Football Jets get recognized at sendoff ceremony
Kyriq McDonald (left) with James Clemens Head Football Coach Wade Waldrop and Monty Rice (Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)
MADISON- His announcement took only a minute but the process to arrive at the decision took months. In front of several hundred students and a throng of media gathered Monday, Monty Rice announced he would attend LSU and play football for the Bengal Tigers.
Rice was thought to be a Georgia lean. A sportswriter even drove from Atlanta Monday to cover the event. But the winds began to change late Sunday and new LSU coach Ed Orgeron made an impression and LSU filled a huge need at linebacker.
“I surprised a lot of people. It was real close,” Rice said. “I still love Coach Smart I just didn’t think it was the best fit for me. I love Dave Aranda (LSU Defensive Coordinator) he’s real smart and honest. There was never any pressure. He just told me how much they wanted me and stuck with his word.”
With football season over Rice faced about 7 months of football inactivity.
“It is the best thing to do (leave early). I took online courses, its high school it’s time to move on.”
Rice will start classes at LSU in January and go through spring practice. He will count against the 2017 class. He wants to major in criminal justice.
James Clemens Head Football Coach Wade Waldrop said “there was no wrong choice in this, LSU was the best fit for Monty. He was very high on their board. He had an Alabama offer. What sticks out to me is how physical and tough-minded he is. Some guys have other things going on, not him. There was never a day when he didn’t want to come to work and play football.”
Rice played on a defense of stars and was at times overshadowed. But he never backed down.
Waldrop said that Rice played with a hamstring issue all season.
“We held him out of a lot of drills during the week but he never missed a game and played hard every Friday night.”
Rice was a three year starter at James Clemens.
Kyriq McDonald was also recognized as he will also be departing James Clemens to enroll early at Alabama.
McDonald was a huge impact player for Waldrop. He accounted for 7 touchdowns this season on special teams and defense. He also had a big interception against Bob Jones. Late in the year he also played running back, a position he played in middle school.
“He has a knack for blocking kicks. He could end up playing offense or defense at Alabama,” Waldrop said.
“It is a real testament to the hard work both guys have put in in the classroom that they have this opportunity. ”
McDonald said Alabama coach Nick Saban stressed education and the importance of getting his degree so he could always provide for himself even if football didn’t work out.
McDonald is going to study engineering at Alabama.
