Rice Owls Hoot of Fame
The Rice Owls Hoot of Fame is where the greatest players in Rice history are enshrined. The Hoot of Fame was created after the 2019 season.
Kwendi Nkwenti
| Season | Rushing | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yards | Avg | TD | Fum | |||||||
| 2015 | 12 | 12 | 146 | 585 | 4.01 | 3 | 0 | ||||||
| 2016 | 12 | 12 | 257 | 1,320 | 5.14 | 15 | 4 | ||||||
| 2017 | 12 | 12 | 280 | 1,310 | 4.68 | 13 | 1 | ||||||
| NCAA Career Totals | 36 | 36 | 683 | 3,215 | 4.71 | 31 | 5 | ||||||
Kwendi Nkwenti was born in Jupiter, Florida to two Nigerian parents. He grew up in a very strict household. Nkwenti became a star player for Jupiter High School, setting nearly every rushing record they have. He committed to Rice and headlined the recruiting class that head coach GoldenCatcus brought in. Nkwenti spent his freshman season behind senior running back Wayne Quinn before getting his chance as a sophomore in 2015. He had a mediocre season in a pass heavy offense. In 2016, head coach Bubada was hired and wanted Nkwenti to become the focal point of the offense. In his first game under Bubada, Nkwenti had 102 rushing yards and scored a game-winning 13 yard reception with 3 seconds left in the game to beat Indiana by 1. Ever since that moment, Nkwenti has been a fan favorite at Rice. Nkwenti went on to rush for 3,215 yards and 31 touchdowns in his career. He went undrafted but signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent. Nkwenti spent a season and a half as the #3 RB for the Cardinals before being let go. He spent some time with the Tennessee Titans on the practice squad and during the preseason. He is currently a free agent waiting for another chance.
Koren Donahue
| Season | Defense | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Tackles | Int | Sacks | FF | FR | TD | Safeties | |||||
| 2017 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2018 | 12 | 12 | 24 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| NCAA Career Totals | 24 | 24 | 39 | 7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
Donahue is from a small town in Mississippi. He always dreamed of playing in the NFL. He drew interest from major teams in the SEC and Big XII but that interest vanished when he was kicked out of high school for possessing marijuana in his locker. Donahue turned to the nearby Northwest Mississippi Community College for a chance. He played two seasons at NMCC, alongside other NFL players: Tom Reis, Matthew O’Connor, and Leon Woodruff. He was the first JUCO player to ever commit to Rice and quickly won the starting position. Donahue struggled his first season trying to catch up to the speed of division I college football but had a hot start to his senior season, intercepting 3 passes and being named the national defensive player of the week against Oregon State. Donahue went on to set a Rice record 6 interceptions that year. Donahue impressed pro scouts with his intelligence and aggressiveness and was selected in the 3rd round of the 2019 NFLHC draft by the New Orleans Saints. He is currently the starting free safety for the Saints.
Eric McLean
| Season | Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Comp | Att | Yards | Pct. | TD | Int | QB Rating | Att | Yards | Avg | TD | |
| 2019 | 14 | 14 | 327 | 493 | 4,251 | 66.3 | 29 | 9 | 154.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 14 | 14 | 350 | 527 | 4,254 | 66.4 | 42 | 6 | 158.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 14 | 14 | 419 | 646 | 4,720 | 64.9 | 51 | 11 | 148.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 14 | 14 | 375 | 553 | 4,837 | 67.8 | 48 | 5 | 168.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NCAA Career Totals | 56 | 56 | 1,471 | 2,219 | 18,062 | 66.3 | 170 | 31 | 157.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Eric McLean was born in a small Texas town called Blanco with a population just over 2,000. He grew up with a football in his arms and game tape on the TV as his dad, John McLean, was the head coach of the Blanco High School team. From flag football to Pop Warner to high school, McLean was always the quarterback growing up. During high school, he watched and began to idolize Matty Swift of Texas A&M. He loved the high volume, gunslinging attitude of Swift. McLean changed to #10 his sophomore year to match Swift. It was no secret that McLean wanted to become Swift's predecessor at Texas A&M but many of the top programs passed on him with playing at such a low level school in Texas. The Rice Owls recognized the talent McLean had and brought him to Houston. McLean would go on to have the most prolific career statistically for a quarterback in CFBHC history. He started off fast, winning the C-USA Offensive Player of the Year and leading the Owls to a conference championship in his freshman season. This became an annual achievement as he is now the only player to win four conference Player of the Year Awards and is the only quarterback to win four conference championships. McLean dominated the C-USA, winning 33 games and only losing one. Against conference opponents, McLean threw a whopping 116 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions. McLean finishes first in total career passing yards with 18,062, over 1,000 yards ahead of his idol Matty Swift. McLean also finishes first in total career passing TDs with 170, an entire seasons worth ahead of second place, Alex Leshoure with 128. McLean finished his senior season with 48 TDs to 5 INTs and was 4th in Heisman voting, receiving one first place vote. McLean has a bright future and will likely be one of the top picks in the upcoming draft.
