Wide receiver Brenden Rice received some bittersweet news during a heartbreaking moment as he attended his best friend’s funeral. The former University of Southern California star reportedly found out that he had been drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft while saying a final goodbye to his late friend, Keith Miller III.
Miller, a wideout for Texas A&M University-Commerce, tragically passed away at the age of 22 two weeks prior to the draft. Rice, who was present at Miller’s funeral, received the call from the Chargers informing him that he had been selected as the 225th overall pick.
Despite the mix of emotions on that day, Rice, the son of NFL Hall-of-Famer Jerry Rice, showed immense strength as he also served as a pallbearer and delivered an obituary speech for his dear friend. He had boarded a plane to Dallas early that Saturday morning to attend the funeral in person, showing his commitment to honor Miller’s memory.
Having spent two years at USC and showcasing his skills on the field, Rice had high hopes of reuniting with former college teammate Caleb Williams, who was drafted as the No. 1 overall pick by the Chicago Bears in the same draft. While their reunion in the NFL did not materialize, Rice remains optimistic about his future in the league.
The young wide receiver, with 791 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns to his name from last season, expressed confidence in his abilities to make an impact in the NFL. Despite not teaming up with Williams as initially envisioned, Rice is determined to carve out his own path and make a mark in the league, following in the footsteps of his legendary father.
