Notre Dame vs Rice: Scouting the Owls' Defense
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
After a slow first half on Sunday against Wisconsin, the Notre Dame offense was able to turn it up in the second half once the ground game started to roll. Irish QB CJ Carr played well, throwing for 239 yards on 19/29 passing, though he was not asked to take many shots.
He probably will not have to take many this Saturday against Rice, either. Last season, the Owls were the only team in the country to allow opponents to score 100% of the time (42/42) they reached the red zone. Technically, this streak is still alive as Houston Christian (HCU) failed to reach the red zone against Rice last week.
Last year, Rice also failed to come up with takeaways, totaling just three interceptions and three fumble recoveries before their bowl game matchup. The Owls did revamp their secondary with some high-upside transfers this offseason, and did secure an interception in their win over HCU last week.
Another streak that carried over from 2025 into week one of 2026 was Rice’s undefeated record (6-0) when holding opposing offenses to under 7.5 yards per attempt, and, conversely, are 0-8 when allowing 7.5 or more yards per offensive play.
We break down this Rice defense, coming off an encouraging week one performance, by position group below:
EDGEs
Joseph Mutombo
The first of two solid pass-rushing EDGEs to keep an eye on Saturday is Joseph Mutombo. The 6-3, 271-pound redshirt junior is in his fourth year at Rice. Mutombo committed to the Owls out of Keller Central High School in Fort Worth, Texas.
Mutombo entered the 2026 campaign with 26 games played, including seven starts, prior to week one. Through those 26 games, the EDGE recorded 24 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, one interception, two PBUs, and one forced fumble. He made a decent impact last week against HCU with two tackles and one QB hit.
The Redshirt Junior has good size and length and is a powerful player. He has shown solid pass rush abilities in the past, tallying four QB hits and 12 pressures in 2025. The next step for Mutombo will be finishing more of those pressures for sacks. He can struggle against athletic OL, which does not bode well for him against a potential matchup with Notre Dame LT Will Black, for example.
Chibby Nwajuaku
The more potent of the two starting EDGEs, at least in terms of pass rushing, is Chibby Nwajuaku. Born in Nigeria, Nwajuaku later moved to Cypress, Texas, where he attended Cypress Ranch High School. Now in his fifth year at Rice, the 6-2, 246-pound EDGE was a defensive standout last week against HCU, recording five tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble in the season-opening win for the Owls.
Before week one, Nwajuaku had appeared in 19 games, including two starts, in his collegiate career. Through these first four years at Rice, he had totaled 38 tackles, four TFLs, two sacks, and one forced fumble. He really broke out in the second half of last season, though, finishing the 2025 campaign with 28 tackles, three TFLs, two sacks, and one forced fumble. He consistently produced as a pass rusher, recording 17 QB pressures and 12 hurries last season.
One of the reasons for Nwajuaku’s pass rush prowess is his quickness. However, he is a bit undersized, and that length could be a factor against the mountains that are Notre Dame’s OTs. He also can struggle against the run.
Interior Linemen
Dillan Botts
On the inside, we will find the 6-1, 286-pound Senior out of Houston. Botts, notably, is a distant cousin of the late Ricky Bell, former USC All-American RB and first overall pick in the 1977 NFL Draft. Coming out of Bridgeland High School, Botts originally committed to DIII Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) in Belton, Texas.
Across two years at UMHB, Botts recorded 54 tackles, 10 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, one interception, two PBUs, two fumble recoveries, and one blocked kick in 22 games played, including 17 starts. This production was good enough to transfer up to the FBS and Rice in 2025.
Last season, his first with the Owls, Botts finished the year with 16 tackles, one PBU, and was credited with half of a sack in 12 games played, including 11 starts. The former DIII star also ended up leading Rice’s interior defensive linemen in overall PFF grade.
Overall, Botts does a lot of things well, but nothing great. His limited size and length will be an issue against Notre Dame, and he really has not proven too much against FBS competition. Botts recorded one tackle and was credited with an assisted TFL against HCU last week.
Aquantis Clemmons
Next to Botts is former walk-on turned starter, Aquantis Clemmons. The 5-10, 286-pound (yes, that is correct) lineman originally walked on to Rice, coming from Carver High School in Atlanta. Now, Clemmons is in his fourth year with the Owls and coming off a breakout 2025 season.
Clemmons entered the 2026 campaign with 22 games played, including one start. He made his first real impact last season, finishing the year with 21 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, one sack, and one fumble recovery across 13 games. Last week, Clemmons opened up the year with a solid three-tackle outing in the win against HCU.
The Redshirt Junior is quick and can be a potential disruptor. Clemmons led Rice interior linemen in 2025 with nine QB pressures and seven hurries. He is also someone who seems to get better each year. However, there is a chance he is just swallowed up by Notre Dame’s offensive line on Saturday given his limited length.
Others to watch: Christopher Clark-Jolivet, Matthew Aribisala
Linebackers
Jo Chavez
Linebacker may be Rice’s deepest position on their roster, with five to six legitimate options for the Owls to implement. Listed at VIPER is Jo Chavez. The 6-0, 194-pound Junior is in his second year with the program after spending his freshman season at Saddleback College.
The Folsom, California native spent one season at Saddleback, a community college in Mission Viejo, before making the transfer to Rice. In 11 games played at Saddleback, Chavez tallied 47 tackles, three TFLs, one interception, and two PBUs.
Like EDGE Nwajuaku, Chavez also had a strong second half in 2025, his first year with the Owls. In 12 games played, including five starts, the LB recorded 40 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, and one PBU. 28 of his 40 tackles occurred in the last five games of the year. Chavez came up with one tackle last week to open up his 2026 campaign.
The versatile LB has shown he can produce at this level. He possesses good instincts, which lend to him being a solid tackler. Chavez’s pass-rushing and coverage abilities can be a struggle, which could be a result of size.
Stone Combs
Rice brought in a pair of Nevada transfer LBs this offseason, who both are set to be leaders of this defense. First, Stone Combs. The 6-1, 227-pound fifth-year committed to Nevada out of Park City High School in Utah.
Combs appeared in 40 games, including 17 starts, across four years at Nevada. He first broke out in 2024, but ‘25 was his career-best. While making 11 starts across 12 games played, Combs recorded 75 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, half a sack, and one PBU.
Combs brings great experience and obvious production to Rice. He has good size for an interior backer and is a constant threat against the run. He is also a solid tackler. However, Combs’ coverage skills are questionable, and his pass rush is overall limited. He was able to come up with three tackles in his Rice debut last week.
Austin Harnetiaux
Combs’ running mate from Nevada also decided to transfer to Rice for the 2026 campaign. Harnetiaux, a 6-2, 228-pound redshirt senior, originally walked on at Washington after playing high school ball at Seattle Prep. After appearing in four games and making one tackle across two years at Washington, Harnetiaux transferred to Nevada in 2024.
This is where his game started to take off. Harnetiaux appeared in 25 games, with three starts, across two years at Nevada. During this time, he tallied 81 tackles, three TFLs, two PBUs, and one forced fumble.
Like Combs, Harnetiaux also finished his Rice debut with three tackles. The Seattle native has good size and physicality, and is a smart player. All-around, I would say Harnetiaux is a pretty solid LB, with coverage and speed my only concerns.
Others to watch: Cooper King, Beau Barton, Caden VerMaas
Defensive Backs
FS AJ Brown
While Daveon Hook remains a question mark for Saturday, expect AJ Brown to fill in for him at Safety. The 6-0, 188-pound redshirt senior transferred to Rice this offseason following four years at UAB. Brown committed to UAB out of Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia.
During his time at UAB, Brown made six starts across 35 games played. He finished his UAB career with 91 tackles, three TFLs, one sack, one interception, two PBUs, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. Brown is coming off the best season of his collegiate career, when he recorded 53 tackles, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries with the Blazers in 2025.
Brown brings good experience to the Rice DB room. He is a solid tackler and plays with good physicality, but coverage is not his strength. The Redshirt Senior finished week one with three tackles in his Owls debut.
SS Koa Akui
Pairing with Brown as Rice’s starting safety duo is Hawaii native and Sacramento State (Sac St) transfer, Koa Akui. Another redshirt senior, Akui originally committed to Sac St out of Hilo High School.
The 5-10, 193-pound DB made 11 starts across 20 games played during his four years at Sac St, but he broke out in 2025. In 12 games played last season, Akui recorded 65 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, five interceptions, 11 PBUs, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. He was named an All-Big Sky selection for his efforts.
The undersized safety brings good athleticism, zone coverage skills, and physicality to Rice. Akui can struggle in man and has been subject to mental lapses concerning play recognition in the past. Like Brown, Akui also came up with three tackles in his Rice debut last week.
CB Jamir Benjamin
While the safety tandem is made up of two transfers from a group of five and an FCS program, respectively, the Owls also added two power-four conference CBs to their defense. Jamir Benjamin, a 5-10 and 185-pound redshirt sophomore out of West Bloomfield High School in Michigan, originally committed to UCLA as a three-star recruit.
Benjamin played in one game in 2024 as a true freshman, retaining his redshirt. Last season, he appeared in all 12 games with the Bruins, mostly on special teams with just 67 defensive snaps. He finished the year with nine tackles and returned a muffed punt for a touchdown against Washington.
Now in his first season at Rice, Benjamin brings good upside and athleticism to the Owls' defense. He is particularly quick and agile and has solid cover skills. It will be interesting if CJ Carr and Notre Dame take advantage of Benjamin’s smaller frame. Overall, the redshirt sophomore is relatively unproven and is still developing. He was solid against HCU last week, recording two tackles and one PBU in the win.
CB Kyren Condoll
Opposite of Benjamin will likely be Duke transfer Kyren Condoll. The 6-1, 186-pound redshirt sophomore committed to Duke out of Rancho Cucamonga High School in California as a three-star recruit.
Condoll appeared in ten games across two years with the Blue Devils, failing to record any statistics. Seeking an improved opportunity, the Fontana native transferred to Rice this season. He possesses good size and length. Like Benjamin, I would describe Condoll as a potential high-upside DB who is still unproven at the college level. He was able to come up with two tackles against HCU.
Others to watch: Zack Cody, Bailey Fletcher, Daveon Hook (did not play week one; something to monitor), Ahran Ogbor
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