Sidney Rice

Sidney Raynard Rice (born September 1, 1986) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Rice played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft.

He also played for the Seattle Seahawks, with whom he became a champion in Super Bowl XLVIII.

Rice was born to Ida Coleman in Pickens, South Carolina. Rice has two older brothers, Jarvis Rice and Tremell Austin. Rice grew up in Gaffney, where he played both football and basketball for the Gaffney High School Indians. Rice, who graduated from Gaffney High School in 2004 was named All-State in both sports, leading the basketball team to consecutive state titles and the football team to a state championship as well. He had 38 catches for 735 yards and 11 touchdowns his junior campaign. He was named to the High School Sports Report Statewide All-State team and selected Offensive Player of the Year. In 2003, Rice caught 77 passes for 1,414 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior. Rice ended his high school career with 167 receptions for 3,044 yards and 31 touchdowns. In addition, Rice excelled in basketball, earning 2002 – 2003 Class 4A Basketball Player of the Year after helping Gaffney to the state championship. That season, he averaged 18 points and seven rebounds per game, as the Indians finished the basketball season with an undefeated 28–0 record.

Rice was heavily recruited by many colleges but signed with the University of South Carolina, where he played for the South Carolina Gamecocks football team from 2004 to 2006.

Rice was redshirted in his freshman year in 2004.

In his redshirt freshman year in 2005, Rice had six games going over the 100-yard mark and three with multiple touchdowns. In the Independence Bowl against Missouri, he had 12 receptions for 191 receiving yards and a touchdown in the 38–31 loss. Overall, Rice had 70 catches for 1,143 yards and 13 touchdowns. He began his career with eight consecutive games with a touchdown, a school record. He led the SEC in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. This streak ended with the 30–22 upset of the nationally ranked Florida Gators at Williams-Brice Stadium.

In 2006, Rice had five games going over the 100-yard mark and two with multiple receiving touchdowns. Overall, Rice caught 72 passes for 1,090 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had five touchdowns against Florida Atlantic which broke a South Carolina record and tied an SEC record for most receiving touchdowns in a game. For his short career, he broke Sterling Sharpe's school career touchdown record in just two years with the program, finishing his career with 23 touchdowns.

Rice was selected in the second round with the 44th overall pick of the 2007 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He signed a four-year contract with the Vikings in 2007.