National signing day is coming fast, and we’ll be looking at each FBS team’s needs as the end of the 2018 recruiting season arrives. Next up: RiceBiggest need: Linebackers The Owls ranked outside the top 100 in nearly every rushing defense metric for the 2017 season, a big reason for the program's 1-11 season with five losses by at least 30 points. Emmanuel Ellerbee, who led the team with 120 tackles, is gone. So are middle linebackers D.J. Green and Mike Uresky and weakside linebacker Brian Womac. The Owls have promising freshmen in Anthony Ekpe and Dylan Silcox, but new coach Mike Bloomgren has to replace those bodies. How it's being addressed: Arlington Heights' Ja'Quez Battley was the lone linebacker Bloomgren was able to sign in the early signing period, but Luke Brockermeyer of All Saints Episcopal committed to David Bailiff back in June and remains committed, giving the Owls another prospect at outside linebacker. They also have an offer out to Lone Star's Nicholas Bolton. Look for Bloomgren, who spent the last seven seasons at Stanford, to make some more inroads in the state at the position. More recruiting needs:
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