2024 NFL Draft: Top 5 NCAAF wide receiver prospects to watch Week 5

2024 NFL Draft top wide receiver prospects: Brenden Rice- USC

Rounding out our list is Brenden Rice from USC. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 210 pounds, Rice has the ideal size of all of the other receivers on this list, but he certainly makes the most of it with his quickness and agility.

In the 2023 season, Rice has the hands of his father, pulling in all of his catchable targets. He sits as a day 2-3 prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft due to his legacy, speed, acrobatic agility, and ability to create plays after the catch. If he can get a bigger target share at USC, he could become a precious player in the NFL.

Rice has not had a jaw-dropping stat line with just 12 catches and 257 yards so far in his senior year, but where is opens the eyes of draft analysis and NFL scouts is his highlight reel TDs. He is a favorite of Caleb Willams and it wouldn’t surprise me to see the NFL team that drafts Williams, Vikings, take Rice as a partner on the second day to help Williams transition. If not The 49ers  will be thrilled to have him join his dads old team, or the Raiders.

This week should have been Rice’s best NFL-level test against Colorado St. With the nation’s top CB Travis Hunter and S Shilo Sanders. However, both are injured, dealing with kidney lacerations, and will not be playing. Rice will have free reign of the Colorado St. Backfield this week, bold predictions, 170 yards.