USC wideout Brenden Rice declares for 2024 NFL Draft

USC wideout Brenden Rice announced on social media on Friday that he’ll forego any remaining eligibility and enter the 2024 NFL Draft. He is the son of NFL legend and wide receiver Jerry Rice.

Rice began his college career at Colorado, where he played in 17 games in two seasons. He caught 27 total passes for 419 yards and five touchdowns, most of that production coming as a sophomore. Things picked up for him at USC, especially in 2023.

He caught 39 passes for 611 yards and four touchdowns a year ago before upping his scoring significantly this season: 45 catches for 791 yards and 12 touchdowns.

After becoming a dominant scoring presence and downfield threat with his size and athleticism, Rice is riding his breakout season into the NFL draft, where no one will need reminding of the lineage he comes from, even as he paves his own way.

And Rice had a message for the Trojans before he goes on his way.

“Trojan Family. Thank you for taking me in and making me feel at home. Through the good and bad, being a Trojan means to persevere and Fight the f*** On!” Rice said on social media along with a video announcing his decision.

More on the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.

Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.

The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.

Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.

The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.