Cowboys draft 2023 scouting report: SMU WR Rashee Rice

Cowboys draft prospects scouting reviews for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Identify: Rashee Rice
Place: WR
Peak: 6’3”
Weight: 206 kilos

Texas native Rashee Rice garnered loads of curiosity in highschool as a three-star prospect. He earned provides from practically each Pac 12 college, a couple of Huge 10 and SEC colleges as effectively, however Rice opted to remain near residence and selected the SMU Mustangs.

Rice noticed taking part in time as a real freshman and supplied glimpses of his potential in his first three seasons, however was in the end taking part in third fiddle to the likes of Reggie Roberson, Jr. and Danny Grey. With Roberson and Grey leaving for the NFL this 12 months, Rice had the prospect to be the highest canine at SMU in 2022, and he didn’t again away from the problem.

Rice completed the 12 months fifth in catches and third in receiving yards, a formidable feat for him. Now, he’s making an attempt to persuade NFL scouts he will be extra than simply that one 12 months of stellar manufacturing. May Rice proceed to play in Dallas, this time for the Cowboys? His talent set will surely be welcome.

Route Working: Rice spent his first and final season at SMU taking part in in a selection offense, with the 2 center seasons in an Air Raid offense. That meant Rice wasn’t actually given a very complicated route tree to work with, thus requiring some projection for him on the subsequent degree. On the routes he did run, he gave the impression to be very easy and exact in his actions. The most important query right here is how rapidly he can incorporate extra routes into his recreation.

Palms: Drops have popped up at instances for Rice, particularly this previous 12 months when he dropped an alarming 8.6% of his targets. However he additionally demonstrates a constant capacity to make spotlight catches, with practically 49% of his catches this 12 months being contested. Evidently his concern with drops is extra focus-based than something, as he has actually good palms that may clearly catch something thrown his manner. He simply must be extra constant on this regard.

Playmaking Capability: Merely put, Rice is an enormous play ready to occur. He led the nation in receptions over 20 yards this 12 months, with practically half of them being contested catches. He’s greater than only a deep ball receiver, however his 4 years of expertise have a constant theme of excelling on the massive shot performs.

Launch: Because of the offenses Rice performed in at SMU, in addition to the standard of competitors, he was constantly afforded clear releases by most video games. It’s onerous to mission how he’d maintain up towards constant press protection within the NFL, however he does possess the body and footwork to beat the problem. The query is simply how rapidly he’ll have the ability to alter to that type of protection after little publicity in school.

Run After Catch: Rice is a harmful participant with the ball in his palms. He was fourth within the nation in yards after the catch and ninth in damaged tackles. Consequently, SMU utilized Rice on screens on the fifth highest charge of any receiver, though Rice produced YAC from all types of ideas. He isn’t an elite athlete, however he’s adequate to supply further yards along with his nice imaginative and prescient and talent to rapidly convert to a runner after making the reception.

Blocking: Rice has a canine mentality, and that’s evident when given blocking assignments. He has a eager understanding of leverage, and simply appears to like the physicality that comes with blocking a defensive again.

Versatility: A 12 months in the past, Rice performed nearly solely out of the slot and set profession highs (on the time) for receptions and touchdowns. Outdoors of that season, although, he’s nearly solely performed out vast. That’s positively his greatest spot, given his measurement and talent, however the 2021 season is proof constructive that he provides nice worth as an occasional slot receiver as effectively.

Dimension: He has nice measurement for the place at 6’3” however doesn’t sacrifice any fluidity of motion. He has an awesome catch radius to associate with wonderful contested catch capacity. It’s uncommon to see a participant this massive not solely play like he’s this massive, but additionally have the pace and elusiveness to be a YAC demon.

Intangibles: Rice noticed important taking part in time all 4 years at SMU, not even taking a redshirt 12 months when he first arrived, and he confirmed marked enchancment each single season. That’s a testomony to his work ethic and coachability. He could have loads of room to develop on the NFL degree, largely associated to route operating and launch questions, however seeing his sturdy linear improvement suggests he’s up for the duty.