Spring onfo on RICE
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:06 amAs we told you last week, coach David Bailiff can't be feeling too secure about his job with a new, trigger-happy athletic director in place. But Bailiff may finally have the pieces -- at least on offense -- to get the Owls over .500.
Rice's top two rushers -- sophomore Charles Ross and junior Tyler Smith -- return. Add to them heralded Michigan transfer Sam McGuffie, a sophomore who ripped off two TD runs in Tuesday's intrasquad scrimmage, including a 50-yarder, and redshirt freshman Turner Petersen, whose physical style belies a guy who came to Rice as a WR, and the Owls suddenly have the depth to run the ball all day.
Moreover, at QB, junior returning starter Nick Fanuzzi is expected to have his hands full fighting off challenges from the two Taylors (and we don't mean Lautner and Swift): sophomore Miami transfer Taylor Cook, a Ryan Mallett clone at 6-foot-7, and redshirt freshman Taylor McHargue, who is considered the best athlete among the three.
The college football world is littered with transfers who never lived up to their hype, but if Rice's pair can deliver, the Owls could make a move in Conference USA.
Rice's top two rushers -- sophomore Charles Ross and junior Tyler Smith -- return. Add to them heralded Michigan transfer Sam McGuffie, a sophomore who ripped off two TD runs in Tuesday's intrasquad scrimmage, including a 50-yarder, and redshirt freshman Turner Petersen, whose physical style belies a guy who came to Rice as a WR, and the Owls suddenly have the depth to run the ball all day.
Moreover, at QB, junior returning starter Nick Fanuzzi is expected to have his hands full fighting off challenges from the two Taylors (and we don't mean Lautner and Swift): sophomore Miami transfer Taylor Cook, a Ryan Mallett clone at 6-foot-7, and redshirt freshman Taylor McHargue, who is considered the best athlete among the three.
The college football world is littered with transfers who never lived up to their hype, but if Rice's pair can deliver, the Owls could make a move in Conference USA.
