The SMU product was selected No. 55 overall in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft and will now be a part of a Super Bowl-champion receiving corps. The rookie understands what is expected of him and what that will mean for the future.
“They always tell us to come, be in shape,” Rice said. “Our wide receivers, this is like a track team as far as our wide receivers group. So, we come knowing that we’ve got to be expected to run as long as, ’til the game is over, ’til practice is over.”
Rice had a breakout season during his senior year at SMU, recording 96 receptions for 1,355 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns. All of those numbers were collegiate career highs for Rice, built off a junior year during which he recorded 64 receptions for 670 yards and nine TDs. Now, as he prepares for the big leagues and gets more reps in, Rice seems confident, especially with the help of his teammates.
“During the summer, through the break, I was meeting with (quarterback) Shane Buechele,” Rice said Wednesday, via team transcript. “Every day, every morning, just running routes, and putting the ball at each hash so we could work our own two-minute drills.”
The young receiver also mentioned what it’s like to study Reid’s playbook, and how he plans on taking all of the time necessary to master everything he can before the season begins.
“Ya. I mean like I said, meeting with Shane during our break gave me a head start just because he is a quarterback, and he can’t really take a break from the playbook,” Rice said. “Every day I’m going to be meeting with Shane in his dorm to go over plays before the next day.”
The future is bright for the reigning champion Chiefs, in part because of the hard-working rookies who will be taking the field.