2020 Rice Owls football team

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2020 Rice Owls football
Rice Owls logo.svg
ConferenceConference USA
DivisionWest Division
2020 record2–3 (2–3 C-USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJerry Mack (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorBrian Smith (3rd season)
Home stadiumRice Stadium
(Capacity: 47,000)
Seasons
← 2019
2021 →
2020 Conference USA football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Marshall xy   4 1     7 3  
Florida Atlantic   4 2     5 4  
Western Kentucky   4 3     5 7  
Charlotte   2 2     2 4  
Middle Tennessee   2 4     3 6  
FIU   0 3     0 5  
West Division
UAB xy$   3 1     6 3  
UTSA   5 2     7 5  
Louisiana Tech   4 2     5 5  
North Texas   3 4     4 6  
Rice   2 3     2 3  
Southern Miss   2 4     3 7  
UTEP   0 4     3 5  
Championship: UAB 22, Marshall 13
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • Note: Due to COVID-19, Old Dominion opted out of the season.

The 2020 Rice Owls football team represented Rice University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Owls played their home games at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas, and competed in the West Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by third-year head coach Mike Bloomgren.

Previous season[]

The Owls finished the 2019 season 3–9, 3–5 in C-USA play to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place in the West Division. They were not invited to any other postseason play. Despite the losing record, the Owls retained Bloomgren, however, they did hired a new Offensive Line and Tight Ends coach.

Preseason[]

Award watch lists[]

Listed in the order that they were released

Award Player Position Year
Chuck Bednarik Award[1] Blaze Alldredge LB SR
Fred Biletnikoff Award[2] Bradley Rozner WR RS JR
Butkus Award[3] Blaze Alldredge LB SR
Bronko Nagurski Trophy[4] Blaze Alldredge LB SR
Paul Hornung Award[5] Austin Trammell WR SR

C-USA media poll[]

The preseason poll will be released prior to the Conference USA media days sometime during summer 2020 via a virtual conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

West Division
Predicted finish Team Votes
Louisiana Tech
North Texas
Rice
Southern Miss
UAB
UTEP
UTSA
East Division
Predicted finish Team Votes
Charlotte
FIU
Florida Atlantic
Marshall
Middle Tennessee
Old Dominion
Western Kentucky

Preseason All–C-USA teams[]

The Preseason team will be released during the Virtual Media Day to be held in the summer of 2020.

Recruiting class[]

References:[6][7]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight 40 Commit date
Jaren Banks
Linebacker
Junction City, OR Sheldon HS
New Mexico Military
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Feb 6, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:2/5 stars    ESPN:2/5 stars
Kobie Campbel
Running Back
Missouri City, TX Hightower HS 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Dec 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:2/5 stars
Michael "Mike" Collins
Quarterback
New Canaan, CT New Canaan HS
TCU
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Dec 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247Sports:2/5 stars    ESPNN/A
Jordan Dunbar
Cornerback
Tarrytown, NY Iona Prep 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Dec 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Sean Fresch
Athlete
Austin, TX Lyndon B. Johnson HS 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Dec 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Khalan Griffin
Running Back
Tyler, TX Chapel Hill HS 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Dec 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Geron Hargon
Linebacker
Shreveport, LA Captain Shreve HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Dec 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Nate Kamper
Tight End
Fort Hood, TX Killeen HS 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Dec 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Cole Latos
Defensive Lineman
Allen, TX Allen HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 270 lb (120 kg) Dec 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Mike Leone
Offensive Lineman
Bryn Mawr, PA The Hun School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 270 lb (120 kg) Dec 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Andrew Mason
Wide Receiver
Spring Hill, TN Ravenwood HS 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 155 lb (70 kg) Dec 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
TJ McMahon
Quarterback
Anaheim, CA Servite HS
Cerritos College
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Dec 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Lamont Narcisse
Cornerback
Pasadena, CA Calabasas HS 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 176 lb (80 kg) Feb 6, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Braedon Nutter
Offensive Lineman
Tomball, TX Tomball Memorial HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 290 lb (130 kg) Dec 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:2/5 stars
Trey Phillippi
Offensive Tackle
Montgomery, TX Montgomery HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 260 lb (120 kg) Dec 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Jalen Reeves
Defensive Lineman
Hollywood, FL NSU University School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Dec 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Collin Riccitelli
Kicker
San Marcos, CA Carlsbad HS
Stanford
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 198 lb (90 kg) Feb 6, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Adam Sheriff
Offensive Lineman
Prosper, TX Prosper HS
Butler CC
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 285 lb (129 kg) Dec 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Gabriel "Gabe" Taylor
Defensive Back
Miami, FL Gulliver Prep 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Feb 6, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Jovaun Woolford
Offensive Lineman
Des Plaines, IL Maine West HS
Colgate
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 285 lb (129 kg) Dec 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Plae Wyatt
Safety
McKinney, TX Boyd HS 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Dec 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars

Personnel[]

2020 Rice Owls football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 1 Cameron Montgomery Redshirt.svg Jr
WR 2 Bradley Rozner Redshirt.svg Jr
QB 3 Jovoni Johnson Redshirt.svg Fr
QB 4 Mike Collins Sr
QB 5 Wiley Green Redshirt.svg So
TE 7 Jordan Myers Redshirt.svg Sr
RB 8 Juma Otoviano Redshirt.svg So
QB 9 TJ McMahon So
WR 10 Austin Trammell Sr
WR 11 Jake Bailey So
WR 12 Austin Conrad Redshirt.svg Jr
WR 13 Zane Knipe Redshirt.svg Fr
WR 15 Chris Boudreaux Redshirt.svg Jr
QB 16 Robbie Blosser Redshirt.svg Jr
QB 17 Parker Towns Redshirt.svg So
TE 18 Robert French Redshirt.svg So
QB 19 Evan Marshman Redshirt.svg Jr
RB 22 Jawan King Redshirt.svg Fr
RB 27 Ayden Noriega Redshirt.svg Fr
RB 30 Ari Broussard Redshirt.svg So
FB 32 Jerry Johnson III Redshirt.svg Fr
FB 35 Luke Amrstrong Redshirt.svg So
WR 38 Jashon Palmer Redshirt.svg Fr
OL 50 Izeya Floyd Redshirt.svg Fr
OL 54 Isaac Klarkowski Redshirt.svg Fr
OL 58 Shea Baker Redshirt.svg Jr
OT 63 Brandt Pederson Redshirt.svg Jr
OL 67 Connor Hughes Redshirt.svg Fr
OL 70 Jovaun Woolford Sr
OL 71 Clay Servin Redshirt.svg So
OL 73 Cole Garcia Redshirt.svg So
OT 74 Nick Wagman Redshirt.svg Fr
OL 75 Derek Ferraro Redshirt.svg So
OL 77 Adam Sheriff So
OG 79 Regan Riddle Redshirt.svg Fr
TE 80 Jonathan Sanchez Redshirt.svg Jr
TE 82 Jaeger Bull Redshirt.svg Jr
WR 84 Bennett Mecom Redshirt.svg Fr
FB 85 Brendan Suckley Redshirt.svg So
TE 87 Jack Bradley So
WR 88 August Pitre III Redshirt.svg So
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 1 Antonio Montero Jr
DE 2 Javante Hubbard Redshirt.svg Sr
S 3 Naeem Smith Sr
DB 4 Prudy Calderon Jr
S 5 Chike Anigbogu Redshirt.svg Fr
LB 6 Blaze Alldredge Sr
DE 7 Trey Schuman Redshirt.svg Jr
LB 8 Kebreyun Page Redshirt.svg So
S 9 Kirk Lockhart So
DE 10 Kenneth Orji Redshirt.svg Jr
DE 11 Cameron Valentine Redshirt.svg So
OLB, DE 12 Josh Pearcy Redshirt.svg Fr
CB 15 Andrew Bird Redshirt.svg So
LB 17 TreShawn Chamberlain Jr
DB 18 Tyrae Thornton Redshirt.svg Jr
CB 19 Tre'Shon Devones So
DB 20 George Nyakwol Sr
OLB 21 Garrett Braden Redshirt.svg Fr
CB 22 Jason White Redshirt.svg So
DB 23 Isaiah Richardson Redshirt.svg Jr
CB 24 Miles McCord Jr
CB 24 Collin Whitaker Redshirt.svg Sr
DB 31 Matthew Sams Redshirt.svg So
LB 33 Myron Morrison Redshirt.svg Fr
S 37 Jacob Grams Redshirt.svg Jr
LB, LS 46 Garrett Grammer Sr
DE 48 Jacob Doddridge Redshirt.svg So
DL 50 Hunter Hanley Redshirt.svg Fr
DL 51 Will Martinez Redshirt.svg Fr
DT 55 De'Braylon Carroll So
DE 89 Miles Adams Redshirt.svg So
DL 91 Ikenna Enechukwu Redshirt.svg So
DL 92 Elijah Garcia Redshirt.svg Sr
DL 97 Adrian Bickham So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 25 Will Harrison Redshirt.svg Jr
LS 34 Campbell Riddle Jr
K, P 76 Nicholas McQuarry Redshirt.svg So
P 91 Charlie Mendes Redshirt.svg Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Jerry Mack (Delta State)
    Offensive Coordinator/QB
  • Brian Smith (Massachusetts)
    Defensive Coordinator/S
  • Drew Svoboda (Stephen F. Austin)
    Special Teams Coordinator
  • Sanders Davis (Dartmouth)
    Offensive Line
  • Chris Monfiletto (Ohio)
    Tight Ends
  • Cedric Calhoun (Morehouse College)
    Defensive Line
  • Mike Kershaw (Delta State)
    Wide Receivers
  • Robbie Picazo (Stanford)
    Running Backs
  • Scott Vestal (SMU)
    Recruiting Coordinator/LB
  • Gerard Wilcher (Morehouse College)
    Cornerbacks

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: 27 May 2020

Schedule[]

Rice had games scheduled against Lamar, Louisiana Tech, LSU, UTEP, and UTSA which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8][9]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
October 242:30 p.m.Middle Tennessee
ESPN3L 34–40 2OT0
October 312:00 p.m.at Southern Miss
ESPN3W 30–60
November 211:00 p.m.at North Texas
  • Apogee Stadium
  • Denton, TX
ESPN3L 17–275,976
December 511:00 a.m.at No. 21 MarshallESPN+W 20–010,429
December 1211:00 a.m.UAB
  • Rice Stadium
  • Houston, TX
ESPN3L 16–212,000
  • Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 24 released prior to game
  • All times are in Central time
Schedule Source: [10]

Game summaries[]

Middle Tennessee[]

Middle Tennessee at Rice
1 234OTTotal
Blue Raiders 0 141736 40
Owls 6 76140 33
  • Date: October 24, 2020
  • Location: Rice Stadium
    Houston, TX
  • Game start: 2:32 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 51 minutes
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: N 6 MPH
  • Referee: Joe Lehring
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): David Saltzman (play–by–play) and Taylor McHargue (analyst)
        
Pregame line Over/under
RICE −4 48.5[11]
Statistics Middle Tennessee Rice
First downs 22 26
Total yards 451 425
Rushing yards 118 183
Passing yards 333 242
Turnovers 1 3
Time of possession 27:03 32:57
Team Category Player Statistics
Middle Tennessee Passing Asher O'Hara 24/33, 333 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing Asher O'Hara 22 carries, 69 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving CJ Windham 7 receptions, 109 yards, 1 TD
Rice Passing Mike Collins 18/35, 242 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Juma Otoviano 20 carries, 84 yards
Receiving Austin Trammell 3 receptions, 76 yards, 2 TDs


at Southern Miss[]

Rice at Southern Mississippi
1 234Total
Owls 3 2007 30
Eagles 0 600 6
  • Date: October 31, 2020
  • Location: M. M. Roberts Stadium
    Hattiesburg, MS
  • Game start: 2:05 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 2 hours and 59 minutes
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: ESE 2 MPH
  • Referee: Ken Antee
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Jason Baker (play–by–play) and Dustin Almond (analyst)
    
Pregame line Over/under
RICE −1 59[12]
Statistics Rice Southern Miss
First downs 22 11
Total yards 412 269
Rushing yards 179 100
Passing yards 233 169
Turnovers 1 3
Time of possession 36:52 23:08
Team Category Player Statistics
Rice Passing Mike Collins 12/17, 233 yards, 4 TDs
Rushing Juma Otoviano 25 carries, 111 yards
Receiving Austin Trammell 7 receptions, 143 yards, 3 TDs
Southern Miss Passing Jack Abraham 12/17, 112 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Frank Gore Jr. 11 carries, 71 yards
Receiving Antoine Robinson 3 receptions, 41 yards


at North Texas[]

Rice at North Texas
1 234Total
Owls 10 007 17
Mean Green 0 14310 27
  • Date: November 21, 2020
  • Location: Apogee Stadium
    Denton, TX
  • Game start: 1:05 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 4 minutes
  • Game attendance: 5,976
  • Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C) • Weather: Partly Cloudy • Wind: S 11 MPH
  • Referee: Jonathan Noli
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Doug Anderson (play–by–play) and LaDarrin McLane (analyst)
    
Pregame line Over/under
UNT –1.5 65[13]
Statistics Rice North Texas
First downs 23 17
Total yards 376 389
Rushing yards 49 269
Passing yards 327 120
Turnovers 2 0
Time of possession 36:25 23:35
Team Category Player Statistics
Rice Passing Mike Collins 23/34, 327 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing Khalan Griffin 20 carries, 72 yards
Receiving Austin Trammell 6 receptions, 116 yards, 1 TD
North Texas Passing Jason Bean 9/20, 120 yards, 1 TD
Rushing DeAndre Torrey 19 carries, 102 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Austin Ogunmakin 3 receptions, 60 yards



at Marshall[]

Rice at Marshall
1 234Total
Owls 7 3100 20
No. 21 Thundering Herd 0 000 0
  • Date: December 5, 2020
  • Location: Joan C. Edwards Stadium
    Huntington, WV
  • Game start: 11:05 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours
  • Game attendance: 10,429
  • Game weather: 43 °F (6 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind:WNW 6 MPH
  • Referee: Ken Antee
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Jake Griffith (play–by–play) and Dave Wilson (analyst)
 
Pregame line Over/under
MARSH –23.5 46.5[14]
Statistics Rice Marshall
First downs 17 19
Total yards 213 245
Rushing yards 127 80
Passing yards 86 165
Turnovers 1 5
Time of possession 36:26 23:34
Team Category Player Statistics
Rice Passing JoVoni Johnson 10/14, 86 yards
Rushing Ari Broussard 19 carries, 62 yards
Receiving Jake Bailey 7 receptions, 57 yards
Marshall Passing Grant Wells 18/35, 165 yards, 5 INTs
Rushing Brenden Knox 20 carries, 76 yards
Receiving Talik Keaton 7 receptions, 48 yards



UAB[]

Alabama–Birmingham at Rice
1 234Total
Blazers 0 7140 21
Owls 3 1003 16
  • Date: December 12, 2020
  • Location: Rice Stadium
    Houston, TX
  • Game start: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 13 minutes
  • Game attendance: 2,000
  • Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C) • Weather: Overcast
  • Referee: Rodney Burnette
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Matt Pederson (play–by–play) and Taylor McHargue (analyst)
   
Pregame line Over/under
UAB –7 42.5[15]
Statistics UAB Rice
First downs 13 20
Total yards 354 232
Rushing yards 137 66
Passing yards 217 166
Turnovers 0 1
Time of possession 22:42 37:18
Team Category Player Statistics
UAB Passing Tyler Johnson III 9/18, 217 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing Tyler Johnson III 7 carries, 41 yards
Receiving Myron Mitchell 1 reception, 63 yards, 1 TD
Rice Passing JoVoni Johnson 17/23, 139 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Khalan Griffin 14 carries, 34 yards
Receiving Jake Bailey 7 receptions, 72 yards

References[]

  1. ^ "2020 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List". July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  2. ^ "2020 Biletnikoff Award Watch List". July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  3. ^ "The Butkus Award 2020 Collegiate Watch List". July 20, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  4. ^ "2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List Unveiled". July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  5. ^ "50 Players Named to 2020 Paul Hornung Award Watch List". July 23, 2020. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  6. ^ "Owls Add 17 During Early Signing Period". Rice Owls. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Owls Add Four to 2020 Recruiting Haul". Rice Owls. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  8. ^ Talty, John. "SEC moves to conference-only 2020 schedule, pushes back start of season". AL.com. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Football Oppener with Lamar Cancelled". Rice Athletic Department. August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  10. ^ "2020 Football Schedule". Rice Owls. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  11. ^ "Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs Rice Owls". Odds Shark. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Rice Owls vs Southern Miss Golden Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Rice Owls vs North Texas Mean Green". Odds Shark. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Rice Owls vs Marshall Thundering Herd Prediction, 12/5/2020 College Football Pick, Tips and Odds". www.docsports.com. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  15. ^ "UAB Blazers vs Rice Owls". Odds Shark. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
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