Comp Picks is a season-long, weekly series that looks at the incoming rookie class from all angles, tying everything together with an NFL player comparison (or a combination of players) to contextualize upside and risk.
Background
Senior, 6-foot-2 and 203 lbs
Many analysts will classify Rashee Rice as a late riser, mainly on the back of his incredible senior year. But his recruiting profile adds fuel to that argument, as he ranked outside the Top 100 wideouts in the nation in the 2019 class, earning a three-star designation. He accumulated 2,159 yards as a high schooler and improved drastically every year. Despite a lesser recruiting profile, Rice was productive immediately upon his arrival in college football. As a true freshman, he caught 25 balls for 403 yards and a touchdown. But like his high school career, Rice only improved with time. His reception totals went from 25 to 48 to 64 to 83 and counting in his senior season. His touchdown totals went from one to five to nine to nine and counting. Over his four-year career at SMU, Rice has 2,964 yards on 220 receptions and 24 touchdowns, giving him one of the most productive careers among current college wideouts. He currently ranks fifth in career receiving yards behind Emmanuel Sanders, Courtland Sutton, James Proche, and Aldrick Robinson. In his most recent performance, he eclipsed Cole Beasley's total. In 2022, Rice has 83 receptions for 1,208 yards and nine touchdowns. He ranks first in the country in yards per game, establishing himself as one of the best wideouts in college football.
Scouting Report
Production doesn't always translate from the college to the NFL level, but Rice has a variety of traits that indicate he'll carry his dominance over. Rice is an immaculate catch-point receiver, hauling in the most challenging catches imaginable and making 50-50 balls look like 75-25 in his favor. He has strong, aggressive hands while in the air and is incredibly skilled at timing his jumps to attack the football at its highest point. While jump-ball wide receiver prospects have struggled to succeed at the NFL level in recent years, Rice has a diverse skill set that indicates he's more than just a go-ball guy. Rice is an above-average athlete, allowing him to accelerate out of breaks and create ample separation. He is a skilled route-runner, working blind spots well and possessing the shake and flexibility of a much smaller receiver. While these skills allow him to win against man coverage, he's best against zone coverage. Rice possesses an innate ability to find the soft spot in the zone, and he's a threat once he gets the football. His athleticism makes him a good yards-after-the-catch receiver. He breaks tackles at a rate that many 2023 receiver prospects cannot, bouncing off attempts like a running back.
Rice is a complete receiver, but his areas of improvement mostly revolve around his hands. While he has strong and reliable hands in catch-point situations, he can struggle to haul in the easy ones. Most of his issues stem from concentration drops, as he's eager to use his after-the-catch ability to create chunk plays. He is also susceptible to fumbling the ball while trying to gain extra yardage.
The Comp Pick: Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys
Rice looks like pre-injury Michael Gallup on the football field - the one that caught for over 1,100 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore. Gallup, like Rice, excels at the catch-point, offering big-play ability on any given snap. But Gallup is much more than that, offering an advanced skill set on underneath and intermediate routes and making things happen after the catch. Gallup was an underwhelming athlete. Rice should test a little better, giving him a high draft-capital upside and a higher ceiling at the NFL level. Like Rice, Gallup sometimes has inconsistent hands on the easy balls but jaw-dropping hands on the difficult ones. Gallup had a similarly long college career, but from a final-year production standpoint, Rice matches up well.
Final Thoughts
Rice is one of the most complete receivers in the nation, and his skill set looks translatable as he transitions from college to the NFL level. Gallup was immediately successful as a rookie, and Rice looks like a player that could offer similar immediate production. Rice has been rising on draft boards, and some NFL Draft analysts have indicated he could be a first-round pick. Either way, he's sure to be selected before Day Two is over. Rice will be a mid-to-late second-round pick in rookie drafts, and in a receiving class with ambiguity after the top guys, he looks like a great value at that price.
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