Owls of the AAC: Rice, Temple, FAU Football Preview

Rice Owls, Temple Owls, FAU Owls

Three schools with Owl mascots in one conference feels a bit awkward! But here we are: Rice, Temple, and FAU all enter 2025 with new coaches and are programs that are seriously in need of remedy. So grouping them together just felt right! Let's see if any program can make some noise in year 1 and get their respective stadiums "hooting" and hollering. Enough excruciating banter; let's dive in!

Rice Owls

2024 Record

4-8

Coaching Staff

Scott Abell comes over to Rice from Davidson. He led Davidson to their first winning season since 2007 in his first year in charge (2018). He will implement the Gun-Choice option, a nutty offense scheme that will surely cause chaos to teams that are ineffective at stopping the run. For five straight seasons, Abell's Davidson side led FCS in rushing. In 2018, Davidson, let me be clear on this… rushed for 789 yards in one ball game! One thing that also stood out for Abell is that while he really stabilized a miserable program, he never won massively, 8-4 being the best record he churned out at Davidson, so while he will raise the floor unquestionably, he and his unique style may not have Rice competing for conference titles. Vince Munch follows Abell from Davidson as offensive coordinator, so this system will be dialed in. Defensively, Jon Kay gets promoted from linebackers coach. This defense was legit last season, ranking 3rd in PFF in the AAC. They also return some key pieces, so keeping that continuity with Kay is very promising.

Quarterback

It's still up in the air, but the likely starter will be Chase Jenkins. Abell has talked much about his ability to tinker and tweak with guys' positions. As a talent evaluator, he has had to utilize that ability throughout the coaching ranks, working with programs that don't have many resources. Jenkins will be transitioning back to QB from WR. He played QB in '23 and moved to WR last season. Abell clearly likes the former high school track athlete's ability to run the offense, as he picked him to move back under center.

Five players that will be key

Ty Morris: Abell recently discussed how this guy will play on Sundays. The linebacker was second team all AAC and led the team with 56 tackles and four sacks. This kid was a massive keep for Rice, as his mentality and leadership are instrumental.

Blake Boenisch: The fourth-best-graded DT returning in the conference. In a league that is not renowned for having teams good at stopping the run, having a guy like this is huge. This guy has been a stalwart since the day he set foot on campus. If this defense is to replicate last year's success, he will be instrumental.

Quinten Jackson: An electric special teamer so far in his tenure at Rice, the scheme change could be the perfect fit for Jackson. He set a career high with 275 yards rushing last season. Don't be surprised if the RB doesn't triple that number this year.

Aaron Turner: On a team bereft of WR talent, Turner will need to assimilate quickly. Hand-picked out of the portal from Cincinnati, Turner never really lived up to expectations with the Bearcats. As it goes in modern college football, Turner was at UCONN prior and, in 2022, led the team with 57 receptions and 3 TDS, so Abell will be hoping a step down in level will revitalize Turner. Rice will need some juice from him!

Offensive line: Not one player, but a collective unit that returns quite a bit. Continuity is key at the line, and Rice returns quite a bit. However, the pieces they returned did not grade out well. What will be fascinating is how this group takes to the demands of the scheme. Munch, the coordinator, works with the line specifically. If you got into Rice, you gotta be a smart kid! So this is an exciting group. David Stickle, a former Florida State transfer, returns; Sean Sullivan, a transfer from Yale, graded out well in the Ivy League, and John Long, who has been limited for back-to-back seasons due to injury, could prove to be key pieces.

Intrigue Barometer: It's a warm for me. Rice will give teams fits this season. I like how Abell stepped in and had relative success straightaway at Davidson. This team also returns a decent bit on the 0-Line and defensively! Abell has discussed how he is highly confident in his defense being one of the best in the conference, which to me is intriguing, as the offensive scheme could be what makes opponents come unstuck. That said, man, that QB/WR situation looks grim. We know that Rice will run the rock to no end, but it looks like this team has no plan B. Not that Abell wants one, this team will be competitive, but not a dark horse to do something spectacular in year 1.

Temple Owls

2024 Record

3-9

Coaching Staff:

Pennsylvania native K.C. Keeler comes in after leading a very successful stint at Sam Houston. Keeler knows how to win ball games; the two-time FCS national champion (1 Delaware,1 Sam Houston) has orchestrated Eleven 9 or more win seasons since 2002. This includes last season's 9-3 finish with Sam Houston, which was just the program's second season after moving to FBS. When you peel back the curtain, he has consistently talked about multiple things since taking over at Temple. Culture building in this era of college football, recruiting the Philly area, and getting the Philadelphia fanbase back to caring about this program. Brian Smith comes over from Rice as the defensive coordinator. Like we just discussed, Rice had a salty defense last season, and Smith played at UMASS and is from Delaware, so he will know how to recruit the East Coast. Tyler Walker is at the helm of the offense; his QB at Montana State won the Walter Payton award last season (FCS Heisman). Montana State put up 40 points per contest last season, leading all of FCS, and it is an intriguing hire.

Quarterback

Like all these schools, it will always be classified as a competition at this time of year. Still, by all accounts, Evan Simon will probably get first crack at it, last year's starter. Simon threw 15 TDs and 9 interceptions last season, he will need to be solid as Gevani McCoy had real success at the FCS level a couple years ago as he was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award in 2023, and had some flashes at Oregon State last season, the new offensive coordinator will be very familiar with his game coming from the FCS.

Star man

Jay Ducker: Ducker follows Keeler from Sam Houston to Temple. The running back went for 745 yards and 7 touchdowns a year ago. What is fascinating about Ducker is he is the one guy Keeler brought with him from Sam Houston, no other player or coaches, so he must be special!

Point of interest

Keeler has discussed quite a bit this offseason about how this group's defensive line is a real strength. When you peel back the curtain, it will be interesting to see which of that group will shine on Saturdays. Sultan Badmus was the only true freshman to play every game last year. He could make strides off the edge. While Keeler has brought up guys like Tyrese Whitaker and Cam Stewart, they are both very unproven at this level, and there are a lot of unknowns for a supposed group of strength for this group.

Intrigue Barometer

Cold. I think this year 1 situation is all about building a foundation. It is fascinating that Keeler didn't bring any position coach over with him. He is building this culture brick by brick with deep ties in the Northeast region. Over time, Keeler could bring absolute stability and grit to this program. But this season doesn't seem all that exciting. Solid defensively, I'm sure. I wonder if either one of these QBs will get you on the edge of your seat, especially behind an O-line that looks uninspiring, to put it mildly.

FAU

2024 Record

3-9

Coaching Staff

Zach Kittley was hired this offseason to lead FAU. He comes over from a 3-year stint as offensive coordinator of Texas Tech, and before that, the brains behind the Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky offense that was much adored by college football faithful. Texas Tech did lead the Big 12 in total offense last season, and in the famous Hilltoppers season of 2021, his offense was second in the nation in yards per game. This will be his first year as a head coach. Brett Dewhurst comes in as defensive coordinator, which is an interesting hire, as he was an analyst for Coastal Carolina last season. He worked multiple stops at Texas Tech and has a previous relationship with Kittley. This defense looks gutted, so hopefully he has some magic up his sleeve!

Quarterback

This is where things get fun! Caden Veltkamp, the former Western Kentucky QB and last season's CUSA offensive player of the year, transfers in to bring Kittley's offense to life. Over 3,000 yards passing and 25 touchdowns a year ago. At 6'6 this kid has all the tools to go nuclear in the AAC; it could be, dare I say, Bailey Zappe-esque.

Guys to watch

Easton Messer: Not only did the Owls get Veltkamp from WKU, but the Owls also brought one of his go-to targets. Easton Messer caught 55 balls last season and received 793 yards; that chemistry will be dialed in from the jump.

CJ Doggette Jr.: On a team bereft of many options on either line, Doggette is an Ohio transfer who could make some noise on the defense. 3 sacks and 7 TFLS on the MAC champs last season, he needs to be a difference maker for these Owls.

Eyebrow raiser

It might be looking into things too much, but I am always intrigued to see which guys a coach brings to media days. Bryce Langston was the selection alongside QB Veltkamp for FAU. The former 4-star DT, with all due respect, did not grade out particularly well last season. He also managed just 8 tackles. He likely is a great locker room guy and teammate, but when you look at the state of this roster, it might be a telling sign if you're relying on a guy like that. I certainly don't want to be harsh here, and I hope he is a stalwart for this defensive line, but both lines look highly questionable on paper.

Level of intrigue

Intrigue Barometer

Luke warm. This was piping hot initially! The coach QB connection had my eyes wide open! The air-raid style offense could torch the suspect secondaries of this league, but man, you really have to squint when looking at those lines to find solid pieces. Will this team be fun? Absolutely, will they win a lot of ball games? That remains to be seen.

Actionable

Wagering on teams like these is like rolling up to a Vegas roulette table at 2 in the morning. Hitting the massive long shot feels great. But we have all been there before, chucking a hefty wager on a small school, thinking we really know the landscape of college football, only for the season to end with the tail well and truly between your legs. Having said that, Rice's new scheme and solid defense are enough to get 4 wins! I mean, this team won 4 games last year? It's also not exactly a murderers' row of a schedule, especially considering the struggles North Texas, FAU, and UAB might face against the run. Rice over 3.5 wins is a bet I'm willing to get behind. If you're desperate for an absolute prayer, FAU +150000 to win the AAC on Draftkings is worth the punt. What intrigues me is that some books have them +8000, so give me that extra juice and let's see if that air raid can wreak havoc! Not likely! But having a ticket like that in your pocket always gives a bit of an extra buzz to your fall Saturdays.