Rice
Owls

Zaunbrecher is auditioning replacements this spring for Chase Clement, who passed for 4,119 yards and 44 touchdowns in 2008 and threw for 9,785 yards and 99 touchdowns in his career.

His unbiased eye as a new arrival sets up a pure position battle between fifth-year senior John Thomas Shepherd, Alabama transfer Nick Fanuzzi and redshirt freshman Ryan Lewis. He even created a chart to ensure an even distribution of reps during spring practice, which runs from March 9 through April 1 with the spring game on March 28.

"What we'll do early in spring is divvy up to make sure they're each getting quality time when we do things where it matters with the [projected starters]," head coach David Bailiff told the Houston Chronicle. "It's important to have a No. 1 offensive line and the No. 1 receivers to really have an opportunity to showcase what your talents are, and how you can play with [the first-team defense] coming back at you."

The Owls were 10-3 in Bailiff's second season in 2008, earning him C-USA Coach of the Year honors. The new quarterback doesn't get any breaks from the 2009 schedule, which opens with three straight road games at UAB, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "The challenge that jumps out at you is that we have to find a quarterback and get him ready to go. They will all get their time with the first team and get their opportunity. Hopefully, by the end of spring we will know who is No. 1 and then he will get the majority of the reps." -- Rice head coach David Bailiff.

FS Andrew Sendejo -- Despite missing three games last season, he still led Rice with 94 tackles (64 solo) and three fumble recoveries. The 6-1, 210-pound senior also tied for the team lead with three interceptions.

DE Scott Solomon -- The honorable mention all-conference selection led the Owls with nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last season. He finished strong, with sacks in each of his last three games and 20 of his 40 tackles over the last four games.

TOP NEWCOMERS:

RB Shane Turner -- The 5-9, 175-pound redshirt freshman had six carries in two games last season before suffering a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery. As a senior year at Houston's Cy Falls High, he scored 28 touchdowns and averaged 8.0 yards per carry (1,513 total) while also catching 26 passes for another 302 yards.

CB Andre Brackens -- Ranked as the No. 21 cornerback in the class of 2009 by Scout.com, he was a four-year starter and two-time all-state at Parish Episcopal in Dallas. He was district MVP in 2008 with nine picks and "has the physical maturity to step right in," Bailiff said.

K Chris Boswell -- He earned a three-star rating and was the fifth-ranked kicker in the class of 2009, according to Rivals.com. The four-time all-district selection hit 39-of-43 career field-goal attempts and was perfect on 172 extra points. He played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Rice hired veteran coach Ronnie Vinklarek as the new offensive line coach to replace Blake Miller, who took the same position at Utah. He is no stranger to C-USA football, having coached at Houston from 1988-93 and SMU from 2004-07.

--Fans will have to wait patiently for a chance to see the Owls at Rice Stadium. The team opens with three consecutive road games at UAB (Sept. 5), Texas Tech (Sept. 12) and Oklahoma State (Sept. 19) before the Sept. 26 home opener against Vanderbilt.