The San Francisco 49ers have met with former USC wide receiver Brenden Rice, son of NFL legend Jerry Rice, at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Chase Senior of Chat Sports posted a video showing a portion of Rice's media availability at the Combine, during which the draft prospect discussed what it might mean to play for the 49ers, head coach Kyle Shanahan, and quarterback Brock Purdy.
USC WR Brenden Rice, the son of Jerry Rice - has met formally with the 49ers. Spoke with him about:
- His meeting with SF
— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) March 1, 2024
- What it would mean to play for the organization, where his dad became the GOAT
- Kyle Shanahan's offense
- Brock Purdy (Rice grew up in Purdy's hometown… pic.twitter.com/DwnLwEvHIJ
Rice (6-3, 205) achieved career highs in his senior year with the Trojans, recording 45 catches for 791 yards and 12 touchdowns. He amassed 111 catches for 1,821 yards and 21 touchdowns over his four collegiate seasons, the first two of which were spent with Colorado.
"How does it feel to be Jerry Rice's son?"
USC QB Caleb Williams was in the media scrum asking teammate and WR Brenden Rice questions 😂 pic.twitter.com/rVWJgPIGU4
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) March 1, 2024
Before the Super Bowl, Rice acknowledged that the 49ers possess a stacked roster, praising players like wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, and running back Christian McCaffrey. He was particularly complimentary of the team's All-Pro left tackle, Trent Williams.
"Trent's a dog, man," Rice said. "... He's the most athletic on the team, and people don't understand that. ... There's a difference [in] having a dog mentality, and then you got wolves. Wolves eat dogs. He's a wolf. He's going to go out there and kill some of your top players in the game day in and day out."
Pro Football Focus gave Rice a career-high 77.8 overall grade for his efforts in 2023. He was USC's second-highest graded wideout, behind the team's receiving leader this past season, Tahj Washington.
Rice is one of many wide receivers the 49ers have spoken with at the NFL Scouting Combine. The team has reportedly met with Jalen McMillan from Washington, Xavier Legette from South Carolina, Ladd McConkey from Georgia, Bub Means from Pitt, Xavier Worthy from Texas, and Brian Thomas Jr. from LSU.
San Francisco also spoke with Luke McCaffrey from Rice, brother of current 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey.
Click here to view our meeting tracker, which compiles all the reported formal and informal meetings between San Francisco and the players hoping to be part of the NFL's latest rookie class.
