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  • Former Huntsville Hornet Jared Williams blows past a Tulane offensive lineman during their Conference USA game last season. After playing tight end and linebacker, Williams is back at defensive end in his redshirt sophomore season at Rice. The Owls kick off the season Saturday when they play defending Big 12 champion Texas. The game will be played at Reliant Stadium in Houston and will be televised on ESPN at 2:30 p.m.

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August 31, 2010

Big-time opportunity

Former Hornet moves back to defensive end, ready to get season started against fifth-ranked Texas

By Gene Schallenberg Staff Reporter

HUNTSVILLE — After all the conditioning drills, weight lifting and early morning practices, the beginning of the 2010 season for college teams around the country is right around the corner.

It couldn’t have come any sooner for Rice defensive lineman Jared Williams, who has been licking his chops knowing that the Owls’ season opener will be against fifth-ranked Texas, which will be held at Reliant Stadium in Houston and televised on ESPN with a kickoff time of 2:30 p.m.

“I’m just ready. We’re fired up,” the former Huntsville Hornet said Sunday in a phone interview. “We’ve been preparing all summer for this game. I’m just sick and tired of going up against our offense.

“We’ve been game planning for Texas since last week. I can’t wait.”

Getting to go up against a team that played for a BCS national championship last season, Williams said he couldn’t think of a better way to kick off the season.

There’s also a specific group of Longhorns that he looks forward to seeing.

“I’m really excited for this game. I know a lot of guys, who play for Texas, that I went up against when I was in Huntsville. (Longhorns running back) Cody Johnson went to Waller and there are a couple of guys (tight end Ahmard Howard and offensive tackle Luke Poehlmann) from Brenham. It’ll kind of be a District 18-4A reunion of sorts with those guys.

“The other good part about it is that it’s going to be on TV. I’m really excited about that.”

After coaches experimented with him at linebacker and tight end, Williams is glad to be back at his old position at defensive end.

“Before I didn’t know where I would be playing going into the summer, but the coaches told me in the spring that I’d be going back to end,” Williams said. “I’ve just been focusing on getting better there.”

Looking to improve, Williams has been working with senior defensive end Cheta Ozougwu.

“We’re pretty good friends and we have a lot of the same strengths,” Williams said. “We’ve done a lot of work, especially in the weight room, and that’s helped me out a lot.”

The past couple of seasons have been up and down for the Owls.

After compiling a 10-3 mark and winning their first bowl game in more than 50 years in 2008, the Owls took several steps back last fall, winning just two games.

Williams is hoping that Rice can make a return to 2008 form with experienced players back in the fold.

“It’s hard to tell right now what kind of team we’ll be,” Williams said. “The practices have been better. We’ve got a lot of good running backs and linebackers. We’ve got a lot of veterans.”

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