The Walter twins, Aston and Austin, stroll side-by-side into Rice University’s Brian Patterson Center each morning for weightlifting and breakfast, and every afternoon for football practice.

Otherwise, until they return to their off-campus house each night, they’re off on their own.

Identical twins — Aston is three minutes older and 10 pounds heavier — the Walters mostly walk alone. Aston, who majors in sports management, has classes on the south side of campus. Austin, majoring in psychology with a business minor, studies on the north side.

“Other than (the football building), we see each other on campus, maybe, once a semester,” Aston said.

Their football fortunes have diverged as well. Austin has played running back and receiver at Rice, leading the Owls in all-purpose yards each of the last three seasons. Aston, who played quarterback at Crosby, has bounced from receiver to defensive back to running back.

Both will be in the backfield this season, and the Owls have packages in which both Walters line up before one splits off as a receiver. But when the season ends, their paths will diverge once more. 2018 is Austin’s last year at Rice; Aston will return in 2019 after missing most of last season with a broken collarbone.

“We’ll have to go our own way,” Aston said. “(Austin) will be successful, and I’m looking forward to the next year, but it will be weird without him.”

Both are optimistic about 2018. Austin, who describes himself as a shifty, scatback type of runner, ran for 71 yards in the spring game. Aston, with a more physical style, ran for 54.

“We’re asking a lot of them, from being back there dotting the ‘I’ like you’re accustomed to seeing in a Stanford-style offense to being a receiver on the next play,” head coach Mike Bloomgren said.

Both hope for a future in football. Austin would like to be a pro scout and, eventually, an NFL general manager, while Aston wants to coach in college and some day to coach his hometown Crosby Cougars.

But for one last year, they’re twins of a feather on the field.

“Our potential is what we make it,” Aston Walter said. “Nothing else is going to shape that factor. Everyone is buying in to what we can do.”