Coppell High School senior Sam Rice has verbally committed to play football for the University of North Texas and will join the team next year.

Rice is a 6-foot-4, 285-pound offensive lineman, who played for the CHS Cowboys varsity team this past season.

Joe McBride, the head coach for the Cowboys varsity squad, confirmed Rice has committed to UNT and described him as having a "tough mentality" and being a "physical kid," according to reports.

The verbal commitment that Rice gave UNT is nonbinding, and Feb. 1 is the first day that 2012 high school football recruits can sign official national letters of intent.