Brenden Rice addresses feelings of returning to Colorado
On Saturday, the USC Trojans are next in line to trample on the Cinderella season of the Colorado Buffaloes and their head coach, Deion Sanders. But for one of the chosen players, wide receiver Brenden Rice, the weekend contest is a homecoming.
Rice spent the first two years of his collegiate career in Denver, CO, with the Buffaloes. Now, he returns to the program he once called home with their rival USC, which is sure to stir up some feelings. Ahead of Saturday’s matchup, Rice addressed those feelings on returning to Colorado, playing in the stadium he once called home, Folsom Field, and how Sanders has turned around the expectations for the program in just one season.
“I mean, Colorado’s my first love,” said Rice. “So, just seeing how coach Sanders has transformed Colorado, it makes me happy. But, at the same time, going back, that nostalgia; it’s a rival to me now. And I can’t wait to go to Folsom.”
In the two years Rice spent at Colorado, he played in 17 games for the Buffaloes, recording 27 catches and 419 yards with five touchdowns. In his first year at USC, in 2022, he upped his production in three fewer games. Rice finished last season with 39 catches, 611 yards, and four touchdowns. This year, through just four games, the Trojans wide receiver already has 12 receptions, 257 yards receiving, and five TDs.
While Rice may still have love for Colorado, the USC receiver understands when he steps on the field Saturday that love will have to take a back seat. The only thing that will be on his mind when he steps onto Folsom field will be picking up another victory for USC as they continue their quest for the College Football Playoff.
Rice believes Colorado secondary will be sound
Rice will be pitted against Colorado’s secondary on Saturday, and on Wednesday after practice spoke about his expectations for the Buffaloes’ defensive backs and the entire defense as a whole.
“I mean Colorado’s DBs and their defensive unit is gonna be sound,” Rice said. “Coach Prime has gone ahead and made sure they’re up to par, they’re gonna come ready, they’re gonna come to dog fight, they’re gonna protect home.”
Rice is plenty familiar with the Colorado program, spending the first two seasons of his collegiate career in Boulder before transferring to USC ahead of the 2022 season. He was a three-star high school prospect out of Chandler, Arizona ranked the No. 75 wide receiver and the No. 406 overall player in the nation for his 2020 class according to On3’s Industry Ranking.