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Rice University Athletics
Photo by: Brandon Martin
Eight Owls Honored by Phil Steele
12/23/2023 10:33:00 PM | Football
McCaffrey adds to first team accolades
Luke McCaffrey leads a group eight Rice Owls named to Phil Steele's 2023 All-American Athletic Conference football team that was announced earlier this week.
McCaffrey was named to the first team, while Dean Connors, De'Braylon Carroll, Josh Pearcy and Gabriel Taylor were named to the third team and Tre'shon Devones, Brant Banks and Clay Servin were named to the fourth team.
This was the third first-team, all-conference honor for McCaffrey who was also recognized by conference coaches and by Pro Football Focus. He enters the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl with a seven-game touchdown reception streak, the longest by an Owl during a season since Jarett Dillard set the NCAA record by catching one in all 13 games in 2006. He lead the AAC and was tied for seventh nationally with a career-high 12 touchdown receptions at the end of the regular season. His touchdown total ranks fifth all-time at Rice and is tied for the eighth most in conference history. His 68 receptions stand seventh all-time at Rice while his 963 yards are sixth.
Carroll posted career-best numbers in tackles (40), TFL (6-35), sacks (2.5/17), total pressures (27), hurries (20), and tied his career high for quarterback hits (3). He closed the season strongly, with 18 tackles over the last four games while registering a TFL in each.
Connors enjoyed a breakout season, leading the Owls in rushing (707 yards), rushing touchdowns (5), and all-purpose yards (1,117) while also catching 42 passes for 395 yards and three scores. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry, the highest for a Rice running back with at least 100 carries since Thomas Lott Jr. averaged 7.29 in 2003. He closed the season by rushing for 527 yards on 65 carries over his last six games, including a pair of 100-yard contests.
Pearcy leads the team with a career-best six quarterback hits according to PFF and is second on the team with 25 total pressures and 17 hurries (also career-highs). He is second on the team with seven TFLs and sixth with a career-best 630 defensive snaps.
Taylor was second on the team with 10 passes defended, with two interceptions, and eight breakups, He topped 55 tackles for the third consecutive year, finishing third on the team with 58.
Devones put together a career year, setting career highs in games (12), starts (11), tackles (37), PBU (10) interceptions (2), and snaps (791). He was the highest-rated Owls defensive starter by PFF (77.1) and also led the defensive backs with a 79.8 coverage grade.
Banks flourished in his first year as a collegiate starter as he started all 12 games and tied Ethan Onianwa for the team lead with 785 offensive snaps.
Servin enjoyed a stellar final campaign anchoring the Owls offensive line and will look to set a school record by appearing in a 56th game in the First Responder Bowl. His first snap in the game will not only break the record but also be his 600th this year, the fourth consecutive full season he has topped that mark on his way to 3,548 career snaps.
The Owls will wrap up their final full bowl practice at Highland Park High School in Dallas on Sunday, then conduct a walk-through on Monday at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in advance of Tuesday's 4:30 kickoff against Texas State in the First Responder Bowl.
McCaffrey was named to the first team, while Dean Connors, De'Braylon Carroll, Josh Pearcy and Gabriel Taylor were named to the third team and Tre'shon Devones, Brant Banks and Clay Servin were named to the fourth team.
This was the third first-team, all-conference honor for McCaffrey who was also recognized by conference coaches and by Pro Football Focus. He enters the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl with a seven-game touchdown reception streak, the longest by an Owl during a season since Jarett Dillard set the NCAA record by catching one in all 13 games in 2006. He lead the AAC and was tied for seventh nationally with a career-high 12 touchdown receptions at the end of the regular season. His touchdown total ranks fifth all-time at Rice and is tied for the eighth most in conference history. His 68 receptions stand seventh all-time at Rice while his 963 yards are sixth.
Carroll posted career-best numbers in tackles (40), TFL (6-35), sacks (2.5/17), total pressures (27), hurries (20), and tied his career high for quarterback hits (3). He closed the season strongly, with 18 tackles over the last four games while registering a TFL in each.
Connors enjoyed a breakout season, leading the Owls in rushing (707 yards), rushing touchdowns (5), and all-purpose yards (1,117) while also catching 42 passes for 395 yards and three scores. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry, the highest for a Rice running back with at least 100 carries since Thomas Lott Jr. averaged 7.29 in 2003. He closed the season by rushing for 527 yards on 65 carries over his last six games, including a pair of 100-yard contests.
Pearcy leads the team with a career-best six quarterback hits according to PFF and is second on the team with 25 total pressures and 17 hurries (also career-highs). He is second on the team with seven TFLs and sixth with a career-best 630 defensive snaps.
Taylor was second on the team with 10 passes defended, with two interceptions, and eight breakups, He topped 55 tackles for the third consecutive year, finishing third on the team with 58.
Devones put together a career year, setting career highs in games (12), starts (11), tackles (37), PBU (10) interceptions (2), and snaps (791). He was the highest-rated Owls defensive starter by PFF (77.1) and also led the defensive backs with a 79.8 coverage grade.
Banks flourished in his first year as a collegiate starter as he started all 12 games and tied Ethan Onianwa for the team lead with 785 offensive snaps.
Servin enjoyed a stellar final campaign anchoring the Owls offensive line and will look to set a school record by appearing in a 56th game in the First Responder Bowl. His first snap in the game will not only break the record but also be his 600th this year, the fourth consecutive full season he has topped that mark on his way to 3,548 career snaps.
The Owls will wrap up their final full bowl practice at Highland Park High School in Dallas on Sunday, then conduct a walk-through on Monday at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in advance of Tuesday's 4:30 kickoff against Texas State in the First Responder Bowl.
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