Gillette Signs with Rice over OU, 4 Others

HOUSTON - Austin's Lake Travis defensive end, tight end and long snapper Trevor Gillette arrived at his high school's national signing day event Wednesday dressed in Rice gear, but unsure if he was really going to sign with the Owls.

After all Oklahoma got to the party late, but the Sooners were showing significant interest. Gillette also had offers from TCU, Tennessee, Texas Tech and Rutgers.

Gillette signed his Rice National Letter of intent Wednesday morning, but didn't fax it in right away to make it official. He left school for awhile to figure out what to do.

"He said he needed to get away to collect himself," said Rob Gillette, Trevor's father, in an interview with FOX 26 Sports.

What made things really tough for Trevor was his mother went to OU. So did an aunt and uncle and his grandparents.

At the end of the day none of that mattered.

"Even though I have always had a dream to go to Oklahoma, I have no problem making a new dream in (going to) Rice," Trevor Gillette said.

He committed early to play for the Owls and chose not to back away from that commitment.

Trevor Gillette faxed that National letter of intent to Rice.

"When you think you know what you want and then you have all of these other people trying to convince you otherwise, you start to question yourself," Trevor Gillette said.

"After just getting away for a little bit and thinking about it some more I knew that Rice was the best place for me and that's why I signed with them."

Trevor's dad is proud of him and not just because he made the big decision.

"I'm real proud of him for keeping his word," said Rob Gillette.

"When big schools like that are coming after your it's real tempting, but he wanted to keep his word and (Rice) Coach (David) Bailiff has been on him from day one."

Gillette said Bailiff played a huge part in his son's decision.

"Coach Bailiff just seems like a man who will you coach you hard, but love you hard," said Rob Gillette.

Bailiff is thrilled with Trevor Gillette's decision and what he and his father think of his program.

"Actually you get goose bumps." Bailiff said. "That's the kind of young man you want in the program, that's motivated to achieve.

"When you see his transcript you see what a great fit he is here. Every young man we recruit we tell them if you come to Rice you got to want to graduate and you got to want to win championships and he fits right into that mold."

Gillette, who was recruited by Rice to play tight end, helped Lake Travis win three consecutive Texas Class 4-A state championships and put together a 46-game winning streak.