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Rice University Athletics
Owls Add Eight to 2026 Recruiting Class
2/4/2026 2:25:00 PM | Football
Class grows to 26
HOUSTON- Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Scott Abell announced the signing of eight additional high school standouts to increase the total of new recruits to 26.
The eight additions include four on offense, adding another running back, slot receiver, tight end, and offensive lineman, while the Owls added three additional players on defense by signing two safeties and a cornerback, as well as a deep snapper.
"We were very strategic with our efforts in rounding out this class, and I can't wait to get them to campus this summer, " Abell said. "I have said that the cornerstone of our program is in developing players, and each of these young men has the skills and the competitive fire to thrive in that kind of environment."
Four of the newest Owls are products of Texas high schools, bringing the total to 14 in the overall class. In addition to Texas, the 2026 class has players from a total of 11 states, with two from Georgia and Oklahoma, and one each from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee.
Seth Brown SAF 6-0 180 Valdosta, Georgia (Valdosta)
First team All-Region as a senior for coach Shelton Felton as the Wildcats reached the semifinals of the 6A state championship while posting a 12-2 record… Credited with 65 tackles, eight pass breakups, and four interceptions as a senior and 137 tackles, 19 pass breakups, nine interceptions, and two forced fumbles… Three-year starter at Valdosta posted a 29-9 record over that stretch.
Jackson DeAtley TE 6-3 245 Lake Jackson, Texas (Angleton)
Three-year starter and four-year letterman, first at Brazoswood and then as a senior at Angleton for coach Jason Brittain as the Wildcats finished 12-2 and second in District 5A-11 D1… Caught 13 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns in his first action at tight end…. Second-team All-District 24-6A as a sophomore at Brazoswood, after compiling 45 tackles, nine tackles for loss (four sacks), and 10 quarterback pressures.
Xavier Ether SAF 6-0 185 Tampa, Florida (Chamberlain)
Three-year starter for coach Jason Lane…. Helped spark a turnaround for the Chamberlain Bulldogs, leading them to back-to-back 7-4 seasons and playoff appearances, improving from an 0-11 season as a sophomore… Led 3A football in Florida by averaging 38.6 yards on 11 punt returns…Combined his 423 punt return yards with 225 yards rushing and 283 in receptions to finish 995 all-purpose yards while chalking up 50 tackles as a senior… Finished his career with 109 tackles and six interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns…. Picked off five passes as a junior, which ranked ninth in 3A… Scored 17 touchdowns in his career, including three on interceptions and two on punt returns…. Team Captain and Team MVP.
Bennett Eivans OL 6-4 275 Austin, Texas (Vista Ridge)
Two-time All-District 25-6A selection for coach Chris Scott as the Rangers reached the state playoffs in both seasons…Two-time Vista Ridge Lineman of the Year… Did not allow a sack in over 300 pass attempts as a senior and allowed just two in over 600 pass attempts in his career…Team captain… Also played basketball… Academic All-State… National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society… Leader in local FCA chapter.
Jordan Mitchell CB 5-10 165 Missouri City, Texas (Ridge Point)
Second-team All-District 21-6A as a senior for coach Rick LaFavers. Picked off three passes and returned them for 97 yards as a senior… Began his career at Fort Bend Elkins, where he was a three-year starter… Academic All-District… Also competed in track.
Justin Powell RB 6-0 210 Lyons, Georgia (Toombs County)
Offensive Player of the Year in Region 3-A DI for coach Buddy Martin… Rushed for 1817 yards on 232 carries (8.1 average) and 33 touchdowns as a senior, leading Toombs County to the Class A DI championship game after winning the title in his junior season… Rushed for 258 yards and scored eight touchdowns in seven games as a junior and wrapped his career with 2,129 yards and 41 touchdowns on the ground…. Added four sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles and one recovery at linebacker on defense as a senior.
Sawyer Rice SLOT 6-0 200 Duncan, Oklahoma (Duncan)
Offensive Player of the Year in District 1-5AStephens County Co-Player of the Year as a senior for coach Matt Terry as the Demons reached the state playoffs for the first time in five years… Responsible for 23 touchdowns on offense at quarterback while also returning three kickoffs for scores… Honorable Mention All-State by The Oklahoman… 5A State Track Finalist & State runner-up as a member of Duncan's 4x100 relay.
Hamilton Sharpe LS 6-1 220 The Woodlands, Texas (College Park)
First team All-District 13-6A selection for coach Kyle Coats as College Park went 12-1, captured the school's first district title in five seasons, and reached the 6A D2 Region 2 championship game… Ranked as a four-star prospect by Kohls.
The eight additions include four on offense, adding another running back, slot receiver, tight end, and offensive lineman, while the Owls added three additional players on defense by signing two safeties and a cornerback, as well as a deep snapper.
"We were very strategic with our efforts in rounding out this class, and I can't wait to get them to campus this summer, " Abell said. "I have said that the cornerstone of our program is in developing players, and each of these young men has the skills and the competitive fire to thrive in that kind of environment."
Four of the newest Owls are products of Texas high schools, bringing the total to 14 in the overall class. In addition to Texas, the 2026 class has players from a total of 11 states, with two from Georgia and Oklahoma, and one each from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee.
| RICE OWLS FOOTBALL FEBRUARY 2026 SIGNEES | ||||
| NAME | POS | HT | WT | HOMETOWN / HS / PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| Seth Brown | SAF | 6-0 | 180 | Valdosta, Georgia (Valdosta) |
| Jackson DeAtley | TE | 6-3 | 245 | Lake Jackson, Texas (Angleton) |
| Xavier Ether | SAF | 6-0 | 185 | Tampa, Florida (Chamberlain) |
| Bennett Eivens | OL | 6-4 | 275 | Austin, Texas (Vista Ridge) |
| Jordan Mitchell | CB | 5-10 | 165 | Missouri City, Texas (Ridge Point) |
| Justin Powell | RB | 6-0 | 210 | Lyons, Georgia (Toombs County) |
| Sawyer Rice | SLOT | 6-0 | 200 | Duncan, Oklahoma (Duncan) |
| Hamilton Sharpe | LS | 6-2 | 220 | The Woodlands, Texas (College Park) |
Seth Brown SAF 6-0 180 Valdosta, Georgia (Valdosta)
First team All-Region as a senior for coach Shelton Felton as the Wildcats reached the semifinals of the 6A state championship while posting a 12-2 record… Credited with 65 tackles, eight pass breakups, and four interceptions as a senior and 137 tackles, 19 pass breakups, nine interceptions, and two forced fumbles… Three-year starter at Valdosta posted a 29-9 record over that stretch.
Jackson DeAtley TE 6-3 245 Lake Jackson, Texas (Angleton)
Three-year starter and four-year letterman, first at Brazoswood and then as a senior at Angleton for coach Jason Brittain as the Wildcats finished 12-2 and second in District 5A-11 D1… Caught 13 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns in his first action at tight end…. Second-team All-District 24-6A as a sophomore at Brazoswood, after compiling 45 tackles, nine tackles for loss (four sacks), and 10 quarterback pressures.
Xavier Ether SAF 6-0 185 Tampa, Florida (Chamberlain)
Three-year starter for coach Jason Lane…. Helped spark a turnaround for the Chamberlain Bulldogs, leading them to back-to-back 7-4 seasons and playoff appearances, improving from an 0-11 season as a sophomore… Led 3A football in Florida by averaging 38.6 yards on 11 punt returns…Combined his 423 punt return yards with 225 yards rushing and 283 in receptions to finish 995 all-purpose yards while chalking up 50 tackles as a senior… Finished his career with 109 tackles and six interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns…. Picked off five passes as a junior, which ranked ninth in 3A… Scored 17 touchdowns in his career, including three on interceptions and two on punt returns…. Team Captain and Team MVP.
Bennett Eivans OL 6-4 275 Austin, Texas (Vista Ridge)
Two-time All-District 25-6A selection for coach Chris Scott as the Rangers reached the state playoffs in both seasons…Two-time Vista Ridge Lineman of the Year… Did not allow a sack in over 300 pass attempts as a senior and allowed just two in over 600 pass attempts in his career…Team captain… Also played basketball… Academic All-State… National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society… Leader in local FCA chapter.
Jordan Mitchell CB 5-10 165 Missouri City, Texas (Ridge Point)
Second-team All-District 21-6A as a senior for coach Rick LaFavers. Picked off three passes and returned them for 97 yards as a senior… Began his career at Fort Bend Elkins, where he was a three-year starter… Academic All-District… Also competed in track.
Justin Powell RB 6-0 210 Lyons, Georgia (Toombs County)
Offensive Player of the Year in Region 3-A DI for coach Buddy Martin… Rushed for 1817 yards on 232 carries (8.1 average) and 33 touchdowns as a senior, leading Toombs County to the Class A DI championship game after winning the title in his junior season… Rushed for 258 yards and scored eight touchdowns in seven games as a junior and wrapped his career with 2,129 yards and 41 touchdowns on the ground…. Added four sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles and one recovery at linebacker on defense as a senior.
Sawyer Rice SLOT 6-0 200 Duncan, Oklahoma (Duncan)
Offensive Player of the Year in District 1-5AStephens County Co-Player of the Year as a senior for coach Matt Terry as the Demons reached the state playoffs for the first time in five years… Responsible for 23 touchdowns on offense at quarterback while also returning three kickoffs for scores… Honorable Mention All-State by The Oklahoman… 5A State Track Finalist & State runner-up as a member of Duncan's 4x100 relay.
Hamilton Sharpe LS 6-1 220 The Woodlands, Texas (College Park)
First team All-District 13-6A selection for coach Kyle Coats as College Park went 12-1, captured the school's first district title in five seasons, and reached the 6A D2 Region 2 championship game… Ranked as a four-star prospect by Kohls.
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