South Walton linebacker Connor Rooney commits to Rice football
South Walton linebacker Connor Rooney commits to Rice football
Seth Stringer, Northwest Florida Daily NewsMon, Jul 6, 2026·2 min readNiceville head football coach Adron Robinson laughs as he speaks to a person before the start of the second half of the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson watches his players warm up during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard takes a handoff from QB Deagan McCoy during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson catches a ball during pregame drills during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson readies his team during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard carries the ball during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard gets the ball from QB Deagan McCoy during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard evades a tackle during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard looks for running room up the middle during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville QB Deagan McCoy passes during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville MLB Harper Campbell fights through a block during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard runs during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville DL Constantine Sigler and Trimarcus Mays apply pressure up the middle during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville MLB Harper Campbell brings a runner down for a loss during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson on the sidelines after a timeout during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville QB Deagan McCoy evades a tackle during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville QB Deagan McCoy sets up to throw during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville QB Deagan McCoy is flushed from the pocket during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson reacts during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville Clay Nelson runs with the ball after a turnover during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson talks with an assistant after the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson tells his players “Everything Matters” following the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)1 / 22
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson laughs as he speaks to a person before the start of the second half of the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson watches his players warm up during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard takes a handoff from QB Deagan McCoy during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson catches a ball during pregame drills during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson readies his team during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard carries the ball during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard gets the ball from QB Deagan McCoy during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard evades a tackle during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard looks for running room up the middle during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville QB Deagan McCoy passes during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville MLB Harper Campbell fights through a block during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard runs during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville DL Constantine Sigler and Trimarcus Mays apply pressure up the middle during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville MLB Harper Campbell brings a runner down for a loss during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson on the sidelines after a timeout during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville QB Deagan McCoy evades a tackle during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville QB Deagan McCoy sets up to throw during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville QB Deagan McCoy is flushed from the pocket during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson reacts during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville Clay Nelson runs with the ball after a turnover during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson talks with an assistant after the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach
Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson tells his players “Everything Matters” following the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville. (Michael Snyder)
SANTA ROSA BEACH — For South Walton's Connor Rooney, Rice University offered "the best of both worlds."
One of the top business schools in the country and an opportunity to start immediately at inside linebacker.
"They came in late in the process," Rooney said of the Owls. "We were really pursuing them hard because of the academic opportunity and my parents are actually in Houston. So, they were familiar with Rice and they were like, 'Go for it.' We really pushed hard and they found me late. We went on an unofficial visit like midweek and then on an official visit that weekend and I was the only guy there. So I got a lot of time with the coaches and I had a great visit. They made me feel welcomed and told me I could play inside linebacker early on, which was appealing to me."
South Walton senior Connor Rooney has committed to Rice University football.
It was important for Rooney to commit before his senior season.
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"It can be hard at times, leaving every weekend and midweek doing all kinds of stuff," Rooney said. "I wouldn't say stressful, but it was a lot in the month of June. So it's nice for it to be over and I'm confident with my decision."
At 6-foot-2 and weighing 218 pounds, Rooney was the face of South Walton's defense last year. He led the Seahawks with 100 tackles and delivered three interceptions and blocked three kicks, South Walton finishing 8-4 with a Sweet 16 appearance after finishing 2-8 his sophomore year.
"He's a very smart kid with great leadership skills and heck of a football player," South Walton coach Phil Tisa said. "Rice will be a great fit for him with their business school, which is where his focus is."
But first, Rooney has a his sights set on leading the Seahawks to uncharted sucess.
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"We're thinking 10-0," Rooney said. "We have some guys still coming in and we have a lot of guys returning, so I'm really excited for this season. I think honestly we can do something that's never been done at South Walton. A lot of the guys, they believe it, and I think we can get it done."
"I hope they think that way," Tisa said when told about his senior's goals. "If they think that way and are willing to work for that, that makes life a lot easier."
Rice, an FBS Division I program, competes in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) and finished 5-8 last year. Rooney, a three-star prospect, immediately bolsters their 2027 recruiting class.
