Owls Place Seven on Athlon Preseason Team
7/3/2025 3:04:00 PM | Football
Thoompson and Jackson named to first team
Tyson Thompson and Quinton Jackson lead a group of seven Rice Owls who were named to Athlon Sports 2025 preseason All-AAC team.
Thompson and Jackson were named to the first team as the kick return specialists, with Thompson named the top punt returner and Jackson the first team selection as a kick returner, in addition to being named to the third team as an all-purpose back. Defenders Blake Boenisch and Ty Morris were named to the second team, while Michael Daley was named to the third team and Andrew Awe to the fourth squad. Center David Stickle was named to the fourth team on offense.
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.
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.
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).
Morris was a second-team All-AAC pick last year by College Football News after leading the Owls with 56 tackles in his first year as a starter at linebacker. He was second on the squad with 7.5 TFL, tied for fourth in QB hits (3), and ranked fifth in total pressures (13).
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.
Awe was just behind Morris on the tackle chart in 2024, finishing with a career-best 52 while making 10 starts. He closed the season strongly, with 22 of his 52 tackles coming in the final four games. In the season finale vs. USF, he was credited with his first career sack, one of a career-best two TFLs on the day.
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.
Thompson and Jackson were named to the first team as the kick return specialists, with Thompson named the top punt returner and Jackson the first team selection as a kick returner, in addition to being named to the third team as an all-purpose back. Defenders Blake Boenisch and Ty Morris were named to the second team, while Michael Daley was named to the third team and Andrew Awe to the fourth squad. Center David Stickle was named to the fourth team on offense.
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.
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.
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).
Morris was a second-team All-AAC pick last year by College Football News after leading the Owls with 56 tackles in his first year as a starter at linebacker. He was second on the squad with 7.5 TFL, tied for fourth in QB hits (3), and ranked fifth in total pressures (13).
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.
Awe was just behind Morris on the tackle chart in 2024, finishing with a career-best 52 while making 10 starts. He closed the season strongly, with 22 of his 52 tackles coming in the final four games. In the season finale vs. USF, he was credited with his first career sack, one of a career-best two TFLs on the day.
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.
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