Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Owls Place Six on Phil Steele Preseason Team
6/23/2025 3:39:00 PM | Football
Jackson named as both at kick returner and running back
Houston--Punt returner Tyson Thompson leads a group of six Rice Owls who have been named to Phil Steele's Preseason All-American Athletic Conference team.
Thompson was named to the first team as a punt returner, while Quinton Jackson (kick returner) and Blake Boenisch (defensive tackle) were named to the second team. Jackson was also named to the third team at running back and was joined by safety Plae Wyatt on the third team. Center David Stickle and defensive end Michael Daley were named to the fourth team.
Thompson led the Owls and was fourth in the AAC last season, averaging 8.2 yards in his first season as the primary returner for Rice. His 21 returns were second in the conference and the most by an Owl since Ja'Corey Shepherd returned 22 punts in 2007.
Boenisch reached career bests in solo tackles (25), assists (17), total tackles (42), and tackles for loss (3.5) while making a career-high 10 starts and seeing action in career-best 384 plays on defense. He received the ninth-highest tackling grade from PFF among all FBS defensive linemen (83.0).
Jackson was second on the team with a career-best 933 all-purpose yards in 2024, highlighted by 589 yards on kickoff returns. He ranked third in the AAC and seventh nationally in KOR yardage and was third in the conference and 13th nationally with a 26.7 average per return. He set a school record with a 100-yard kickoff return at UConn and combined with a receiving TD vs. Charlotte and a rushing TD in the season finale vs. USF, Jackson became the first Owl to have a touchdown rushing, receiving, and by kick return since James Sykes in 1976.
Wyatt missed the last 11 games last season after suffering an injury in the season-opener vs. Sam Houston after leading the Owls in tackles with a career-high 81 in 2023. He played a career-best 761 snaps on defense and added 61 on special teams in 2023. Wyatt opened the season with eight tackles at Texas to set a career-high and bettered it three times, including a pair of double-figure games (10 vs. UConn, 12 vs. Tulane).
Stickle solidified the middle of the Owls' offensive line last season after transferring from Florida State. He started all 12 games and was second on the squad with 790 offensive snaps.
Daley was a disruptive force in the Owls' rotation at defensive end in his first season on South Main, playing in 10 games with 205 snaps on defense and 87 on special teams. He was credited with 14 tackles, including 5.5 for loss (30 yards), with three sacks (24 yards) and a pair of forced fumbles, which led the team and tied for fifth in the AAC
Thompson was named to the first team as a punt returner, while Quinton Jackson (kick returner) and Blake Boenisch (defensive tackle) were named to the second team. Jackson was also named to the third team at running back and was joined by safety Plae Wyatt on the third team. Center David Stickle and defensive end Michael Daley were named to the fourth team.
Thompson led the Owls and was fourth in the AAC last season, averaging 8.2 yards in his first season as the primary returner for Rice. His 21 returns were second in the conference and the most by an Owl since Ja'Corey Shepherd returned 22 punts in 2007.
Boenisch reached career bests in solo tackles (25), assists (17), total tackles (42), and tackles for loss (3.5) while making a career-high 10 starts and seeing action in career-best 384 plays on defense. He received the ninth-highest tackling grade from PFF among all FBS defensive linemen (83.0).
Jackson was second on the team with a career-best 933 all-purpose yards in 2024, highlighted by 589 yards on kickoff returns. He ranked third in the AAC and seventh nationally in KOR yardage and was third in the conference and 13th nationally with a 26.7 average per return. He set a school record with a 100-yard kickoff return at UConn and combined with a receiving TD vs. Charlotte and a rushing TD in the season finale vs. USF, Jackson became the first Owl to have a touchdown rushing, receiving, and by kick return since James Sykes in 1976.
Wyatt missed the last 11 games last season after suffering an injury in the season-opener vs. Sam Houston after leading the Owls in tackles with a career-high 81 in 2023. He played a career-best 761 snaps on defense and added 61 on special teams in 2023. Wyatt opened the season with eight tackles at Texas to set a career-high and bettered it three times, including a pair of double-figure games (10 vs. UConn, 12 vs. Tulane).
Stickle solidified the middle of the Owls' offensive line last season after transferring from Florida State. He started all 12 games and was second on the squad with 790 offensive snaps.
Daley was a disruptive force in the Owls' rotation at defensive end in his first season on South Main, playing in 10 games with 205 snaps on defense and 87 on special teams. He was credited with 14 tackles, including 5.5 for loss (30 yards), with three sacks (24 yards) and a pair of forced fumbles, which led the team and tied for fifth in the AAC
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