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Green finds his home

Mesquite (Texas) Horn linebacker D.J. Green has seen the recruiting process take a couple of twists and turns over the last year, but as signing day approaches, Green now knows where he will go.
"Today coach (David) Bailiff gave me the call around 4 o'clock that they have an offer available and they want to give it to me and would like me to join the Rice family," Green said. "I was really excited about it and told my friends and family and close ones. When you hear the cheers of excitement from them you know it's a special place. Around 30 minutes I committed to them and became a Rice Owl."
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The decision comes after a weekend official visit to Rice University's Houston campus. He did not hold an offer at the time, but the Owls definitely left a deep impression on the 6-2, 220-pound linebacker.
"When you look at it one thing that just pops out about Rice is the education and the opportunity for success," Green said. "The football will be there. If you are good enough they will find you. Also when trying to compare them to the Naval Academy and make that decision it was a very hard decision but when you are comparing 4 hours to 20 hours it's just kind of a no brainer. Us being a tight family I know they really enjoyed that. Plus coach Bailiff, we joked around a lot and he reminds me a lot of coach (Ken) Niumatalolo From Navy. They're two great coaches and I don't think I could go wrong playing underneath either one of them."
Green chose Rice over SMU and Navy, and as he thinks about his journey to Rice it still has not completely set in.
"Honestly I'm still kind of in shock a little bit. It happened so fast," Green said. "What it shows you is anything can happen in recruiting. As far as finding a new home it's kind of ironic in a way because they were the first school to show interest in my sophomore year. It's kind of weird how it all happened. How I started with them and now I'm ending with them. I just know this one will stay true because of coach Bailiff's word and it being a week from signing day."
Green was named district defensive MVP as a senior and becomes Rice's 19 commitment for the 2013 recruiting class.
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