29  John Welch
	Class: RS Senior Hometown: Gautier, Miss. High School: Gautier Height / Weight: 6-2 / 185 Position: CB Experience: 2L

Rice
Opened his career as a wide receiver before moving to the defensive side of the ball as a senior.

2009
Saw action in 10 of 12 games on special teams as a senior.

2008
Saw action in a pair of games as a reserve receiver ... also ran track for the Owls in the spring.

2007
One of nine Owls to reach double figures in receptions, finishing with a career-best 10 for 93 yards ... caught a career-best four against SMU, matching his total output as a freshman ... three of his four catches came during the Owls' furious rally to come back and win the game, 43-42 ... finished the year with catches in three consecutive games (seven total) ... hauled in three passes for a career-best 42 yards, including a career-long catch of 24 yards, at Texas ... his 24-yard reception set up the Owls' second touchdown against the Longhorns.

2006
Valuable squad member who played in 10 games and started a pair at wide receiver ... made his college debut against Houston and jumped into the stats column two weeks later when he made his first career catch, for a gain of four yards ... top effort was a pair of catches for 29 yards against Tulane, including a 21-yard completion from Chase Clement ... fourth college catch was good for eight yards against UCF ... member of the Black Students Association and the Student Owl Club.

Gautier High School
2005 graduate of Gautier (go-SHAY) High in south Mississippi ... two-year starter and letterman for coach Donald Nelson ... all-district and all-area wide receiver ... two-time all-league performer ... team captain ... had 27 receptions for 703 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior ... helped Gautier to a 7-4 record and the state playoffs ... won the Alligators' most versatile award ... also played varsity basketball, baseball and track ... active in student government, president of Ebony Blanche and member of Beta Club ... participated in community volunteer activities ... chose Rice over Nichols State.

Personal
Full Name: John Percy Welch Jr. ... Born: Jan. 18, 1987, at Pascagoula, Miss ... Parents: John Sr. and Yvonne Welch, Gautier, Miss. (four sisters) ... member of the Black Students Association ... Rice major: Political Science/Sociology ... Hanszen College

Hanszen College