Rice’s Erben Birkhoff brings massive frame and multi-sport toughness to the trenches
Birkhoff is a 6-foot-3, 321-pound redshirt freshman at Rice who did not see action in his first season, but his background screams upside: he was a two-time first-team all-district performer at Katy Tompkins and even contributed as a punter, kickoff specialist, tight end, and rugby player before settling on the offensive line. That kind of athletic versatility, plus a big frame and developmental runway, makes him a classic project with real intrigue for a team that values physicality, special-teams grit, and long-term line depth. The catch? He’s still early in his college progression, so patience is part of the package.
