Rookie Spotlight: Rashee Rice, SMU
Height: 6-0 1/2″
Weight: 200
Hands: 9 1/2″
Arm: 32 1/8″
40 yard dash: 4.51
Age: 23
NFL Comparison: Rashod Bateman
Breakout Age: 20 (sophomore)

Offensive Market Share Metrics (Final Season)

Receptions: 29%
Receiving Yards: 33%
Receiving TDs: 28%
Total Production Percentage: 30%

As a high school prospect: Class of 2019; 3-star

Pros
– Dominant at the catch point
– Hands catcher
– Elite ball skills
– Prototypical size
– Evasive in space
– Excellent contact balance
– Willing and effective blocker
– Diverse release package
– Broke out in second season
– Biletnikoff Award Semi-Finalist

Cons
– Ran a simple route tree
– Mechanics can be inconsistent
– Lacks elite speed, doesn’t always separate with ease

Scouting Notes:
Highly recruited, Rice chose SMU to display his talents and it was probably a good choice, as he’s developed incrementally every season – culminating in a stellar (96/1,355/10)senior campaign with the Mustangs. It was enough to break Emmanuel Sanders’ all-time receiving yards record at SMU of 1339. It is quite a feat considering that SMU has had receivers with NFL futures come through with decent abundance over the last handful of years including Sanders, Aldrick Robinson, Trey Quinn, James Proche, Danny Gray and Courtland Sutton. Athletically gifted, has great size at a height of 6-2 and over 200 pounds. He’s a hands catcher who tracks the ball with innate ability and attacks the catch point with aplomb. Rice is especially effective here, as he’s got an alpha mentality and is willing to bully for possession. He’s also difficult to bring down after the catch, as he’s evasive in space and is capable of powering through tackles with solid contact balance. Rice ran a relatively simple route tree at SMU, but he has a diverse release package and can get open with a combination of fluidity and explosiveness. He also brings his aggressive nature to his blocking, which is a trait that will help get him on the field sooner than later at the pro level.

Fantasy Outlook:
An intriguing mix of brute strength and elegance, Rice can be a premier receiver in the NFL if he can sharpen up his rough edges and develop into a more comprehensive route runner. I think he’s being overlooked coming from a less than elite program, but a strong showing at the Senior Bowl could and should send his stock through the roof. Rice can dominate at the intermediate and deep levels of the field, and he’s shown that he’s a hard worker and quick learner throughout his time at SMU. Should he land on a team devoid of a true every down no.1 receiver, Rice has the potential to be a fantasy dynamo, especially in PPR formats. This year’s receiver is stacked with players who would be considered more polished, so hopefully Rice doesn’t slip through the cracks.