Mike Bloomgren and staff capped a hectic early recruiting effort on Wednesday, adding 17 players who will join the Owls for the 2019 season.



"The thought process when putting this class together was very simple… find guys that love football, that want to be gym rats, that want to be here all the time to put in whatever it takes to find "w's" on Saturdays. Find guys who play in the box on defense and guys we can move up front on offense and impose our will. I wanted to find guys who fit our style, guys who have the ability to help us pound the rock, control the clock and play great defense. That's what we feel we did," Bloomgren said.



The 17 players represent eight states, nine from Texas, two each from California and New Jersey and one each from Connecticut, Iowa, Louisiana and North Carolina. In his first two recruiting classes, Bloomgren has added players from 11 states in addition to Texas.



The class is made up of 16 high school seniors along with two junior college standouts (Bradley Rozner & Naeem Smith) and one graduate transfer (Nick Leverett) who will join the Owls in January for the start of the second semester.



2019 RICE OWLS FOOTBALL EARLY SIGNEES

NAME POS HT WT HOMETOWN (SCHOOL) Jake Bailey S 5-10 175 San Clemente, CA (St. John Bosco) Adrian Bickham RUSH 6-3 200 Angie, LA (Varnado) Garrett Braden OLB 6-2 215 New Canaan, CT (New Canaan) Jack Bradley TE 6-5 230 Dallas, TX (Bishop Lynch) Izeya Floyd DT 6-2 305 Frisco, TX (Reedy) Hunter Henry S 6-1 201 Austin, TX (Lake Travis) Zach Hoban K 6-0 160 West Orange, NJ (Seton Hall Prep) Hunter Jones C 6-3 270 Stockton, CA (Saint Mary's) Jawan King RB 5-10 210 Atlanta, TX (Atlanta) Zane Knipe WR 5-11 170 Houston, TX (Lamar) Joshua Landrum CB 5-10 155 Cedar Hill, TX (Cedar Hill) Nick Leverett OL 6-4 312 Salisbury, NC (North Carolina Central) Kirk Lockhart S 5-11 170 Cedar Hill, TX (Cedar Hill) Josh Pearcy OLB/DE 6-2 210 Moorestown, NJ (Moorestown) Regan Riddle OG 6-1 284 Dallas, TX (Highland Park) Bradley Rozner WR 6-5 190 Needville, TX (Cisco JC) Naeem Smith S 5-11 195 Iowa City, IA (Ellsworth JC)

Two-way standout for the nation's second-ranked high school team under coach Jason Negro… Caught 46 passes for 809 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior slot receiver and had 101 catches for 1,647 yards and 15 touchdowns in his career… Credited with 25 tackles, three interceptions, three pass breakups and one fumble recovery in his career.All-District 8-1A performer for coach Anthony Hicks as a defensive end and outside linebacker and tight end… Helped the Wildcats finish fourth in the district… Earned all-district honors as a junior as well, leading Varnado to the Class 1A state quarterfinals and finishing 8-4… Plays small forward and power forward in basketball… Also competes in track, running the 110-meter hurdles, the 300 hurdles in addition to throwing the discus.All-State and all-conference selection for head coach Lou Marineli as a senior as New Canaan reached the Class LL state title game… Defeated top seed Shelton in the first round of the playoffs… Credited with 70 tackles as a senior (45 solos) and had seven sacks, broke up five passes, forced a pair of fumbles and recovered one… Finished his career with 200 tackles (120 solos), 25 sacks, 15 pass breakups, six forced fumbles and a pair of recoveries… Three-year starter, helping lead New Canaan to the state title as a sophomore… First Rice signee from Connecticut since JohnMcKenna (Waterbury) in 1975… Member of New Canaan's High Honors Honor Society… Served as a youth sports camp director and as a student aid for special needs teens.TAPPS 6A All-District 2 second team selection as a senior for Chuck Faucette as the Friars reached the state title game… Caught 30 passes for 453 Yards and four touchdowns as a senior… Three-year starter who ended his career with 56 receptions for 956 yards and eight touchdowns… Also led Bishop Lynch to the state championship game in basketball as a junior and was named to the all-tournament team… Finished seventh in the discus at the state track meet… Father (Steve) was a four-year letterman as a tight end at Texas from 1991-95, while his mother, Amie Smith Bradley earned All-Big 12 honors in basketball before embarking on a coaching career. She was the head coach at Trinity University from 2005-12 and is currently an assistant coach at SMU… Smith's father, Mike, was an All-SWC Center at SMU from 1970-74 and her grandfather, Dick McKissack, is in the SMU Athletic Hall of Fame after playing alongside Doak Walker… Academic All-State selection.All-District 7-5A D2 for his play on the offensive line for coach Chad Cole as the Lions captured the district title and advance to the regional final… Three-year starter…. Academic All-State, second team selection as a senior… Also competes in powerlifting and finished third in the state as a junior with totals of 420 (bench, 700 (squat) and 620 (deadlift).Three-year standout who concluded his career at Lake Travis for coach Hank Carter after two seasons at Cedar Park… All-District 25-6A after compiling 79 tackles, one sack, picked off one pass and broke up three others for the Cavaliers as they reached the state quarterfinals… Named to Dave Campbell's Texas Football's Top 300 and as part of the magazine's postseason "Class of 2019"… All-district selection as a junior at Cedar Park and named to DCTFB's Top 100 juniors… Honorable mention all-district as a sophomore as Cedar Park captured the state title… Credited with 143 tackles in his high school career along with 14 PBUs, three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown)… Competed in track with bests of 11.1 in the 100 and 22.9 in the 200 meters… Mother, Anita, was an eight-time All-American in swimming for Alabama from 1985-89… Aunt, Megan Henry, has competed with the US Skeleton team since 2013… National Honor Society member and Academic All-District… Young Men's Service League (YMSL), Special Olympics Texas (SOTX) Volunteer, Open My World (OMW) Horse lead for Children with Disabilities.Two-time, All-State selection for coach William Fitzgerald at Seton Hall Prep… Blue Grey All-American…Ranked #12 Kicker in the Nation by Kohl's Kicking, 5-Star kicking prospect by Kohl's Kicking and Chris Sailer Kicking… Holds the school record with 12 career field goals, including a pair from over 50 yards… Set a school record with a 52-yarder, which is also the longest field goal off the ground in state history… 100% conversion on extra points… Averaged 68.2 yards per kickoff and 40.2 yards per punt… Also played lacrosse… Member of the Honor Roll… Raised over $14,000 in three seasons through his Zach Hoban & the SHP Pirates Kick It for Cancer Fundraiser, collecting pledges for points scored and accepting donations.All-Tri City Athletic League and candidate for All-State for coach Tony Franks after leading Saint Mary's to the league title, bouncing back from an 0-4 start to reach the Division I semifinals… Named team MVP… Two-year starter who earned all-league honors as both a junior and senior after moving up the varsity level late in his sophomore year… Also played baseball.All-District 7-3A D1 selection as a senior for coach Matt McClure, leading the Rabbits to the regional title game… Averaged 8 yards a carry as a senior (168 for 1,351 yards) and scored 18 touchdowns on the ground…. Caught 11 passes for 254 yards (23 yards per catch) and scored three touchdowns… Member of Dave Campbell's Texas Football's Top 300 and featured as part of DCTF's postseason "Class of 2019"… Averaged 6.9 yards per carry in his two years as a starter (366-2,551 yards) and scored 29 touchdowns on the ground… Caught 28 passes for 570 yards and eight touchdowns in two seasons… Competed in track and anchored Atlanta's state champion 4x100 relay as a sophomore and junior and helped lead the Rabbits to the state 4A title in 2017… Sister, Aniya, completes in track for Southern Arkansas… Cousin, Derrick Blaylock, was a standout at SFA who played for Chiefs and Jets from 2002-06… National Honor Society… Participated in band and a member of 4-H.All-District 18-6A for coach Mike Lindsey at Lamar as the Texans captured the district title… Two-year starter at Lamar… Caught 30 passes for 30 rec for 451 yards and five touchdowns as a senior in eight games… Member of Dave Campbell's Texas Football's Top 300 and featured as part of DCTF's postseason "Class of 2019"… Houston Chronicle's Houston 100 … Finished his career with 42 receptions for 662 yards and eight touchdowns and averaged 27.5 yards on six kick returns, returning one for a touchdown… Grandfather, Loy Hayes, played quarterback at New Mexico State… Named Elite Academic All-State… National Honor Society… Served as the President of the Science National Honors Society… Young LifeAll-District 6-7A D2 in his first year as a starter for coach Carlos Lynn, helping lead the Longhorns to the district title… Was credited with 16 tackles, picked off one pass and broke up 20 others, while forcing one fumble and recovering another… Joins his teammate in the Longhorn defensive backfield, Kirk Lockhart, in signing with the Owls… Member of the Honor Roll.Graduate transfer from North Carolina Central who was a three-time All-MEAC Selection, a two-time preseason All-American(Box-To-Row and HBCU Gameday) first for current Rice Offensive Coordinatorand for Grandville Eastman this past season… Credited with 103 Career Pancakes in 34 career starts for the Eagles… Led the team with a 93% grade in 11 games last year… Named to the 2018 AFCA Allstate Good Works Team… Freshman All-American in 2016… Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society… Eight time member of the NCCU Dean's List… Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.Blossomed into a defensive standout in his first year as a starter for coach Carlos Lynn, helping lead the Longhorns to the District 6-7A D2 title… Credited with 40 tackles (two for loss), picked off seven passes, broke up nine others and forced three fumbles… Joins his teammate in the Longhorn defensive backfield, Joshua Landrum, in signing with the Owls… Also competed in track and powerlifting and finished third in his weight class… Student Council… Student Leadership… Computer ClubAll-South Jersey, All-Burlington County and All-West Jersey - Liberty League for coach Beau Sherry as a senior… 30ranked player in New Jersey… Credited with eight sacks, 12 tackles for loss, forced four fumbles and scored six touchdowns as a senior for the Quakers… Named the Moorestown Defensive MVP as a junior… Compiled 30 tackles for loss, forced five fumbles, picked off four passes and scored 20 touchdowns in his career… First Rice signee from New Jersey since Jason Lucas (Pemberton) in 1987… Competed in track and was a member of Moorestown's sprint medley relay that was fourth at the 2017 New Balance Nationals… 2018 Burlington County All-Academic Team.. 2016 -2017 Scholar Athlete Award… Boys State selection.First Team All-State (APSE), three-year starter and team captain for coach Randy Allen and the Scots, who captured a third consecutive 5A D1 championship… Had allowed one sack and was credited 130 knockdowns heading into his final game… Allowed just two sacks while being credited with 236 knockdowns in 31 career varsity games... All-State Honorable Mention as a junior by Texas APSE and All-District 15-5A second team in his first year as a starter… Competes in powerlifting and serves as team captain… Finished sixth in the district in the shot put as a junior… Academic All-State second team... National Honor Society… National English Honor Society… Rho Kappa (National Social Studies Honor Society)… Physics Student of the Year - Jr. Year…Cornerstone Scholar Athlete Award… Young Men's Service League… Volunteered every summer at Competitor's Edge Sports Camp for kids…Volunteered at Voice of Hope.Honorable Mention NJCAA All-America after leading the JuCo ranks with 13 touchdown receptions last season for coach Russell Thompson at Cisco College… Caught 44 passes for 616 yards for the Wranglers… Finished strongly, catching eight of his 13 touchdowns in the final four games… Unanimous All-District 12-4A as a senior at Needville for coach Mike Giles, finishing with 33 receptions for 805 Yards and eight touchdowns… Earned second team all-district honors in basketball… Competed in the high jump, with a best mark of 6'9"… Academic All-State selection… Participated in student government and was a member of FFA.Honorable Mention NJCAA All-America, All- Iowa Community College Athletic Conference and ICCAC All-Regional selection as a sophomore for coach Tony Hayes at Ellsworth JC in Iowa Falls, Iowa… Based on all available records, Smith is the first football scholarship signee from Iowa… Credited with 61 tackles as a sophomore, including six for loss (1.5 sacks) with four pass breakups, a pair of blocked kicks and a forced fumble… Credited with 74 tackles in his first year at Ellsworth, picking of three passes and breaking up three others… Came to Ellsworth from Iowa City High School where he helped the Little Hawks reach the state quarterfinals as a senior under coach Dan Sabers… National Honor Society.