Linemen Gordon, Anderson leaving as grad transfers
Rice left tackle Calvin Anderson and defensive lineman Preston Gordon, who both graduate in May, have opted to leave Rice as graduate transfers and are finding some bigname interest.
“I sat down with my family and we talked about my dreams and what I want in the future,” Anderson said. “The biggest thing that Rice can’t offer me is the competition level; playing against bigger and better players.”
Anderson is a three-year starter and two-time All-Conference USA performer. He wants to display his talents on a bigger stage to better prepare himself for the 2019 NFL draft.
He’s being courted by a litany of schools looking to shore up their blind side, including Texas, Oklahoma, Auburn, Michigan, Notre Dame, TCU and Tennessee.
After committing to Rice as a junior in high school, Anderson largely avoided the recruiting experience — he received just one offer from Rice, according to 247 Sports — but has enjoyed much more attention this time around.
“I haven’t figured out where else I’m going to go,” said Anderson, who visited Texas last week and intends to visit Michigan this week. “I’m still listening to coaches and what they have to say.”
After receiving offers from just Rice and Wake Forest coming out of high school in Frisco, Gordon has garnered interest from Texas Tech, Kansas, Tulane and Texas Southern. The redshirt senior recorded a sack and 4½ tackles for loss in 2017.
“I didn’t want to be (at Rice) for a year and not get anything academically out of it,” Gordon said of his decision to transfer. “I liked Rice … I learned a lot and built a lot of relationships that I’m going to carry on after college.”
The sports management major has approached the process with open eyes and ears.
“Of course everyone wants to play in the Power Five and I had always dreamed about of doing that,” he said. “In high school, I wasn’t the tallest, but I grew a little bit at Rice so that helped get this opportunity.”
Gordon cannot transfer to another C-USA school or to any of the Owls’ 2018 non-conference opponents — Hawaii, the University of Houston, LSU, Prairie View A&M, Wake Forest — per the conditions of his release.
Rice lost another starter when safety J.T. Ibe announced his intentions to transfer.
“With prayer, deep thoughts and consideration I have decided to transfer out of Rice University for my last year of eligibility after graduating in May,” Ibe wrote on Twitter. “Football is my passion and I thank Rice for every lesson I have learned in my time on and off the field.”
Ibe’s transfer is restricted to the same guidelines as Gordon’s.
The Owls got some good news when another defensive lineman, Graysen Schantz, opted to stay after being granted a sixth year of eligibility. Schantz, who’s endured two season-ending injuries in the last three seasons, was a force on one of the conference’s most productive defensive fronts last year.
“After much thought and prayer, I have decided to stay and continue my education at Rice University,” he wrote. “I’m excited to play under coach (Mike) Bloomgren, and to win another conference championship!”