Rice Owls Produce Six Power Four Transfer Players in 2024 Season

Rice University’s football program has recently seen an unusual surge in talent moving to Power Four schools, with six transfers from Rice joining major programs, including a quarterback recruited by Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. Despite academic challenges comparable to Stanford, Rice continues to develop noteworthy players, which highlights the program's competitiveness and the potential impact of its recent coaching hire, Scott Abell. This trend underscores Rice's ability to cultivate talent capable of competing at higher levels, even if the team itself faces challenges retaining players. Meanwhile, Arizona State football is gaining national attention with key players like quarterback Sam Leavitt and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson poised to lead the team in defending their Big 12 title, with Tyson projected as a potential first-round NFL draft pick. South Carolina is also preparing for the upcoming season with promising returning players such as quarterback LaNorris Sellers and EDGE Dylan Stewart, aiming to build on a strong 2024 season despite the loss of key defensive players to the NFL draft. The Gamecocks have several rising stars, including wide receiver Jared Brown, who is expected to take the next step in his development after a solid rookie season impacted by injury.