Owls Add Ten High School Prospects to 2025 Recruiting Class

HOUSTON- Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Scott Abell has added 10 high school standouts, including seven more from Texas, to his initial recruiting class, increasing the number of student-athletes who will begin their college football careers on South Main in 2025 to 22.

In addition to the home state haul, the newest Owls include one each from Louisiana, South Carolina, and Utah. By position, they include three defensive linemen and receivers, two offensive linemen, one quarterback, and one athlete.

The continued emphasis on high school talent in Texas is a cornerstone of Abell's vision for the program.

"The guiding principle is to build and sustain our program by developing high school talent, particularly those in Texas who have been molded by some of the finest coaches in the country. Our mission is to recruit student-athletes for whom pursuing excellence in all phases of the collegiate experience is the standard while having an impact in our locker room, on our campus, and in our community." Abell stated.

2025 RICE OWLS FOOTBALL FEBRUARY ADDITIONS

NAME	POS	HT	WT	HOMETOWN (SCHOOL)
Luca Akirtava	DL	6-2	260	Frisco, Texas (Reedy)
Keenan Arcega-Whiteside	WR	6-5	185	Spartanburg, South Carolina (Dorman)
Braden Bays	DL	6-4	255	Boerne, Texas (Boerne)
Ian Bothwell	OL	6-4	322	Fort Worth, Texas (All Saints Episcopal)
Jordan Clark	WR	5-11	181	Manor, Texas (Manor)
Patrick Crayton Jr	QB	6-1	193	Lewisville, Texas (Hebron)
DeReyon Jenkins Jr.	RUSH	6-4	208	Slidell, Louisiana (Pope John Paul II)
Colin Leahey	SLOT	6-0	188	Magnolia, Texas (Magnolia)
Justin Michaelis	OL	6-4	307	Park City, Utah (Park City)
Ahran Ogbor	ATH	6-0	203	Spring, Texas (Spring)

Luca Akirtava                   DL          6-2         260        Frisco, Texas/Reedy
District 5-5A DI Defensive MVP as a senior for coach Chad Cole as the Lions reached the 5A D1 Region 2 semi-finals in his senior season… Credited with 49 tackles, 14 for loss, seven sacks, and 12 quarterback pressures to lead a defense that allowed 18.7 points per game during district play as a senior… Ended his career with 22 sacks and 25 hurries…Product of the same school that produced current Owls' QB AJ Padgett and former defensive tackle and team captain Izeya Floyd.

Keenan Arcega-Whiteside           WR         6-5         185        Spartanburg, South Carolina/Dorman
A three-year letterman for coach Jake Morris at Dorman and ranked as the 30th-best prospect by 247Sports after his senior year… Caught 20 passes over seven games for 265 yards as a senior… Also, a standout in basketball, earning All-Region 2 honors as a junior on a team that reached the AAAA quarterfinals after winning the state title as a sophomore… Younger brother of former Stanford and Philadelphia Eagles receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside and both parents (Joaquin Arcega and Valorie Whiteside) played basketball.

Braden Bays                     DL          6-4         255        Boerne, Texas/Boerne
Unanimous All-District 13-5A D2 selection as a senior for coach Che Hendrix as the Greyhounds advanced to the 5A D2 semifinals before falling to eventual champion Fort Bend Randle… District Defensive MVP as a junior and District 14 4A D1 Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore as Boerne reached the state championship game… Credited with 20 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a senior and closed his career with 60 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, and nine fumble recoveries… Selected to play in the San Antonio Sports All-Star Football Game held at the Alamodome and started for the winning Blue team… Academic All-State selection and a member of FCA… Father (Joe Bays) was a four-year letterman as an offensive lineman at SMU from 1975-78.

Ian Bothwell                    OL          6-4         322        Fort Worth, Texas/All Saints Episcopal
Three-time All-District and two-time All-State TAPPS 5A D2 for coach Aaron Beck who helped power the Saints to the state title as a senior while earning All-State honors… Started 39 games in his career as All Saints reached the state title game in his sophomore year and the semifinals as a junior before winning the title as a senior…On the receiving end of one pass in his career for a gain of 10 yards… Young Man's Service League… Father (Jim) played football at Union College, older brother (Mitch) played tight end at Villanova and Boise State while an uncle (Bill Houlder) played over 800 games in the NHL as a defenseman.

Jordan Clark                     WR        5-11      181        Manor, Texas/Manor
All-District 25-6A selection in his first year at Manor under coach James Keller, catching 79 passes for 1,207 yards to lead the district and nine touchdowns in his first year at the position… Named the Built Ford Tough Player of the Week for Class 6A after catching 12 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns and adding another 60 yards on a punt return in a 43-36 win over Hutto… Transferred to Manor as a senior after playing quarterback at Fort Worth Brewer for two seasons, where he threw for 908 yards and added 788 on the ground as a junior and had 1,177 yards through the air and 1,108 on the ground in his career… Also competed in track with a best time of 11.00 in the 100 meters… National Honor Society.

Patrick Crayton Jr            QB         6-1         193        Lewisville, Texas/Hebron
District 5-6A Offensive MVP as a senior for coach John Towels III as the Hawks advanced to the Region 2 D2 semifinals… Threw for 2,254 yards and added 677 on the ground, and accounted for 37 touchdowns (22 passing, 15 rushing) while completing 69% of his passes (151-218) and compiling a 116.3 QBR as a senior… Finished his career with 4,149 yards passing and 35 touchdowns through the air… Three-year letterman in baseball and earned all-district honors at designated hitter as a junior… Second-team Academic All-State… Young Men's Service League… Father (Patrick) caught 392 passes for 3,650 yards and 25 touchdowns as wide receiver for eight seasons in the NFL, six with the Cowboys and two with the Chargers.

DeReyon Jenkins Jr.        RUSH    6-4         208        Slidell, Louisiana/Pope John Paul II
Three-time All-District 9-2A selection as a sophomore and junior at Salmen HS and as a senior at Pope John Paul II for coach Phillip Pigott… Led the team with 7.5 sacks and finished second with 72 tackles as a senior with the Jaguars… All-Parish and All-State… Finished his career with 209 tackles, 41 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, five fumble recoveries, and scored one defensive touchdown… Also lettered twice in powerlifting… National Honor Society.

Colin Leahey                    SLOT      6-0         188        Magnolia, Texas/Magnolia
Team MVP, team captain, and an All-District 15-6A selection as a running back as a senior for coach Craig Martin after earning all-district accolades as a running back and return specialist as a junior…Ran for 1.253 yards and 19 touchdowns and added 292 yards receiving with four TDs as a senior… Gained 2,285 yards on 302 touches and scored 34 touchdowns in his career… Also lettered in track… Academic All-State as a senior and two-time Academic All-District… National Honor Society… Father (Shane) played football at Juniata College.

Justin Michaelis                             OL          6-4         307        Park City, Utah/Park City
Late-bloomer who was a three-year starter and letterman for coach Josh Montzingo after taking up football in high school…Region 10 Offensive Line MVP as a senior… Park City was 21-4 in his last two seasons, reaching the 4A state semifinals as a junior and the quarterfinals as a senior… Caught one pass for 10 yards and scored a touchdown on a 10-yard rush in his only career carry… Born in Houston and played baseball and basketball growing up, highlighted by reaching the 2018 Little League World Series as a member of Houston's Post Oak Little League… Also lettered in baseball… Father (Derek) was a two-sport star at Rice, initially signing with the Owls to play basketball despite being drafted by the Diamondbacks out of high school… Played in 55 games with 40 starts for coach Willis Wilson before electing to focus on baseball as a junior in advance of the draft…. Drafted by the Dodgers in the 15^th round of the 2000 draft and advanced to the AAA level before retiring.

Ahran Ogbor                    ATH       6-0         203        Spring, Texas/Spring
All-District 14-6A as both a quarterback and all-purpose back as a senior for coach Antonio Singleton at Spring… Also earned All-District honors at QB as a junior… They ran for over 1,800 yards, threw for over 1,000, added over 500 yards receiving, and 30 total touchdowns… Broke up four passes and was credited with 15 tackles on defense… He also competed in track and ran on Spring's 4x200 relay, which won back-to-back district titles and an area title…Student Council, National Honor Society, Student Advisory Committee…Ranked ninth in his graduating class.

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