Meet football’s 2025 early enrollees

By Diego Palos Rodriguez     3/4/25 11:16pm

This spring semester, Rice football welcomed a number of new players to the program. Seven of them are early enrollees, graduating from their respective high schools a semester early and matriculating at Rice before any of the other Class of 2025 recruits. 

This allows them to participate in spring practices and fet to know their coaches and teammates before the start of the 2025 college football season in August. 

While early enrollees are common within many programs in college football, this is only the second class of early enrollees at Rice, the first coming two years ago. 

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Learn more about some of them below:

Tyvonn Byars

Tyvonn Byars, a Hanszen College freshman, is a running back from Lake Creek High School in Montgomery, Texas.

Rice Thresher: What are your first impressions of Rice so far? 

Tyvonn Byars: My first impression of Rice is that it is a very diverse community with many things to learn and lots of great classes to choose from. 

RT: Is there a football player you try to mold your game around?

TB: A football player that I would want to mold my game around would be Saquon [Barkley] because he can do a little of everything.

RT: Who is the best non-football athlete of all-time? 

TB: Michael Jordan.

RT: What do you hope to accomplish in your time at Rice? 

TB: I hope to greatly contribute as a freshman and build many connections with people.

Semaj Pierre

Semaj Pierre, a Lovett College freshman, is a slot receiver from Memorial High School in Port Arthur, Texas. His hometown is Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Rice Thresher: What are your first impressions of Rice so far?

Semaj Pierre: Rice is very diverse but also friendly. The campus proposes an extremely helpful environment.

RT: Is there a football player you try to mold your game around?

SP: A combination of Zay Flowers and Tank Dell.

RT: Who is the best non-football athlete of all-time?

SP: Lebron James.

RT: What drew you to commit to Rice?

SP: Getting a top-tier education while playing in a competitive league of football.

RT: What do you hope to accomplish in your time at Rice?

SP: Win a conference championship and get my degree.

Payton Matthews

Payton Matthews, a Lovett College freshman, is a wide receiver from Harlan High School in San Antonio, Texas.

Rice Thresher: What are your first impressions of Rice so far?

Payton Matthews: It is very diverse and the amount of people you can connect with is endless. Overall the first thing I really noticed is how nice everyone is and they are genuine.

RT: Is there a football player you try to mold your game around?

PM: I wouldn’t say there is a specific player I mold my game around but I can say that I watch other receivers both in the league and dominating at the collegiate level and try to add specific elements I see to my game to get better.

RT: What drew you to commit to Rice?

PM: I feel like Rice was the best of both worlds for me as far as academics and athletics.

RT: Why did you decide to graduate early and come to Rice this semester?

PM: I wanted to graduate early to set myself up in the future and get a head start on the things I need to take care of before the season starts. Put myself in the best opportunity to get on the field.

RT: What do you hope to accomplish in your time at Rice?

PM: I hope to graduate with a degree in Business Finance and be an honor roll student at the top of my class, but not only being successful in the classroom but successful on the field.

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