Rice University Athletics
Rasheed Named Owls Defensive Line Coach
1/29/2026 11:52:00 AM | Football
Developed 15 All-Big 12 linemen at Iowa State in 10 seasons
Houston: Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Scott Abell announced on Thursday the addition of veteran defensive coach Eli Rasheed, who will take over as the Owls' defensive line coach.
Rasheed comes to South Main after 10 seasons at Iowa State, where he saw his linemen earn 26 All-Big 12 honors and two (JaQuan Bailey and Will McDonald IV) earn first-team All-American honors.
The Cyclones annually ranked among the top defenses in the conference and earned bowl berths in eight of the last nine seasons.
"I'm so excited to officially announce the addition of Eli Rasheed to the Rice Football staff," Abell stated. "Eli's years of experience will not only help develop our student athletes on the field but also help them grow off the field. We're so excited to welcome Eli and his family to the Rice Football Family," he added.
Rasheed coached for 17 years under head coach Matt Campbell, including seven at Toledo, before moving on to Ames in 2016.
The Cyclones qualified for bowl games in eight of the last nine seasons, regularly appeared in the national rankings, and totaled eight of ISU's nine above-.500 seasons in the history of the Big 12 Conference (1996-present) since 2017.
Rasheed's strong defensive front has aided Iowa State in ranking second (20.9- 2017), first (22.9- 2018), third (25.9- 2019), second (21.4- 2020), third (20.5, 2021), first (20.2, 2022), third (22.8, 2023), fifth (22.9, 2024) and fifth again (20.2, 2025) in the Big 12 in scoring defense, all totals among the Top 50 nationally.
The anchor of Rasheed's most recent Cyclone defensive front, Dominque Orange, was an All-Big 12 third team selection and is participating in this week's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
ISU's total defense numbers have been just as stout. ISU was second in the league in 2018 (349.2), 2020 (340.4), and 2021 (310.5), before finishing first in 2022 (285.6). In 2023, ISU was second in total defense (363.2).
Rasheed's linemen were a key factor in the greatest season in school history in 2024. ISU reached double-digit wins for the first time in program history (11-3), earned its second berth in the Big 12 Championship, and closed the year by defeating No. 15 Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
The Cyclones' 2022 defensive effort ranked fourth nationally in total defense and became the third in Big 12 history to lead the league in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense (107.3) and passing defense (178.2) in the same season.
McDonald IV and first-team All-Big 12 choice Enyi Uwazurike, led the way in 2021 as Iowa State tied for third in the Big 12 and equaled its school record for sacks (33).
McDonald IV left Iowa State as the Big 12 career sacks record-holder (34.0). He is second in school history for tackles for a loss (42.0) and forced fumbles (10), and was a three-time first-team All-Big 12 selection.
Rasheed's mentoring of Uwazurike is a Cyclone success story. A stalwart on the line for three seasons, Uwazurike returned for his sixth year in 2021 and had his finest season, ranking fourth in the league in sacks (9.0) to join McDonald IV as All-Big 12 first-team selections.
Uwazurike was a fourth-round pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2022 NFL Draft, and one year later, McDonald became the first Cyclone player drafted in the first round in 50 years when he was picked by the New York Jets in the 2023 draft.
The 2020 season was historic in many ways. Iowa State finished the regular season at the top of the Big 12 standings, reached the Big 12 Championship game for the first time, and qualified for a New Year's Six bowl for the first time in school history, capping the historic run with a 34-17 win over Oregon in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.
ISU's eight conference wins and nine overall wins eclipsed or tied school records at the time, and the Cyclones earned their highest ranking in school history during the season (#6) and postseason (#9).
ISU had one of the best rush defenses in the country in 2020, limiting opponents to just 103.1 rushing yards per game to lead the Big 12 and rank eighth nationally.
One of Rasheed's top Cyclone pupils was JaQuan Bailey, a three-time All-Big 12 pick who became ISU's first defensive lineman to earn All-America honors in 32 years in 2020. Bailey, who was also an All-Big 12 first-team selection in 2020, is Iowa State's career leader in TFL (44.5) and second in sacks (25.5).
Bailey (2020) and McDonald IV (2021) were both first-team All-American selections by the FWAA.
Rasheed has also coached Ray Lima, J.D. Waggoner, and MJ Anderson to All-Big 12 recognition. Lima was a three-time All-Big 12 choice (2017-19), Waggoner was an All-Big 12 Second Team pick in 2017, and Anderson earned honorable mention honors in 2022.
Rasheed's impact on Toledo's front four during his seven years at the school was pivotal to its success. Annually, the Rockets ranked among the MAC's elite in rushing defense and scoring defense.
In all, the Rockets qualified for four bowl games and registered four nine-win seasons in Rasheed's seven seasons at the school.
In 2015, the Rockets led the MAC in scoring defense (21.1) and ranked second in the league in rushing defense (115.5) in the 12-game regular season. UT beat two power five teams (Arkansas, Iowa State) and was ranked in the nation's top-25 throughout the majority of the season.
One of Rasheed's top players was senior Orion Jones, who was sixth in the MAC in sacks (6.0) and eighth in the league in TFL (11.5) to earn first-team All-MAC accolades. End Trent Voss was a third-team All-MAC pick after recording 58 tackles, 9.5 TFL, and two fumble recoveries.
The 2014 Rocket line may have been the best under Rasheed. A pair of tackles, Jones and sophomore Treyvon Hester, each earned All-MAC honors. Voss finished second in the MAC with 15.0 tackles for loss and earned defensive MVP honors in the GoDaddy Bowl when he racked up 4.0 TFL and scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery on the first play from scrimmage.
As a team, the Rockets led the MAC and ranked 14th nationally in rushing defense in 2014, allowing just 116.2 yards per game. It was the fewest rushing yards allowed by a Toledo defense in 13 years. Rocket opponents gained just 3.5 yards per carry, also the lowest since 2001.
In 2013, the Rockets ranked second in the MAC and 20th in the country with 2.8 sacks per game. Senior defensive end Jayrone Elliott led the way with nine sacks and 14.0 tackles for loss. Elliott, now with the Green Bay Packers, made first-team All-MAC, while freshman defensive tackle Treyvon Hester made third-team all-league.
In 2012, Rasheed was faced with the challenge of losing both of his starting defensive ends to injury. Nevertheless, the line held together, and Toledo finished with a 9-4 record and a berth into the 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Rasheed came to Toledo after spending six seasons as the defensive tackles coach at Florida Atlantic. Prior to that, he enjoyed a successful high school coaching career as an assistant at Venice (FL) High School and head coach at Booker (FL) High School.
Rasheed joined Florida Atlantic's staff in the 2003 season, helping the Owls to an 11-3 mark, a No. 13 ranking, and a semifinal appearance in the I-AA playoffs. The Owls moved to I-A status in 2006, and Rasheed helped mold a defensive line that keyed FAU's back-to-back bowl victories in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, the Owls went 8-5 and defeated Memphis in the New Orleans Bowl, 44-27. In 2008, FAU posted a 7-6 record and posted a 24-21 win over Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl.
Rasheed has coached three NFL players and multiple defensive linemen who later played in the Canadian Football League.
He grew up in Indianapolis and played defensive line at Indiana University from 1991-95, participating in bowl games in 1991 and 1993. He began his coaching career at Venice (FL) High School, working as an assistant from 1996-2000 and again in 2002. He helped the Indians capture the Florida 5A state, regional, and district championships in 2000 and 2002. Venice also captured the 1999 District Championship. In between his stints at Venice, Rasheed was the head coach at Booker (FL) High School, leading the Tornadoes to a 6-5 record in 2001.
Rasheed and his wife, Caprice, have six children: Shanita, Dezmen, a former Wisconsin safety who was drafted in the third round by Atlanta in 2014, Darius, Osha, Tyra, and Anthony.
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