2023 Roster
Roster
Connors, Dean
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Jersey Number 0
Dean Connors
- Height:
- 6-null
- Weight:
- 205
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Kamuela, Hawai'i
- High School:
- Murrieta Valley (CA)
Bio
Honors at Rice
2024
Set Rice career running back records for receptions (113) and receiving yards (912) while leading the Owls in rushing (780 yards), touchdowns (11), rushing touchdowns (9), and all-purpose yards (1,265) and was second with 62 receptions and 485 receiving yards… 62 receptions this season were the most by a running back in the country in the regular season… First Owl to lead the team in rushing in consecutive seasons since Charles Ross in 2012 and 2013… Had three rushing plays of better than 50 yards, topped by a career-best 71-yarder vs. Texas Southern, and his four career carries of 50+ were the most by an Owl since Quinton Smith had five from 2003-06… Scored from 69 yards out on a catch and run vs. UTSA… Topped 100 yards rushing three times (career high) with 121 vs. Charlotte, 113 vs. Texas Southern and 105 vs. Navy and topped 100 yards receiving for the first time in his career vs. UTSA (109).
2023
Enjoyed a breakout season, leading the Owls in rushing (771 yards), rushing touchdowns (7), and all-purpose yards (1,189) while also catching 43 passes for 403 yards and three scores… Averaged 6.4 yards per carry, the highest for a Rice running back with at least 100 carries since Thomas Lott Jr. averaged 6.4 in 2005 (140/902) … Closed the season by rushing for 591 yards on 80 carries over his last seven games… Ran for a pair of touchdowns in the First Responder Bowl, the first Owl with multiple rushing touchdowns in a bowl game since Dicky Maegle in the 1954 Cotton Bowl… Became the first Owl with two, 100-yard games in a season since Astin Walter had four in 2019… One of only two FBS running backs to have at least two runs of 50+ yards and one reception of at least 80 yards and the first Rice running back to have three plays of better than 50 yards since Austin Walter had four in 2017… His 80-yard catch and run from JT Daniels at USF was the longest scoring play since Driphus Jackson and Jordan Taylor combined on an 88-yard touchdown pass vs. North Texas in 2014 and it was the longest pass reception by a Rice running back since Chase Clement and Quinton Smith combined on an 80-yard scoring play vs. Houston in 2006… His 42 receptions were the most for a Rice running back since Austin Walter had 44 in 2018.
2022
Rushed for 128 yards on 28 carries, caught eight passes for 24 yards and a touchdown, and returned seven kickoffs for 133 yards in his first action with the Owls… Returned a fourth-quarter kickoff vs. UTEP for 28 yards to set up a field goal to put Rice back in front 30-27… Led the team with a 19-yard average on his seven kickoff returns… Made his collegiate debut at USC and rushed for 28 yards on six carries and added 44 on six carries (including a long of 22) vs. McNeese… Delivered the winning points against UAB with his first career touchdown, a six-yard pass from JT McMahon.
Prior to Rice
Led Riverside Community College with seven rushing touchdowns while rushing for 516 yards on 107 carries (4.8) in 2021 as the Tigers reached the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) title game for the second consecutive year… Southwestern League MVP as a senior in 2020 at Murrieta Valley HS for coach George Wilson during a shortened five-game season… All-State performer in track.
Personal
Full name: Dean Russell Connors... Born: August 29 at Bend, Oregon... Parents: Brian Connors and Toni Johnson…One sister … Father played football at Pacific and sister (Hillary) runs track at Linfield University... Rice major: Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology... Rice College: Will Rice
Will Rice College
- C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ( 2023
- All-AAC 2024 (Coaches, Honorable mention; (Phil Steele, fourth team, CFN, second team), 2023 (Phil Steele, third team)
- Dave Campbell's Texas Football 2024 All-Texas College (second team)
- George R. Brown Offense Award 2023, 2024
- AAC All-Academic 2024
2024
Set Rice career running back records for receptions (113) and receiving yards (912) while leading the Owls in rushing (780 yards), touchdowns (11), rushing touchdowns (9), and all-purpose yards (1,265) and was second with 62 receptions and 485 receiving yards… 62 receptions this season were the most by a running back in the country in the regular season… First Owl to lead the team in rushing in consecutive seasons since Charles Ross in 2012 and 2013… Had three rushing plays of better than 50 yards, topped by a career-best 71-yarder vs. Texas Southern, and his four career carries of 50+ were the most by an Owl since Quinton Smith had five from 2003-06… Scored from 69 yards out on a catch and run vs. UTSA… Topped 100 yards rushing three times (career high) with 121 vs. Charlotte, 113 vs. Texas Southern and 105 vs. Navy and topped 100 yards receiving for the first time in his career vs. UTSA (109).
2023
Enjoyed a breakout season, leading the Owls in rushing (771 yards), rushing touchdowns (7), and all-purpose yards (1,189) while also catching 43 passes for 403 yards and three scores… Averaged 6.4 yards per carry, the highest for a Rice running back with at least 100 carries since Thomas Lott Jr. averaged 6.4 in 2005 (140/902) … Closed the season by rushing for 591 yards on 80 carries over his last seven games… Ran for a pair of touchdowns in the First Responder Bowl, the first Owl with multiple rushing touchdowns in a bowl game since Dicky Maegle in the 1954 Cotton Bowl… Became the first Owl with two, 100-yard games in a season since Astin Walter had four in 2019… One of only two FBS running backs to have at least two runs of 50+ yards and one reception of at least 80 yards and the first Rice running back to have three plays of better than 50 yards since Austin Walter had four in 2017… His 80-yard catch and run from JT Daniels at USF was the longest scoring play since Driphus Jackson and Jordan Taylor combined on an 88-yard touchdown pass vs. North Texas in 2014 and it was the longest pass reception by a Rice running back since Chase Clement and Quinton Smith combined on an 80-yard scoring play vs. Houston in 2006… His 42 receptions were the most for a Rice running back since Austin Walter had 44 in 2018.
2022
Rushed for 128 yards on 28 carries, caught eight passes for 24 yards and a touchdown, and returned seven kickoffs for 133 yards in his first action with the Owls… Returned a fourth-quarter kickoff vs. UTEP for 28 yards to set up a field goal to put Rice back in front 30-27… Led the team with a 19-yard average on his seven kickoff returns… Made his collegiate debut at USC and rushed for 28 yards on six carries and added 44 on six carries (including a long of 22) vs. McNeese… Delivered the winning points against UAB with his first career touchdown, a six-yard pass from JT McMahon.
Prior to Rice
Led Riverside Community College with seven rushing touchdowns while rushing for 516 yards on 107 carries (4.8) in 2021 as the Tigers reached the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) title game for the second consecutive year… Southwestern League MVP as a senior in 2020 at Murrieta Valley HS for coach George Wilson during a shortened five-game season… All-State performer in track.
Personal
Full name: Dean Russell Connors... Born: August 29 at Bend, Oregon... Parents: Brian Connors and Toni Johnson…One sister … Father played football at Pacific and sister (Hillary) runs track at Linfield University... Rice major: Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology... Rice College: Will Rice
Will Rice College
WBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09
VB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02
