2024 Exclusive Sneak Peek: Brenden Rice, WR USC
Welcome to the Exclusive Sneak Peek: Brenden Rice, a Wide Receiver from USC. He is from Chandler, Arizona, and was a 3-star recruit out of Hamilton High School.
In 2020, as a freshman, he appeared in 6 games with Colorado. He recorded 6 receptions for 120 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns in limited action.
His 2021 season as a sophomore saw him appear in 11 games. He recorded 21 receptions, 299 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns.
He transferred to USC for his 2022 junior season where he had his best season to date piling up 39 receptions for 611 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. His senior season in 2023 was similar to production where he recorded 45 receptions and 791 receiving yards, but saw his touchdown total skyrocket to 12.
Measurables
NCAA Statistics
| Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD |
| *2020 | Colorado | Pac-12 | FR | WR | 6 | 6 | 120 | 20.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 120 | 20.0 | 2 | |
| 2021 | Colorado | Pac-12 | FR | WR | 11 | 21 | 299 | 14.2 | 3 | 6 | 54 | 9.0 | 0 | 27 | 353 | 13.1 | 3 |
| *2022 | USC | Pac-12 | JR | 14 | 39 | 611 | 15.7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 611 | 15.7 | 4 | ||
| *2023 | USC | Pac-12 | SR | WR | 12 | 45 | 791 | 17.6 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 791 | 17.6 | 12 | |
| Career | Overall | 111 | 1821 | 16.4 | 21 | 6 | 54 | 9.0 | 0 | 117 | 1875 | 16.0 | 21 | ||||
| Colorado | 27 | 419 | 15.5 | 5 | 6 | 54 | 9.0 | 0 | 33 | 473 | 14.3 | 5 | |||||
| USC | 84 | 1402 | 16.7 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 1402 | 16.7 | 16 | ||||||
Scouting Reports
Strengths
- Possesses freakish athleticism. Insane testing numbers on both 10-yard split and vertical jump.
- Has an alpha mentality with excellent size and strength.
- He shows excellent burst and quick twitch off the line of scrimmage.
- Is a natural hands catcher with great speed and is a true YAC monster.
Weaknesses
- He struggles to fight through contact regardless of his size.
- Could stand to put on some weight to match his height, a very slender frame.
- He tends to dance off the line of scrimmage too often, wasting time in his route.
- Volatile and inconsistent production that has a huge boom or bust nature to it.
Pre-Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capital: Early Round 4
Ideal Landing Spot: Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have lacked a true Alpha-WR and outside of the aging, Adam Thielen lacks any real NFL receivers period.
Rice isn’t seen in the same range as the top-tier receivers in this class, but could be an excellent Day 3 value pick. Even if Thielen has one more productive season in him (very unlikely), the Panthers are still going to add someone for Bryce Young to throw to.
Jonathan Mingo was selected by Carolina in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft and despite the high draft capital, he hasn’t panned out.
While it is possible that Mingo could prove to be a legitimate target in this offense, they may want to hedge their bets with a late-round receiver just in case.
Post-Draft Analysis
Pick 7.225 to the Los Angeles Chargers
Rice
Check out The Fantasy Football Universe video breakdown of Brenden Rice below.
