Rashee Rice - WR - SMU
Welcome to the rookie profile for Rashee Rice. Rashee Rice is the definition of consistency at the wide receiver position. Few college receivers produced at a more consistent level than Rice. While he doesn’t necessarily possess league-winning upside, he is very likely to be a solid contributor for fantasy managers. Rice isn’t the most physically imposing receiver but weighing in at 6’0” and 200 lbs means his size is not a concern. Rice has a solid prospect profile and could easily be a WR 2/3 for fantasy managers in his rookie season. He profiles most like Victor Cruz, a solid and consistent producer for many NFL seasons but never the guy on his team to light the world on fire.
Measurables
Height: 6′ 1″
Weight: 204 lbs
Age: 23
40-yard dash: 4.51s
3-cone drill: DNP
20-yard shuttle: DNP
Vertical Jump: DNP
Broad Jump: 10-8
Bench Press: DNP
*age is at the start of player’s rookie year
College Stats
| Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD |
| *2019 | SMU | American | FR | WR | 8 | 25 | 403 | 16.1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 26 | 403 | 15.5 | 1 |
| 2020 | SMU | American | SO | WR | 10 | 48 | 683 | 14.2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 683 | 14.2 | 5 | |
| 2021 | SMU | American | JR | WR | 12 | 64 | 670 | 10.5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 670 | 10.5 | 9 | |
| *2022 | SMU | American | SR | WR | 12 | 96 | 1355 | 14.1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 1355 | 14.1 | 10 | |
| Career | SMU | 233 | 3111 | 13.4 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 234 | 3111 | 13.3 | 25 | ||||
Notable Headlines
Rice was a 3-star recruit out of Richland High School before joining SMU in 2019.
As a freshman in 2019, Rice played in 8 games and hauled in 25 receptions for 403 yards and 1 touchdown with a splendid 16.1 yards per reception.
In 2020 as a sophomore, Rice played in 10 games and racked up 33 catches for 634 yards and 5 touchdowns with another spectacular yards per reception of 14.5.
Rice’s junior season was similar to his sophomore one. He totaled 670 receiving yards on 64 catches but saw his touchdown total climb to 9.
His true breakout season came in his senior year of 2022 where he caught an impressive 96 passes for 1,355 yards and 10 touchdowns, en route to being a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award (Most Outstanding Receiver).
Scouting Report
Positives
Rice has solid size, soft hands, and a vast wing span to go with it. This allows him to haul in passes and makes him a great target in the passing game.
His strong suit is getting separation quickly and efficiently allowing him to get open as a prime short-area target. After the catch, he possesses an excellent ability to make plays and break tackles.
Rice has high-end skills as a playmaker and has seen his production increase each season at SMU. He projects as more of a possession/slot receiver than as an Alpha receiver but has the talent to be a great slot receiver at the NFL level.
Negatives
Rice’s college stats may not be a reflection of his true talent level and may instead be a reflection of him playing a high percentage role against subpar competition.
He played on an SMU team that functions primarily as a spread offense and may take significant time to adjust to the NFL game. This extremely limited offense led to Rice running a very limited route tree which is another aspect of his game he will have to work on to be successful in the NFL.
His separation level in college could also be a cause for concern as it too could have been the result of the routes he ran and the competition he faced, it remains to be seen if Rice’s skillset will translate to the NFL.
Pre Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capital- Late Round 2/ Early Round 3
Ideal Landing Spot- New England Patriots
I know the Patriots have been a barren wasteland where talented rookie receivers go to die but hear me out. The Patriots have struck out numerous times with big bodies X receivers but they have a history of doing very well with small to medium-sized slot receivers. New England has made stars out of Julian Edelman and Wes Welker in the past and Rice could excel in a similar role in this offense. The Patriots are a run-first team, and with Mac Jones likely to be the starting quarterback in 2023 he could benefit from a reliable short-area target on the team. Rice fits in perfectly in that scenario. Rice won’t be a deep threat that the Patriots desperately need but if he does for them what he did in college, he will help the Patriots move efficiently but slowly down the field in a dink-and-dunk style offense.
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Image Credit: Tommy Gilligan – USA TODAY Sports
