Gael Ochoa holds the QB · Backup spot in Rice Owls’s quarterback room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

Gael Ochoa is a transfer quarterback from UNLV competing for Rice. The El Paso native played at Pebble Hills High School, where he was a two-time All-District 1-6A selection. As a senior, he led the Spartans to an 8-3 record while passing for 2,107 yards and 15 touchdowns, adding 886 rushing yards and 12 scores; he earned El Paso Times Player of the Year honors. His junior season included 2,029 passing yards and 24 touchdowns alongside 453 rushing yards and nine additional scores, earning honorable mention All-state recognition from TSWA. Ochoa saw action in two games during his redshirt freshman year at UNLV in 2025, appearing against Miami (Ohio) and Colorado State.

UNLV2024 – 2025

Rice2026 — present