Marvin Harrison Jr. is not the only legacy prospect who is going to be part of the 2024 NFL Draft, as Brenden Rice, son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, is also in after declaring last December.
But unlike Marvin Harrison Jr., who looks to be a surefire pick for the Arizona Cardinals within the top four, Brenden Rice is projected as a fringe top-100 prospect according to Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network, which may see him landing in his father’s old team, the San Francisco 49ers.
Brenden Rice’s scouting report
Brenden Rice started his collegiate career at Colorado, where he had 27 receptions for 419 yards and five touchdowns in his first 17 games. He also played as their kick returner, having averaged 26.6 yards per return on 19 attempts.
In 2022, Rice moved to USC, where he blossomed as a star. Under the guidance of head coach Lincoln Riley and with Caleb Williams as his signal-caller, Rice had receptions (39), receiving yards (611), and touchdowns (4) in his first campaign. He did much better in 2023, as he recorded 45 catches for 791 yards and 12 touchdowns, with an average of 17.6 yards per catch.
Similar to his father Jerry, Brenden Rice is a big and mobile wide receiver who can explode past some of the fastest defensive backs. The only thing to nitpick about him, though, is his flexibility and consistency on a week-to-week basis.
Brenden Rice looks to live up to his father’s legacy
Being the son of Jerry Rice carries a ton of weight for Brenden, which may be unfair at times. However, there’s no denying the potential that he has as a future key player in the NFL. That said, Brenden Rice believes that “pressure’s a privilege”, so he’s not afraid of following in his dad’s footsteps.
Many have played with the thought of him going to the San Francisco 49ers, and when he was asked about it, Brenden Rice seemed open to the idea.
“Honestly, I just hope I go into the right situation,” said Rice in an interview with NBC Sports Bay Area. “If the 49ers is the perfect situation for me to go ahead and battle for a top position on that team, the most definitely. I’m prepared for it.
The San Francisco 49ers know a thing or two in terms of maximizing their draft picks – whether late or early – so they might consider getting the legend’s son if the opportunity presents itself.