Another impressive academic and athletic add in Christian Francisco of Rogers, AR (will be listed as an athlete but he was a QB in high school). He has very impressive athletic (1st team all-state in Arkansas' top classification) and academic (1500 SAT, National Merit Finalist) credentials.

He had PWO offers from other schools such as Tulsa, SMU and Miami.

(04-19-2021 07:06 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Another impressive academic and athletic add in Christian Francisco of Rogers, AR (will be listed as an athlete but he was a QB in high school). He has very impressive athletic (1st team all-state in Arkansas' top classification) and academic (1500 SAT, National Merit Finalist) credentials.

He had PWO offers from other schools such as Tulsa, SMU and Miami.

I would assume he’s also a PWO here.

He tweeted out at the end of October that he received a PWO from Rice. He sounds like the type of kid who could easily be put on athletic scholarship within a year - probably helping out on special teams his first year? I could also see him being given a chance to play at WR or maybe even RB. He was the first Arkansas prep player in state history with more than 300 yards passing and 200 yards rushing in a game.

https://twitter.com/ChrisFranc1sco

Facebook post from WSFA, Montgomery. AL.

It’s my pleasure to introduce you to an INCREDIBLE young man...and I’m not just saying that because we share a first name!

This is Josh Williams of Linden, he recently was named an overall state winner of the Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Award. It turns out that is just another in a long string of remarkable achievements.
Here are some highlights:

Graduated 1st in his class with a perfect 4.0
Scored a 30 on the ACT
Captain of the state championship football team
Standout baseball, basketball and track player
SGA Treasurer
Peer Helper
BETA Club
4-H Leadership Council

And in his spare time, he volunteers at the nursing home, reads to young children, is a Spanish tutor AND serves his church in Sunday School.

Lauren Ault is the newest teacher at Linden; she sent me some more intel on Josh. It seems that Mr. Williams is not only an talented young man, but he’s also an all-around great human being.
“...he has proven to be one of the most respectful and genuine young men I’ve met in my 10 years of education. He had NUMEROUS division 1 scholarship offers (including Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth) and he ultimately chose to sign with Rice University.

He is a star athlete at every single sport we offer for boys, and regardless of the scoreboard, he has a smile on his face. He is always pleasant — I’ve never seen him in a bad mood. Not only that, but he works as hard in the classroom as he does on the field and is at the top of his class.
The entire student body looks up to him as a friend and leader — I’ve never heard ANYONE (faculty or student) say anything negative about him, which tells you that he is truly a remarkable young man.”

I hope all of my Facebook friends will join me in wishing Josh BIG success at Rice...and I’d love to see his story shared far and wide to inspire other young people!

Zion Johnkins 4.3 speed will help Rice

(04-25-2021 09:21 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  Facebook post from WSFA, Montgomery. AL.

It’s my pleasure to introduce you to an INCREDIBLE young man...and I’m not just saying that because we share a first name!

This is Josh Williams of Linden, he recently was named an overall state winner of the Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Award. It turns out that is just another in a long string of remarkable achievements.
Here are some highlights:

Graduated 1st in his class with a perfect 4.0
Scored a 30 on the ACT
Captain of the state championship football team
Standout baseball, basketball and track player
SGA Treasurer
Peer Helper
BETA Club
4-H Leadership Council

And in his spare time, he volunteers at the nursing home, reads to young children, is a Spanish tutor AND serves his church in Sunday School.

Lauren Ault is the newest teacher at Linden; she sent me some more intel on Josh. It seems that Mr. Williams is not only an talented young man, but he’s also an all-around great human being.
“...he has proven to be one of the most respectful and genuine young men I’ve met in my 10 years of education. He had NUMEROUS division 1 scholarship offers (including Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth) and he ultimately chose to sign with Rice University.

He is a star athlete at every single sport we offer for boys, and regardless of the scoreboard, he has a smile on his face. He is always pleasant — I’ve never seen him in a bad mood. Not only that, but he works as hard in the classroom as he does on the field and is at the top of his class.
The entire student body looks up to him as a friend and leader — I’ve never heard ANYONE (faculty or student) say anything negative about him, which tells you that he is truly a remarkable young man.”

I hope all of my Facebook friends will join me in wishing Josh BIG success at Rice...and I’d love to see his story shared far and wide to inspire other young people!

Welcome to Rice Josh!
You will enjoy your time as an Owl.

(04-30-2021 05:05 PM)owlman70 Wrote:  

(04-25-2021 09:21 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  Facebook post from WSFA, Montgomery. AL.

It’s my pleasure to introduce you to an INCREDIBLE young man...and I’m not just saying that because we share a first name!

This is Josh Williams of Linden, he recently was named an overall state winner of the Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Award. It turns out that is just another in a long string of remarkable achievements.
Here are some highlights:

Graduated 1st in his class with a perfect 4.0
Scored a 30 on the ACT
Captain of the state championship football team
Standout baseball, basketball and track player
SGA Treasurer
Peer Helper
BETA Club
4-H Leadership Council

And in his spare time, he volunteers at the nursing home, reads to young children, is a Spanish tutor AND serves his church in Sunday School.

Lauren Ault is the newest teacher at Linden; she sent me some more intel on Josh. It seems that Mr. Williams is not only an talented young man, but he’s also an all-around great human being.
“...he has proven to be one of the most respectful and genuine young men I’ve met in my 10 years of education. He had NUMEROUS division 1 scholarship offers (including Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth) and he ultimately chose to sign with Rice University.

He is a star athlete at every single sport we offer for boys, and regardless of the scoreboard, he has a smile on his face. He is always pleasant — I’ve never seen him in a bad mood. Not only that, but he works as hard in the classroom as he does on the field and is at the top of his class.
The entire student body looks up to him as a friend and leader — I’ve never heard ANYONE (faculty or student) say anything negative about him, which tells you that he is truly a remarkable young man.”

I hope all of my Facebook friends will join me in wishing Josh BIG success at Rice...and I’d love to see his story shared far and wide to inspire other young people!

Welcome to Rice Josh!
You will enjoy your time as an Owl.

We hope

The Athletic just posted an article about Texas recruiting where they talk to high school coaches about what they think of the various coaches and universities. Don't have a subscription, but anybody that does, any mention of Rice (positive or negative)?

(07-15-2021 08:34 AM)elw4796 Wrote:  The Athletic just posted an article about Texas recruiting where they talk to high school coaches about what they think of the various coaches and universities. Don't have a subscription, but anybody that does, any mention of Rice (positive or negative)?

The article was pretty lengthy, 20 coaches speaking on 12 questions. Rice got exactly one mention, from a 20-year+ head coach in the DFW area (coaches were not mentioned by name for obvious reasons) who listed Rice and Bloomgren among those doing a good job. Same number for Bailiff, by the way. At least we didn't get a mention on the question of which coach/school they trusted least.

I thought it was interesting how many of them found Mensa to be arrogant. They seem to be ready to give Sark a chance, and his hiring of Chris Gilbert (the DFW area HS coach, not the old TexasU running back) seems to have been a major hit with them. They were not really sold on Jimbo at aTm when he first arrived, but he seems to be growing on them. Patterson had guys who liked him and guys who didn't. Same for Matt Wells at TT. Pretty much everybody who mentioned him liked Spike Dykes a lot.

What was pushed repeatedly was the need to build relationships with HS coaches and the importance of having Texas HS coaches on staff. Calling and talking to HS coaches frequently, and returning calls from HS coaches, seemed to be pretty important. Matt Rhule's hiring of Joey McGuire, David Wetzel, and Shawn Bell immediately after taking the Baylor job really drew accolades from many of the coaches. Somebody mentioned going to coaching clinics. I heard that one of Charlie Strong's weaknesses was that he would go to clinics and speak, but he wouldn't hang around afterwards to drink beer and play dominoes. Apparently, Mensa didn't either.

This article would seem to support what I've said on here before, if anybody were crazy enough to hire me as Rice football coach, I'd construct my staff around:

1) Three coordinators (offense, defense, special teams) that I trusted 100% to handle everything on their sides of the ball (and the ST coordinator would be somebody who could coach and develop kickers)
2) Past presidents of the Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma HS Coaches' Associations (some of these could go to admin positions)
3) Coaches who had played at Rice.

If I had enough slots, I would like to keep one or two from the previous staff, particularly those involved most heavily in recruiting, because they would already have built up contacts that we could use

BTW, anyone notice that Scott Vestal (Linebackers coach) is not listed on the roster? Anyone have any intel about this?

(07-21-2021 07:45 PM)Pan95 Wrote:  BTW, anyone notice that Scott Vestal (Linebackers coach) is not listed on the roster? Anyone have any intel about this?

WOW! He was the holdover from the Bailiff years and recruiting coordinator. Wonder where he has gone?

(07-21-2021 09:30 PM)grOWLer Wrote:  

(07-21-2021 07:45 PM)Pan95 Wrote:  BTW, anyone notice that Scott Vestal (Linebackers coach) is not listed on the roster? Anyone have any intel about this?

WOW! He was the holdover from the Bailiff years and recruiting coordinator. Wonder where he has gone?

Maybe he went somewhere to meet an old friend?

Zach Adams, '21 kicker from Klein Oak. Orignally committed to Texas State.

https://twitter.com/zacharyadamss

(07-21-2021 07:45 PM)Pan95 Wrote:  BTW, anyone notice that Scott Vestal (Linebackers coach) is not listed on the roster? Anyone have any intel about this?

Looks like Spencer is the replacement coach? Odd. Vestal still has Rice football coach on his Twitter.

And he retweeted something from Blaze at Mizzou last week.

https://247sports.com/player/rawson-macneill-46102747/

Big WR from Georgia just committed.

Folks on Twitter saying it’s a great get for Rice

(08-04-2021 10:18 AM)BSWBRice Wrote:  Folks on Twitter saying it’s a great get for Rice

When you look at the complete list of offers, it does seem like this is a very good get.

Plus, he is used to hot, muggy weather and bad traffic.

(08-04-2021 10:35 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(08-04-2021 10:18 AM)BSWBRice Wrote:  Folks on Twitter saying it’s a great get for Rice

When you look at the complete list of offers, it does seem like this is a very good get.

Plus, he is used to hot, muggy weather and bad traffic.

Penn, Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Tulane, Troy, Jacksonville State, Rice, and ..... Iowa State.

Just because Iowa State made an offer does not make the complete list very impressive at all.

(08-04-2021 10:45 AM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  

(08-04-2021 10:35 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(08-04-2021 10:18 AM)BSWBRice Wrote:  Folks on Twitter saying it’s a great get for Rice

When you look at the complete list of offers, it does seem like this is a very good get.

Plus, he is used to hot, muggy weather and bad traffic.

Penn, Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Tulane, Troy, Jacksonville State, Rice, and ..... Iowa State.

Just because Iowa State made an offer does not make the complete list very impressive at all.

I guess we need to get somebody to turn down Alabama and Clemson to impress you.

But I impressed at both the number of offers and yes, some of the names. I see a number of schools we would not be favored over if we played them next year.

(08-04-2021 10:51 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(08-04-2021 10:45 AM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  

(08-04-2021 10:35 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(08-04-2021 10:18 AM)BSWBRice Wrote:  Folks on Twitter saying it’s a great get for Rice

When you look at the complete list of offers, it does seem like this is a very good get.

Plus, he is used to hot, muggy weather and bad traffic.

Penn, Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Tulane, Troy, Jacksonville State, Rice, and ..... Iowa State.

Just because Iowa State made an offer does not make the complete list very impressive at all.

I guess we need to get somebody to turn down Alabama and Clemson to impress you.

But I impressed at both the number of offers and yes, some of the names. I see a number of schools we would not be favored over if we played them next year.

And he was hurt. Hope we hang onto him after his senior season.