owls won (28-24) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/30 USF BULLS | Last season’s 29-42 loss was the first meeting between schools.
Predictions:
Home: 6-0
Away: 3-3
Neutral: 0-1
AAC: 7-1
Non-AAC: 2-3
Overall: 9-4 (2nd in AAC)
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