Second-generation football star Brenden Rice has announced his departure from the Colorado Buffaloes ahead of his junior season.
The dynamic wide receiver, the biological son of Hall of Fame wideout Jerry Rice, revealed via social media on Saturday that he is entering college football's transfer portal.
The 6'3", 205-pound Arizona native expressed his gratitude to fans, teammates and coaches at Colorado, calling the move one of the hardest decisions of his life.
It was unclear where Rice might be headed, but there should be plenty of his interest in his considerable talents.
While his bulk production has been relatively unremarkable through two seasons in Colorado's subpar offense, Rice has nonetheless teased big-play potential, averaging 15.5 yards per catch, 26.6 yards per kickoff return, and a punt return for a touchdown. Last season in 10 games, he led his team with three touchdown grabs, and ranked second with 21 catches and 299 yards.
Rice, a four-star recruit coming out of a Phoenix-area high school in 2019, has three years of remaining eligibility, according to Colorado Daily. He joins several teammates who were recruited by former head coach Mel Tucker in entering the transfer portal, the report said.
Rice was raised by his mother and stepfather, Rick Cunningham, a former NFL player, and apparently had little relationship with Jerry Rice. His step-brother, Qualen Cunningham, played collegiately at Texas A&M, where head coach Jimbo Fisher later offered Brenden a scholarship.
Rice has previously spoken of not wanting to trade on his famous biological father's name to get ahead in football, but in 2019, he revealed that his relationship with Jerry was improving.
“I’m happy he’s in my life and that we solved our differences,” Brenden told the East Valley Tribune.
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