Rice Re-evaluating Potential Suitors

The Buckeye State back has had long standing offers from three Mid-American Conference schools. The questions is whether they still remain.

Brandon Rice is no stranger to the recruiting process. However, it’s something he didn’t imagine he’d have to do all over again. Eastern Michigan, Miami (OH), and Ball State had all offered the Walnut Ridge back. But now, Rice is unsure whether those offers still stand for him to take.

“Right now the three D-1 offers I have right now are out the window so to speak, because the coaches at Eastern Michigan and Miami of Ohio got fired and the coaches at Ball State left for San Diego State. I’m back to the evaluation process, looking at new schools, and all those things.”

A few new schools entered the mix for the young man’s services, including two more state of Ohio universities.

“I sent my tape to Memphis, Ohio, and Toledo. That’s all I can think off the top of my head.”

Though those schools have thrown their hat into the mix for Rice, one of the original schools still stand out high upon his list. The Redhawk’s of Miami (OH) still figure prominently in this race.

“Well I’m actually really interested in Miami because I went down there my junior year for the spring game. It was my first time being on a college campus for a football game, and I went to their homecoming game when they played Kent State. They lost, but it didn’t feel horrible. I’m comfortable down there. With the situation they have at running back, I feel like I have a shot. The running back coach that actually got retained, he always told me he’d give me a shot if I performed.”

The only thing remaining in such an equation is whether the Redhawk’s running back coach, Jay Graham, has enough pull to convince new head coach Mike Haywood and new offensive coordinator Peter Vaas that Brandon should be a Redhawk. It’s something that Rice hopes for, and assumingly would end his recruitment should his offer still stand.

“He can still pull for me, and I think he probably will, because I was the front runner for him out of the guys he was recruiting. I think I have a better shot than other guys who are trying to get recruited by Miami. Just having him back and having him backing me is good.”