Brenden Rice learns his NFL Draft fate in heartbreaking circumstances as WR answers Chargers call from friend's funeral | 36X2NA0 | 2024-04-29 02:08:01
WIDE receiver Brenden Rice reportedly learned about being drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft during his best friend's funeral.
The ex-University of Southern California star is said to have answered the Chargers' call while bidding farewell to the late Texas A&M University-Commerce wideout Keith Miller III.
Miller died at the age of 22 two weeks ago.
He was found dead in his apartment near campus on April 11.
His funeral coincided with Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft taking place in Detroit, Michigan, on Saturday, per NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
Rapoport reported that Rice, 22, was present at Miller's funeral.
The new Chargers wide receiver is said to have boarded a plane to Dallas, Texas, early Saturday morning so he could say a last goodbye to his best friend in person.
The ex-USC standout reportedly served as a pallbearer during the ceremony.
He also gave an obituary speech, according to Rapoport.
As he attended the funeral, the NFL insider continued, Rice received a call from the Chargers to inform him they would pick him at No. 225 overall.
"A bittersweet day for Brenden Rice," Rapoport said.
Rice is the son of NFL Hall-of-Famer Jerry Rice.
<!-- End of Brightcove Player --> He spent two years at USC after transferring from Colorado in 2022.
The Arizona native logged 791 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on 45 catches for the Trojans last season.
Most of those passes came from the No. 1 overall pick and the Chicago Bears' new franchise quarterback Caleb Williams.
Ahead of the 2024 draft, Rice expressed hope he could reunite with Williams in the NFL.
He said they could become a legendary duo, following in the footsteps of the Rob Gronkowski-Tom Brady pairing.
"I'm telling you, we could take it. We could be that next duo," Rice told TMZ Sports.
"Just like Gronk and Tom Brady."
But the Bears ended up elsewhere for fresh blood in the 2024 NFL Draft.
After landing Williams as expected, they picked wideout Rome Odunze out of Washington with the ninth overall pick.
Then, Chicago selected offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie at No. 75, punter Tory Taylor at No. 122, and defensive end Austin Booker at No. 144.
More >> https://ift.tt/tBy9foz Source: MAG NEWS
