If SMU is a new WR-U, Rashee Rice is the latest product

Photo courtesy SMU Athletics

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SMU is the G5 version of WRU.

The only program with more receivers currently in the NFL than SMU is Alabama. The list of former Mustangs at the professional level includes Cole Beasley, Courtland Sutton, and James Proche. Reggie Roberson and Danny Gray should join them by the start of the 2022 season. 

Rashee Rice hopes to add his name to that list after following the lead of those players over his previous three seasons. Rice arrived at SMU in 2019 where he backed up current Baltimore Raven Proche at one of the outside receiver spots. The two shared a lot in common, including DFW roots, so Rice began to see Proche’s journey as a road map. 

“Most of us dream to go pro, so a native out of DFW making it to the league who plays your position at your school proves that dream is possible,” Rice said. “That provided me with motivation because I knew it was possible.”

Rice replaced Proche in the starting lineup as a true freshman when his mentor was injured and went on to catch 25 passes for 403 yards and a touchdown. He tallied a team-high 48 receptions during seven starts in a pandemic-altered 2020 campaign. Last season, Rice again led the Mustangs with 64 catches and nine scores. 

Despite leading SMU in catches for two straight seasons, Rice was never considered the No. 1 target with Gray and Roberson on the roster. That changes in 2022. Rice is poised to move back outside as a senior with Lashlee in the fold as a play caller. Lashlee, who has known Rice for over five years, sees a player poised for a breakout season. 

“What I saw when I got the job is a dude ready to be the guy,” Lashlee said. “He was making game-changing plays as a freshman.”

Rice feels like it is a natural progression. 

“I’ve been preparing to be the guy for my whole career at SMU,” he said. “I learned from some great players on how to lead and now I get to do that for the younger players.”

 

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