Colorado WR carries iconic NFL name
BOULDER, Colo. — Like any other college freshman, Brenden Rice is determined to make a name for himself.
What makes his quest so different is he’s the son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice.
No matter h o w ma n y catches he makes, t h e Colorado receiver realizes comparisons to his dad will inevitably trail him. To make his own path, he has to step out from the shadow of his powerful last name.
“I have my first name Brenden,” he said, “and that’s what it starts with every day.”
Brenden Rice, freshman receiver — that’s how the coaching staff treats him. He’s not Jerry Rice’s kid. He’s just another wideout who has the size (6-3, 205 pounds) and skills to be molded into something special.
“I want him to be him,” said Colorado Coach Karl Dorrell, whose 2-0 team is slated to be off this weekend after the Pac-12 canceled its game with Arizona State due to a number of positive covid-19 cases with the Sun Devils. “Brenden Rice is a really good player, and he’s got a chance to have his own great career.”
Rice certainly had a memorable day at Stanford last weekend with two receptions for 38 yards, including a 34yard touchdown catch on the most open play he could recall.
This was how it unfolded: He and QB Sam Noyer sensed the cornerback was going to blitz off the edge. Noyer pointed down and Rice instantly understood.
Then, Rice broke free with no safety help over the top.
Noyer lofted a pass, and Rice easily grabbed it and glided into the end zone as the Buffaloes beat Stanford 35-32.
“It was a good first touchdown,” Rice said.
One of the first to send him a congratulatory text was his father. It meant a lot.
Growing up, he lived with his mom. He said his relationship with his father really began to bloom in high school.
“It’s amazing, how we developed and how we got to know each other a little bit better,” he said.
Sorry dad. Ask him whom his game most resembles, and Rice says Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins. The younger Rice’s regard for Hopkins was only enhanced last weekend with Hopkins’ 43-yard winning catch — in heavy traffic — from Kyler Murray against Buffalo on a play now dubbed “Hail Murray.”
“Big, physical dude that’s able to run routes but at the same time you throw a jump ball up and he’s going to go get it,” Brenden Rice said. “I love that mentality.”
It’s the same sort of mentality as his father, who played for two decades with the 49ers, Raiders, Seahawks and very briefly the Broncos. Jerry Rice holds the NFL records for career receptions (1 , 549), yards receiving (22,895) and total touchdowns (208).
The elder Rice is renowned for his work ethic and eye-hand coordination, which Brenden Rice got to experience up close. The father and son would frequently engage in staring contests. His father always won. “He’d be like, ‘You know why I always beat you? … I always had to look up in the air for that ball,’ ” the son recounted with a smile.