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Rashee Rice, Jaylon Thomas out for SMU-BYU in New Mexico Bowl

On3 imageby:Billy Embody•12/10/22•

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SMU WR Rashee Rice. (Matt Visinsky - On3)

SMU wide receiver Rashee Rice and offensive lineman Jaylon Thomas will not play in the New Mexico Bowl against BYU, Rhett Lashlee announced on Saturday. The pair will recovery from injuries and begin preparations for the NFL Draft.

“Jaylon Thomas will not play in the bowl because he underwent surgery on his shoulder,” Lashlee said. “He played the last few weeks injured, played really, really well. For his future, it was best to get it fixed now. He’ll make a full recovery and that way he will be ready for when it comes draft time.

“Rashee Rice really wants to play, but he’s not going to play. I know after the last game he said he planned on playing. He did, he does. The good news is, I don’t think he hurt his toe any more by playing the last nine weeks of the season on it since we’ve been able to check it out since our last game. That’s a blessing, but it just makes more sense to give him time to fully heal, which he will. Doesn’t need surgery or anything. That way, when he gets to Senior Bowl and combine and all that, hopefully he can be full speed and show everybody what he can do.”

Rice being out means SMU will rely on Moochie Dixon, Jordan Kerley, Austin Upshaw, Roderick Daniels and others to shoulder the load in the passing game against the Cougars. Dylan Goffney is out for the bowl game after sustaining an injury to his foot.

Thomas’ SMU career is over as well and that means Justin Osborne or Ben Sparks will factor in at right guard. Joe Bissinger’s held down the left guard spot for much of the season for the Mustangs.

“We’re going to miss having those two guys out there, but man, they gave us everything they had this year. Really proud of them. They’ll be with us, they just won’t be playing.”

Rashee Rice to make full recovery for NFL Draft showcases

Rashee Rice, an All-American this year, will begin preparing for his final push to bolster his NFL Draft stock.

“I probably need to ask our doctors, but what I remember from the middle of the year when we knew it was injured, but he was going to be able to continue to playing, it felt like about a month after the season,” Lashlee said. ” It would really calm down, kind of heal on its own. That’s really what went into the decision for him to be able to allowed to play if he wanted to, which he did. They didn’t feel like it was surgical, which was good. They felt like it was four weeks, little more, little less.

“So when you start looking at Senior Bowl into January, combine and those things, it just makes sense. Guy led the country in receiving in the regular season. He gave us everything he had. I think he needs to be healthy for those things.”

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