Jonathan Rice wraps up football career at Alabama
MADISON- Jonathan Rice has at least one more game to go in his football career. If Alabama can win in the Sugar Bowl it will be on to Atlanta for a shot at a National Championship.
It has been an amazing journey for Rice, a 2015 Bob Jones graduate who has been a preferred walk-on at Alabama for three seasons.
Alabama was an unlikely landing place for Rice who will graduate next May with a degree in Finance with a concentration in Economics. On signing day 2015 he didn’t sign. He had offers from smaller schools but had decided he wanted to go to a major football playing school.
“I wanted to go to Northwestern or Vanderbilt but it didn’t work out,” Rice said. “Alabama recruiting coordinators saw my film and had me down for a visit. They showed me around and I loved it. It happened at the last minute. I started in pre-med but I didn’t like it and changed to business, Alabama has a really good business school.”
Rice’s parents, John and Amanda Rice, are both Auburn graduates and he grew up an Auburn fan so the idea of playing at Alabama required some adjustments.
“Since I have been here they have really supported me. They went to all the home games that I dressed out in and went to the Auburn game.”
Rice achieved his dream of finally getting on the field during the final minutes of Alabama’s 56-0 win over Mercer on Nov. 18.
“I went in the fourth quarter for about 9 or 10 plays. It was senior day. It felt great to now say I actually played and contributed. A lot of hard work paid off. They were all run plays. I was playing X receiver doing backside cutoff blocks. When it was third down I thought they were going to throw a pass to me but they ran the clock out.”
Rice is graduating in three years so as a senior he was honored before the game by Coach Nick Saban.
“It was really cool before the game getting called out in front of the crowd and getting the picture with Coach Saban and my parents.
I’m graduating in May so I’ve been talking to companies about internships this summer I may come back to grad school or I may go ahead and start work.”
The receiving corps in 2014 at Bob Jones all played in college. Torrey Hunt is at UND (North Dakota) and Deondre Douglas plays for Troy. Jeremy Frye quarterbacked that team until he got hurt and Brady Polson took over.
Rice missed last year (2016) with an ACL knee injury.
“It was rough especially in the beginning to get to classes and keep up schoolwork. I was doing therapy with trainers rather than practicing. Now my knee is fine. I wore a brace in spring ball but since then I have not had any issues with it.”
Rice will get three days off starting Friday for Christmas but goes back Christmas Day evening to start practice and will leave with the team for New Orleans on Dec 27th.
Rice says the Cotton Bowl in Dallas was his favorite bowl experience. He also went to Phoenix for a national Championship game and Atlanta and to the national championship game in Tampa.
He is also thinking about his future without football.
“I’m looking forward to getting out of school. I’ve enjoyed it but its my time to hang up the cleats to get on with my life. After the bowl game I’m through with football. Being a walk on is not the easiest thing and you don’t get recognized but I’m glad I did it. It built my character. It was a great experience being around Coach Saban and that culture of success.”
