Tag: monty rice uga

Former Georgia Bulldog inks rookie NFL contract

Former Georgia Bulldog inks rookie NFL contract

Former Georgia football linebacker Monty Rice has signed his rookie deal with the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League.

Rice was drafted by the Titans with the No. 92 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft after a productive career in Athens.

Check out the moment he found out he was a pro here:

Last season as a senior, Rice was a finalist for 2020 Butkus Award, which recognizes the nation’s best linebacker and was named All-SEC First Team by the Associated Press, while garnering All-America Second Team honors by The Athletic. The Huntsville, Ala., native finished the shortened season with 49 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 2 forced fumbles, fumble recovered for a touchdown, 5 quarterback hurries and a pass breakup in nine games.

The former four-star recruit out of the 2017 recruiting class wrapped up his Georgia career totaling 49 games played with 219 tackles from the inside linebacker spot.

Rice will compete with former Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans and fellow rookie Jan Johnson for reps at inside linebacker for a stout Tennessee defense.

 

 

 

Georgia LB Monty Rice drops highlight video ahead of NFL Draft

Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Monty Rice declared for the 2021 NFL draft this offseason. Here are his highlights.

Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Monty Rice declared for the 2021 NFL draft this offseason. Now, the James Clemens High School product will look to impress NFL scouts and find an NFL home.

Rice leaves the University of Georgia with an impressive resume. He racked up 49 total tackles in 2020 and forced two fumbles in four seasons.

Rice finished the 2019 season as a second-team All-SEC performer. Rice recorded a team-best 89 tackles in 2019. He helped Georgia have the top run defense in the country in 2019.

Rice came to Athens as a low four-star or high three-star recruit depending on the recruiting service. Rice proved himself right away and was a big reason UGA didn’t allow a rushing touchdown in 2019. Overall, he was a key piece on some of the most impressive defenses in the country throughout his career.

Rice and Georgia’s defense held opposing teams to the lowest yards per carry average in the nation last season. Rice’s sound gap integrity and consistent tackling helped Georgia’s run defense be so efficient.

Here’s Monty Rice’s career highlights from his time at the University of Georgia:

Monty Rice’s highlights show off some of his top strengths: tackling in the open field, play recognition and his ability to force fumbles. He has the talent to play right away on early downs in the NFL.

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Pair of Georgia LBs make Butkus Award watch list

Two Georgia football LBs have been named to the Dick Butkus Award watch list for the 2020 college football season.

Georgia linebackers Azeez Ojulari and Monty Rice have recently been named to the 2020 Butkus Award watch list.

This award, named after legendary University of Illinois and Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus, is given annually to college football’s most outstanding linebacker.

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Since the award’s origination in 1985, only one Bulldog has won it, that being Roquan Smith in 2017.  Roquan coincidentally now starts at linebacker for the Chicago Bears.

The redshirt sophomore Ojulari saw time in eleven games in 2019, putting up 33 total tackles (14 solo), 5.5 sacks and one forced fumble.  He is a rising star in the SEC and a notable defender to look out for this season.

Rising senior Monty Rice has been a staple in the Dawgs’ recent ferocious defense.  It is no surprise that Rice is on this watch list.  Rice saw time in 8 games his freshman year, 9 his sophomore year and played all 14 his junior year.  He has racked up 170 total tackles (85 solo), 4 pass deflections, one sack and one forced fumble in his career at UGA.

These two will both play big roles in Georgia’s defense this year, a defense that ranked No. 1 in team defense in 2019.

Georgia football player card: LB Monty Rice

Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Monty Rice finished the 2019 season as a second team All-SEC performer

Monty Rice, Linebacker (No. 32):

Class: Senior

Height: 6-1

Weight: 235 pounds

Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama

High School: James Clemens High School

Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Monty Rice finished the 2019 season as a second team All-SEC performer. Rice racked up a team best 89 tackles last season. He helped Georgia have the top run defense in the country in 2019.

Rice will start at inside linebacker for Georgia next season. He’s a solid NFL Draft prospect and surprised some when he decided to return to Athens. Rice has only missed five games in his career.

He came to Athens as a lowly rated four-star or three-star recruit depending on the recruiting service. Rice was a big reason UGA didn’t allow a rushing touchdown last season:

Rice will lead an elite defense once again in 2020. Georgia returns key players at every level of the defense. Dan Lanning and the Bulldog defense will be the strength of the team.

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