While Fresno State Bulldogs sit, former teammate Justin Rice finds a place to play now
Justin Rice, the former Fresno State linebacker, gets to play football, at least.
While the Bulldogs can’t get clearance from the university to get back on campus for organized strength and conditioning workouts due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rice will play his first game as a graduate transfer for Arkansas State on Saturday at Memphis on national television.
That part of the equation will feel like a fairly typical college football Saturday. There even will be a familiar face on the sideline, albeit the other one – Bert Watts, the Bulldogs’ former linebackers coach and defensive coordinator, is now the linebackers coach at Memphis.
“I’m playing football, so it’s fun,” Rice said in a telephone interview.
That is all the senior from Modesto wanted when transferring to a program and a conference that is pushing forward with a 2020 football season, with all coronavirus health and safety protocols in place.
Waiting at Fresno State
After the Mountain West postponed football and other fall sports with an eye toward a season in the spring, Rice and his family evaluated the situation and it just didn’t add up.
It won’t for many seniors with pro aspirations.
“We felt the spring season wouldn’t help me too much, being that it would probably be around six games, probably all be Mountain West, just teams I’ve already played,” said Rice, who was the preseason defensive player of the year in the conference before the transfer. “To help me take the next step we felt a six-game season, in the spring, with the same opponents I’ve already played, and then try to fit in a six-game season and immediately turn around into Pro Days and the draft, it wasn’t going to work too well.
“Ultimately, talking with my family, we thought it was best to go and try to play this season and not have to wait until either the spring or the fall, whenever Fresno State’s season is going to be. It came down to what’s best for me and what’s best right now and that’s how we made our decision, but it wasn’t easy, that’s for sure.”
Arkansas State has a 12-game schedule that includes a Power Five conference opponent in Kansas State, up after Memphis. Rice filled a need in the Red Wolves’ linebacker position and after just six practices with the team is in the two-deep for the season-opener.
Arkansas State plays a 3-3-5, which is a good fit for Rice’s skill set. The Red Wolves also have a winning program, playing in a bowl game for a school-record nine years in a row.
“It’s going good,” he said. “They have a little bit of a different scheme, but Cover 4 is still Cover 4, Cover 3 is still Cover 3. Getting the hang of switching from a four-down front to a three-down front is the biggest change, but other than that it’s going good over here.”
And, after the season, Rice will be on a traditional NFL timeline leading up to the draft.
Coronavirus testing
“We’re testing every week, twice a week sometimes, masks everywhere,” Rice said. “It’s doable. Clean everything after you’ve used it … It’s definitely doable. It’d be cool if everyone could follow this protocol and get it going, it’s just really tough with different areas. Some have higher cases than others, so it’s not as realistic. But it’s definitely doable.”
Arkansas State had seven asymptomatic coronavirus cases across three of its sports programs back in June, and has not disclosed results since its initial round of testing.
Fresno State athletes, meanwhile, are waiting to return to campus and for any word on a potential spring season that may or may not happen.
“I’ve been talking to some of them, to see what they’re doing, if they’re making progress and as far as I’ve heard they’re not making too much,” Rice said. “I feel for them, because that’s frustrating.
“Seeing that, it definitely makes this decision a little easier.”