Owls Add 14 to Football Signing Class
2/6/2019 4:41:00 PM | Football
"We signed 14 kids in this signing period along with the 17 that we signed in December, bringing our total to 31," Bloomgren said. "But we're not done. We still have some that we're targeting. Signing day is always an exciting time. It's great to talk about these kids. It's great to know that we are creating our future with these kids. They are going to be such a key part of everything that we do in this program. I think they fit so, so well. We put so much time in to make sure that we scour the nation and find the kids who are right for this special place. I think you'll see, when you watch the film, that they play with the attitude that we demand. They embody 'Intellectual Brutality.' They're physical and they care about the other side of campus too. They want to be great. They want to excel and really get everything they can out of Rice University."
The 14 players represent seven states, eight from Texas and one each from Arkansas, California, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina and Wisconsin raising the overall total for the 2019 class to 11 states.
The class is made up of 12 high school seniors along with two graduate transfers. Eight of the 14 have been recruited to play on offense (four linemen, two quarterbacks, one running back and wide receiver) and five will play on defense (two linemen, two linebackers, one safety) along with a punter.
| NAME | POS | HT | WT | HOMETOWN (SCHOOL) |
| Chike Anigbogu | S | 5-10 | 190 | Missouri City, TX (Ridge Point) |
| De'Braylon Carroll | DT | 6-0 | 285 | Duncanville, TX (Duncanville) |
| Brian Chaffin | C | 6-2 | 275 | Harrisburg, NC (Stanford) |
| Connor Hughes | OG | 6-2 | 300 | Katy, TX (Cinco Ranch) |
| Jerry Johnson III | OG | 6-1 | 280 | Port Saint Lucie, FL (Treasure Coast) |
| Jovoni Johnson | QB | 6-3 | 203 | Conway, AR (Conway) |
| Isaac Klarkowski | DL | 6-2 | 275 | Green Bay, WI (Southwest) |
| Edmond Lahlouh | LB | 6-0 | 205 | Redwood City, CA (Junipero Serra) |
| Bennett Mecom | WR | 6-3 | 200 | Frisco, TX (Reedy) |
| Charlie Mendes | P | 6-3 | 185 | Van Nuys, CA (Harvard-Westlake) |
| Myron Morrison | LB | 6-3 | 193 | Humble, TX (Atascocita) |
| Ayden Noriega | RB | 5-9 | 170 | Amarillo, TX (Tascosa) |
| Tom Stewart | QB | 6-3 | 220 | Dallas, TX (Harvard) |
| Nick Wagman | OT | 6-3 | 245 | Potomac, MD (Winston Churchill) |
Chike Anigbogu S 5-10 190 Missouri City, TX (Ridge Point)
Two-time, All-District 20-6A for coach Brett Sniffin at Ridge Point as the Panthers captured the district title in 2018… Finished his senior season with 75 tackles (21 for loss/4 sacks), two interceptions and two fumble recoveries… Earned boys athlete of the week honors from the Houston Chronicle after finishing with 15 tackles (seven for loss including three sacks) in Ridge Point's win over Elkins… Completed his career with 125 tackles (30 for loss/5 sacks), three interceptions and three fumble recoveries… Academic All-State selection.
De'Braylon Carroll DT 6-0 285 Duncanville, TX (Duncanville)
Unanimous choice as the Defensive MVP in District 8-6A, APSE All-State (second team) as well as a member of USA Today's All-Texas Team (second team) after helping lead the Panthers to the 6A D1 state title game as a senior for coach Reginald Samples… Credited with seven sacks and over 20 TFLs as a senior after moving over from the offensive line where he earned all-district honors as a junior… Placed third in the district in the shot and also competes in powerlifting… Academic All-State second team and a member of FCA.
Brian Chaffin C 6-2 275 Harrisburg, NC (Stanford)
Graduate transfer from Stanford where he played for current Owls coach Mike Bloomgren against the Owls in both 2016 & 2017… Played in 28 games over his last three seasons at Stanford, blocking for Heisman finalists (Christian McCaffrey, Bryce Love) and played in one Rose Bowl and a pair of Sun Bowls… Will graduate from Stanford in June with a B.S. in Science, Technology, and Society with a focus towards innovation and organization… Four star recruit out of Charlotte Christian HS in North Carolina for coach Jason Estep… Under Armor All-American and consensus All-State selection… Led team to three state titles and was a four-year starter.
Connor Hughes OG 6-2 300 Katy, TX (Cinco Ranch)
Two-year starter and earned three letters for coach Don Clayton at Cinco Ranch HS… Helped lead the Cougars to the 2016 6A D2 semifinals… Threw the shot in track… Second-team Academic All-State selection as well as All-Academic District 19-6A… Member of the Good Sportsmanship League and Environmental Club
Jerry Johnson III OG 6-1 280 Port Saint Lucie, FL (Treasure Coast)
Two-year starter and four-year letterman for coach Irvin Jones as the Titans reached the Florida 8A Playoffs… Played both guard and center… Father, Jerry, earned All-ACC honors as a defensive lineman at Florida State in 1999 and was drafted in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL Draft by Denver… Played two seasons for the Broncos… National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta member… Dean's List and will graduate from high school with an Associate's Degree.
Jovoni Johnson QB 6-3 203 Conway, AR (Conway)
7A Central All-State selection for coach Keith Fimple after leading the Wampus Cats to the state semifinals… Threw for 1,548 yards and ran for another 929 as a senior while being responsible for 34 touchdowns as a senior… Selected to play in the Arkansas High School All-Star game… Air National Guard Scholar Athlete of the Year… Completed his career with 2,161 yards passing and 1,367 yards on the ground and totaled 52 touchdowns… National Honor Society and National Merit Scholar… Golden Lamp Outstanding Student… Arkansas 2nd District Teen Court… Caring Cats Special Education Inclusion Tutoring.
Isaac Klarkowski DL 6-2 275 Green Bay, WI (Southwest)
Two-way standout for coach Tim Birr, earning all-conference and all-region honors on both offense and defense… Led team to the 2017 WIAAWI Division 2 semifinals… Did not allow a pressure in 244 pass attempts on offense while piling up 61 tackles (6 for loss/3 sacks) on defense as a senior… Only allowed 15 pressures in 1,013 snaps on offense in his career, and was credited with 121 tackles (14 for loss/7.5 sacks) on defense… Semifinalist for the Joe Thomas Award as the state's top offensive lineman… Four-year letterman in wrestling with over 100 career wins… currently ranked 4th in his weight class… Valedictorian, National Honor Society, Student Council, Key Club, Peer Athletic Council… Member of the Science and Math teams…
Edmond Lahlouh LB 6-0 205 Redwood City, CA (Junipero Serra)
Two-time All-Bay Area and All West Coast Athletic League selection for coach Patrick Walsh… Credited with 75 tackles (10 for loss/6 sacks) and intercepted a pass while playing in nine games as a senior… Helped lead the Padres to the CIF Division 2-AA state title as a junior as team finished 8th in the final national high school rankings… Ended his career with over 250 tackles.
Bennett Mecom TE/WR 6-3 200 Frisco, TX (Reedy)
All-District 7-5A D2 as a senior for coach Chad Cole as the Lions captured the district title and advance to the regional final… Three-year starter as was fellow 2019 Rice recruit Izeya Floyd… Caught 56 passes for 900 yards and six touchdowns as a senior and graduates as the leading receiver in Reedy history with 111 receptions for 1.594 yards and 12 touchdowns… Lettered for three years in basketball… National Honor Society and a member of the Young Men's Service League.
Charlie Mendes P 6-3 185 Van Nuys, CA (Harvard-Westlake)
First-team, all-league as a junior for coach Michael Burnett… Only began playing football as a junior after three seasons of soccer… Ranked as the 35th best punter in the class of 2019 by Chris Sailer… Converted 18 of 19 PATs as a senior… Dean's List… Student Ambassador program co-chairman… Peer Support leader.
Myron Morrison LB 6-3 193 Humble, TX (Atascocita)
All-District 22-6A selection for coach Craig Stump as the Eagles repeated as district champions… Named team and defensive MVP… Semifinalist for the Touchdown Club of Houston's Defensive Player of the Year… Credited with 127 tackles and a pair of interceptions as a senior… Two-year starter for the Eagles… Father (Myron) played defensive back at Southern… Academic All State Honorable Mention and National Society of High School Scholars.
Ayden Noriega RB 5-9 170 Amarillo, TX (Tascosa)
All-District 2-6A for coach Ken Plunk as he led Tascosa to the Region 1 title and a berth in the 6A D2 semifinals where they fell to eventual state champion Longview, 45-42… Averaged 14.2 yards per carry (48/701) yards and seven touchdowns as a senior and caught five passes for 89 yards and a pair of touchdowns… Also lettered in baseball for three years and track for two… Academic All State, National Honor Society and Varsity Show Choir.
Tom Stewart QB 6-3 220 Dallas, TX (Harvard)
Graduate transfer from Harvard after earning team MVP honors and honorable mention All-Ivy League in his first year as the starter… Led the Ivy League and was sixth in the nation with 15.23 yards per completion ... Completed 106-of-200 passes (.530) for 1,614 yards and 14 touchdowns on the year… Named Ivy League Co-Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 393 yards tying the school record with five TD passes vs. Columbia… Set a school record with a 92-yard TD pass during the game… New England Football writers Golden Helmet Award for performance against Yale as a senior (18-27, 312 yds. 3 TD)… TAPPS Division 2 All-State selection as a senior for coach Scott Nady at Parish Episcopal HS in Dallas as senior, leading the Panthers to the state title.
Nick Wagman OL 6-3 245 Potomac, MD (Winston Churchill)
All-Montgomery Count (second team) and honorable mention All-Metro as a senior for coach Willie Williams as Churchill finished the season ranked 11th in Class 4A… Started all nine games as a senior and 24 of 26 games in his career… Older brother Jack is an offensive lineman at Maryland and father played hockey at Maryland.
