Rice backup QB set for first career start with Jacurri Brown doubtful with ankle injury appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Rice Owls are set to take on Florida Atlantic on Saturday, but they will likely have to do so without starting quarterback Jacurri Brown.
ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel reports that Brown is doubtful to play against FAU due to an ankle injury. Backup Gael Ochoa is expected to start in place of Brown, which would be his first career start.
The Owls head into the game 1-6 on the season and have lost their last six games in a row. They are in last place in the American Athletic Conference,
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Jacurri Brown is a fifth-year senior who transferred to Rice after two seasons with the UCF Knights, where he played for Scott Frost . In seven games this season, Brown has completed 40 of 83 passes for 478 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Brown is a much bigger threat with his legs. He has carried the ball 118 times, rushing for 669 yards with six touchdowns. He was coming off a season-high 155 rushing yards with two touchdowns in Rice's 38-17 loss to Tulsa.
With Brown out, Gael Ochoa will get his chance to play. The sophomore quarterback has made three appearances already this season. He has completed six of 11 passes attempts for 80 yards, with no touchdowns nor interceptions. He also has 19 rushing yards on 13 carries with one rushing touchdown.
Rice will face a 4-2 FAU tam that is coming off a 56-24 defeat to Army last week. Ochoa will have to go toe-to-toe with Caden Veltkamp, who is one of the most prolific passers in college football. He has already thrown for 1,746 yards (22nd in the nation), with 15 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
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