Landed another commit on Friday.

Safety Christian Bertrand, Hightower HS. 5'11", 185

24/7 shows offers from Air Force, Northern Colorado, SE LA, and UTEP.

Bertrand must have really impressed at a recent camp or something. Picked up all of his 5 offers in the past 2 weeks.

Edit: maybe hightower's spring practices...

Joseph Duarte ‏@Chronicle_Owls
Rice has picked up 2015 verbal commitment from Justin Bickham, a 6-1, 170-pound safety from Pflugerville HS

Sweet our defensive back field is set...
But we have no big uglies...
Coach Bailiff typically has 1 or 2 Offensive Linemen by now

We've offered 5, all who are realistic possible commits. None have committed anywhere yet.

(06-02-2014 08:02 PM)talon owl Wrote:  We've offered 5, all who are realistic possible commits. None have committed anywhere yet.

Do you think Awolope and Lucas are realistic commits? They are crystal balled on 247 to Nebraska and Oregon St respectively.

(06-02-2014 09:40 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 08:02 PM)talon owl Wrote:  We've offered 5, all who are realistic possible commits. None have committed anywhere yet.

Do you think Awolope and Lucas are realistic commits? They are crystal balled on 247 to Nebraska and Oregon St respectively.

On Awolope, he has really taken off in the past month, but per a 5.22.14 Rivals article Rice is in his top 4 along with Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Missouri. We are the stay home/academics option. But with each P5 offer he adds (and the more prestigious like Nebraska) yes the likelihood is dwindling. He has visited Rice.

On Lucas, he's also been heating up lately, but again per a 5.31.14 Rivals article Rice is among his stated top 3 along with Missouri and Oregon State.

Those two are the more outside shots, but we're still in the mix.

I cannot recall having this many commits, especially compared to available scholarships, so early. Is this the result of our performance, a change in the way everyone is recruiting, or something else?

(06-03-2014 10:17 AM)talon owl Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 09:40 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(06-02-2014 08:02 PM)talon owl Wrote:  We've offered 5, all who are realistic possible commits. None have committed anywhere yet.

Do you think Awolope and Lucas are realistic commits? They are crystal balled on 247 to Nebraska and Oregon St respectively.

On Awolope, he has really taken off in the past month, but per a 5.22.14 Rivals article Rice is in his top 4 along with Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Missouri. We are the stay home/academics option. But with each P5 offer he adds (and the more prestigious like Nebraska) yes the likelihood is dwindling. He has visited Rice.

On Lucas, he's also been heating up lately, but again per a 5.31.14 Rivals article Rice is among his stated top 3 along with Missouri and Oregon State.

Those two are the more outside shots, but we're still in the mix.

Probably due to recent success. Winning changes everything, as does a sense that finally somebody's manning the helm.

Now, if we could just hear that stadium renovation announcement...

(06-03-2014 03:40 PM)ranfin Wrote:  I cannot recall having this many commits, especially compared to available scholarships, so early. Is this the result of our performance, a change in the way everyone is recruiting, or something else?

We had 10 commitments around this time last year, so the pace seems pretty similar to recent seasons..

Joseph Duarte ‏@Chronicle_Owls
#Rice picks up 2015 verbal commitment from @BlainPadgett7 - a 6-5, 241-pound defensive end from Hardin-Jefferson in Sour Lake

(06-04-2014 09:36 AM)07owl Wrote:  Joseph Duarte ‏@Chronicle_Owls
#Rice picks up 2015 verbal commitment from @BlainPadgett7 - a 6-5, 241-pound defensive end from Hardin-Jefferson in Sour Lake

Looks like a man amongst boys with his size. Hope he stays on defense, looks like he plays with a mean streak.

(06-04-2014 10:22 AM)mrbig Wrote:  Looks like a man amongst boys with his size. Hope he stays on defense, looks like he plays with a mean streak.

I agree. At least in these limited number of clips he seems to really shine on the defensive side of the ball

Before anyone asks - Hardin-Jefferson is 3A

(06-04-2014 10:31 AM)talon owl Wrote:  Before anyone asks - Hardin-Jefferson is 3A

So to some extent, he was a man amongst boys. Still a man though, happy to have him in the fold!

A lot of teams have gone to a scheme with one big DE and one lighter, pass rush specialist they move around and try to take advantage of the least mobile tackle.

(06-04-2014 10:22 AM)mrbig Wrote:  Looks like a man amongst boys with his size. Hope he stays on defense, looks like he plays with a mean streak.

Yeah, he's tackling even when on offense. I'd say defense is his future.

Leave him on defense. Give him a year to adjust to college ball, and I think we will have an excellent defensive end.

Looks like he could gain twenty or thirty pounds pretty easily.

(06-04-2014 12:02 PM)rice1931 Wrote:  Leave him on defense. Give him a year to adjust to college ball, and I think we will have an excellent defensive end.