Owls Add Four to 2020 Recruiting Haul
2/5/2020 10:07:00 AM | Football
#FlightSchool20
Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Mike Bloomgren announced on Wednesday the latest four prospects who have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Owls next season.
"The thing I have to hit on is how proud I am of this coaching staff and the recruiting department led by Alex Brown and how this came together," Bloomgren said. "According to all the experts, this is the highest rated class in Rice history. I'm very thankful for these student-athletes and their parents for choosing to be part of FlightSchool2020 and really trusting this vision that we have, seeing the vision and trusting these coaches and wanting to jump in the boat and bring all they have to offer to Rice University."
The four new signees include a pair of high school defensive backs, a junior college linebacker and a graduate transfer kicker. They join with the 17 players who signed with Rice in December in a class that has drawn players from 10 states (California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas). In the three recruiting classes he has assembled, Bloomgren has added players from 17 states to a roster he inherited in 2017 that had players from five states.
Jaren Banks LB 6-0 210 Junction City, OR (New Mexico Military)
All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference selection last season for coach Joe Forchtner at New Mexico Military as the Broncos reached the conference title game… Credited with 13 tackles in the conference championship game and closed his career with 95 tackles, including eight tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, one fumble forced and recovered… Lone interception came against Cisco in 2018 while facing future Rice teammate Bradley Rozner and returned it for 33 yards… Two-time All Southwest Conference selection at Sheldon HS in Eugene, Oregon and earned second team all-state honors as a senior… Credited with 108 tackles (19 for loss/three sacks), six interceptions, three forced fumbles, two recoveries and scored eight touchdowns (seven rushing and one interception return) as a senior… Credited with 136 tackles as a junior as Sheldon reached the 6A state quarterfinals and ended his career with 254 tackles (36 for loss/five sacks) eight interceptions, four forced fumbles, three recoveries and 11 career touchdowns… Two brothers (James and Justin) both played college football while his parents, Fred and Jill Banks, played volleyball and basketball respectively at Western Oregon… Two-time NJCAA All-Academic selection.
Linebackers coach Scott Vestal on Banks: "Instinctive player that finds the football and plays the game with violence. He will be a great addition to the room and I cannot wait to coach him."
Lamont Narcisse CB 5-11 176 Pasadena, CA (Calabasas HS)
All CIF Southern Section S Division 1, All-Ventura County and Marmonte League defensive back MVP as a senior for coach Chris Claiborne as he helped lead the Coyotes to a 10-3 record, a Marmonte League title and berth in the CIF Southern Division 1 playoffs… Credited with 40 tackles, 14 pass breakups and a pair of interceptions as a senior… Three-year starter… A standout in track who ran a 10.74 100 to reach the finals of CIF Division 2 championship and led off the Coyotes' state champion 4x400 relay as they finished third in the team race.
Cornerbacks coach Gerard Wilcher on Narcisse: "Great young man who shows 10.7 speed on the outside. He played at a very high level for Calabasas."
Collin Riccitelli K 6-0 198 San Marcos, CA (Stanford)
Graduate transfer from Stanford where he saw action in three games while backing up All-Pac-12 kicker Jett Toner… Made his collegiate debut in 2018 vs. Washington, connecting on a 21-yard field goal and a pair of PATs… Added six PATs in seven attempts vs. Oregon State and also saw action in the Sun Bowl against Pitt… A member of the Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll in 2019… All-league kicker at Carlsbad High School for coach Thad MacNeal as a senior as the Lancers won the league title…Three-year letterman in soccer, earning all-league honors as a junior and helping lead Carlsbad to the state title game as a sophomore… Served as class vice president as a sophomore and junior.
Special Teams Coordinator Drew Svoboda on Riccitelli: "Collin hits a very pure ball and has a very consistent leg swing. He has good range and kicks with great technique and confidence."
Gabe Taylor DB 5-9 180 Miami, FL (Gulliver Prep)
Highest rated recruit signed by Rice in the 247 era… Returned to football for the first time since he was in 8th grade after concentrating on basketball and put together standout season for coach Earl Sims at Gulliver Prep… Picked off 10 passes and returned five for touchdowns to help spark the Raiders to the top seed in the 4A playoffs… Also took snaps as the quarterback in the wildcat formation and rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries… Younger brother of former Miami Hurricane and Washington Redskin standout Sean Taylor who played his home games on a field named after his late brother…. Standout basketball player who has played on the varsity since his freshman year of high school and was nominated for the 2020 McDonalds All-American game…. Currently averaging 22 points per game this season, which includes a quadruple double vs. Oxbridge Academic (21 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, 10 steals).
Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach Brian Smith on Taylor: "Gabe is a very instinctive, versatile defensive back with exceptional ball skills. He has a knack for creating turnovers and is a threat to take it the distance whenever he has the ball in his hands. He is also a very sure tackler in open space, and has solid man to man cover skills in the slot."
"The thing I have to hit on is how proud I am of this coaching staff and the recruiting department led by Alex Brown and how this came together," Bloomgren said. "According to all the experts, this is the highest rated class in Rice history. I'm very thankful for these student-athletes and their parents for choosing to be part of FlightSchool2020 and really trusting this vision that we have, seeing the vision and trusting these coaches and wanting to jump in the boat and bring all they have to offer to Rice University."
The four new signees include a pair of high school defensive backs, a junior college linebacker and a graduate transfer kicker. They join with the 17 players who signed with Rice in December in a class that has drawn players from 10 states (California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas). In the three recruiting classes he has assembled, Bloomgren has added players from 17 states to a roster he inherited in 2017 that had players from five states.
2020 RICE OWLS FOOTBALL FEBRUARY SIGNEES
| NAME | POS | HT | WT | HOMETOWN (SCHOOL) |
| Jaren Banks | LB | 6-0 | 210 | Junction City, OR (New Mexico Military) |
| Lamont Narcisse | CB | 5-11 | 176 | Pasadena, CA (Calabasas HS) |
| Collin Riccitelli | K | 6-0 | 198 | San Marcos, CA (Stanford) |
| Gabe Taylor | DB | 5-9 | 180 | Miami, FL (Gulliver Prep) |
Jaren Banks LB 6-0 210 Junction City, OR (New Mexico Military)
All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference selection last season for coach Joe Forchtner at New Mexico Military as the Broncos reached the conference title game… Credited with 13 tackles in the conference championship game and closed his career with 95 tackles, including eight tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, one fumble forced and recovered… Lone interception came against Cisco in 2018 while facing future Rice teammate Bradley Rozner and returned it for 33 yards… Two-time All Southwest Conference selection at Sheldon HS in Eugene, Oregon and earned second team all-state honors as a senior… Credited with 108 tackles (19 for loss/three sacks), six interceptions, three forced fumbles, two recoveries and scored eight touchdowns (seven rushing and one interception return) as a senior… Credited with 136 tackles as a junior as Sheldon reached the 6A state quarterfinals and ended his career with 254 tackles (36 for loss/five sacks) eight interceptions, four forced fumbles, three recoveries and 11 career touchdowns… Two brothers (James and Justin) both played college football while his parents, Fred and Jill Banks, played volleyball and basketball respectively at Western Oregon… Two-time NJCAA All-Academic selection.
Linebackers coach Scott Vestal on Banks: "Instinctive player that finds the football and plays the game with violence. He will be a great addition to the room and I cannot wait to coach him."
Lamont Narcisse CB 5-11 176 Pasadena, CA (Calabasas HS)
All CIF Southern Section S Division 1, All-Ventura County and Marmonte League defensive back MVP as a senior for coach Chris Claiborne as he helped lead the Coyotes to a 10-3 record, a Marmonte League title and berth in the CIF Southern Division 1 playoffs… Credited with 40 tackles, 14 pass breakups and a pair of interceptions as a senior… Three-year starter… A standout in track who ran a 10.74 100 to reach the finals of CIF Division 2 championship and led off the Coyotes' state champion 4x400 relay as they finished third in the team race.
Cornerbacks coach Gerard Wilcher on Narcisse: "Great young man who shows 10.7 speed on the outside. He played at a very high level for Calabasas."
Collin Riccitelli K 6-0 198 San Marcos, CA (Stanford)
Graduate transfer from Stanford where he saw action in three games while backing up All-Pac-12 kicker Jett Toner… Made his collegiate debut in 2018 vs. Washington, connecting on a 21-yard field goal and a pair of PATs… Added six PATs in seven attempts vs. Oregon State and also saw action in the Sun Bowl against Pitt… A member of the Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll in 2019… All-league kicker at Carlsbad High School for coach Thad MacNeal as a senior as the Lancers won the league title…Three-year letterman in soccer, earning all-league honors as a junior and helping lead Carlsbad to the state title game as a sophomore… Served as class vice president as a sophomore and junior.
Special Teams Coordinator Drew Svoboda on Riccitelli: "Collin hits a very pure ball and has a very consistent leg swing. He has good range and kicks with great technique and confidence."
Gabe Taylor DB 5-9 180 Miami, FL (Gulliver Prep)
Highest rated recruit signed by Rice in the 247 era… Returned to football for the first time since he was in 8th grade after concentrating on basketball and put together standout season for coach Earl Sims at Gulliver Prep… Picked off 10 passes and returned five for touchdowns to help spark the Raiders to the top seed in the 4A playoffs… Also took snaps as the quarterback in the wildcat formation and rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries… Younger brother of former Miami Hurricane and Washington Redskin standout Sean Taylor who played his home games on a field named after his late brother…. Standout basketball player who has played on the varsity since his freshman year of high school and was nominated for the 2020 McDonalds All-American game…. Currently averaging 22 points per game this season, which includes a quadruple double vs. Oxbridge Academic (21 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, 10 steals).
Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach Brian Smith on Taylor: "Gabe is a very instinctive, versatile defensive back with exceptional ball skills. He has a knack for creating turnovers and is a threat to take it the distance whenever he has the ball in his hands. He is also a very sure tackler in open space, and has solid man to man cover skills in the slot."
Players Mentioned
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