April 26, 2007

Rice football coach David Bailiff has announced the signing of punter Clay Joseph of Bryan to a National Letter of Intent, joining the list of 22 high school seniors who signed with the Owls in February. He will be eligible to complete for the Owls this fall.

Joseph (6-3, 200) was a two-year starter at quarterback for the Bryan Vikings under coach Bob Bellard, the son of former Texas A&M head football coach Emery Bellard.

Joseph led the Vikings into playoff contention as a senior before missing the final two games of the year with an injury. He averaged nearly 40 yards a punt in his career and his top punting effort as a senior came against rivals A&M Consolidated, when he averaged 48.5 yards on six punts. He earned first team All-Brazos Valley and All-District 13-5A honors. He was a team captain as a senior. He was active in FCA and Young Life.

Joseph comes from a football background. His grandfather Eddie Joseph was longtime Executive Director of the Texas High School Football Coaches Association and his older brother, Blake, is a redshirt quarterback at the University of Houston. In addition, his uncle Gary is the head coach at Katy High School where he tutored wide receiver Michael Fuda, who will join Clay Joseph as a member of the Owls incoming 2007 freshman class.