Dean Connors

COLLEGE

• Appeared in 50 games (30 starts) during his college career at Rice (2022-24) and Houston (2025) and totaled 507 carries for 2,656 yards (5.2 avg) and 22 touchdowns to go along with 147 receptions for 1,166 receiving yards and nine touchdown receptions.
• Recorded 700 or more rushing yards and six or more touchdowns three of four seasons at the collegiate level.
• Notched a career-best 977 rushing yards at Houston at 2025. His rushing yards mark was the most by a Cougar since 2015 and finished fifth in the Big 12. His 75.2 rushing yards per game average ranked seventh in the Big 12.
• Exceeded 100 rushing yards in three games during the 2025 season and his nine total touchdowns ranked third on the team.
• Led the Cougars with 1,232 all-puropse yards in 2025.
• Was an AP All-Big 12 Fourth-Team selelection and an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2025. Also was a Hula Bowl invitee and a Big 12 All-Academic Team selection.
• Registered a single-season career-best nine rushing touchdowns in 2024 at Rice.
• Was a two-time All-American Athletic Conference Honorable Mention (2023-24).
• His 2,439 yards from scrimmage between 2023-24 ranked 20th in the FBS.
• Recorded 13 games of 100 or more scrimmage yards between 2023-24, which ranked 15th in the FBS.
• His nine games with 125 or more yards from scrimmage ranks 14th all-time by an AAC player.  It also ranked second in the AAC during that span.
• Was the only FBS player with 700+ rushing yards and 400+ receiving yards in 2023 an 2024 and was one of five FBS players to accomplish the feat twice in the last 10 years (2015-24).
• His five 100+ rushing yards games were the fourth-most by a Rice player since 2000. Was the first Rice player to accomplish the feat since Charles Ross (2009-13).
• Began his career at Riverside Community College (2021).

COLLEGE

• Appeared in 50 games (30 starts) during his college career at Rice (2022-24) and Houston (2025) and totaled 507 carries for 2,656 yards (5.2 avg) and 22 touchdowns to go along with 147 receptions for 1,166 receiving yards and nine touchdown receptions.
• Recorded 700 or more rushing yards and six or more touchdowns three of four seasons at the collegiate level.
• Notched a career-best 977 rushing yards at Houston at 2025. His rushing yards mark was the most by a Cougar since 2015 and finished fifth in the Big 12. His 75.2 rushing yards per game average ranked seventh in the Big 12.
• Exceeded 100 rushing yards in three games during the 2025 season and his nine total touchdowns ranked third on the team.
• Led the Cougars with 1,232 all-puropse yards in 2025.
• Was an AP All-Big 12 Fourth-Team selelection and an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2025. Also was a Hula Bowl invitee and a Big 12 All-Academic Team selection.
• Registered a single-season career-best nine rushing touchdowns in 2024 at Rice.
• Was a two-time All-American Athletic Conference Honorable Mention (2023-24).
• His 2,439 yards from scrimmage between 2023-24 ranked 20th in the FBS.
• Recorded 13 games of 100 or more scrimmage yards between 2023-24, which ranked 15th in the FBS.
• His nine games with 125 or more yards from scrimmage ranks 14th all-time by an AAC player.  It also ranked second in the AAC during that span.
• Was the only FBS player with 700+ rushing yards and 400+ receiving yards in 2023 an 2024 and was one of five FBS players to accomplish the feat twice in the last 10 years (2015-24).
• His five 100+ rushing yards games were the fourth-most by a Rice player since 2000. Was the first Rice player to accomplish the feat since Charles Ross (2009-13).
• Began his career at Riverside Community College (2021).

PERSONAL

• Attended Murrieta Valley High School and was the Southwestern League MVP as a senior in 2020.
• Also wasan All-State performer in track.
• His father, Brian, played college football at Oregon.