JOURNAL SPORTS
Among the top receiving performances in the first 49 Independence Bowls, few have topped what a freshman did in the 2005 I-Bowl.
Sydney Rice’s record-breaking performance for South Carolina has earned him a No 19 ranking on the game’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, as selected by a local media panel.
A redshirt freshman for Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks, Rice rewrote the receiving record book in the 2005 game – collecting 12 receptions for 191 yards and one touchdown. At the time, both his 12 receptions and 191 receiving yards set single-game Independence Bowl records. He is still tied for the most receptions in an Independence Bowl – alongside Duke’s T.J. Rahming (2018) and Virginia Tech’s Isaiah Ford (2013) – and is fourth in single-game receiving yards.
After redshirting in 2004, Rice was one of the SEC’s most-productive receivers in 2005 and 2006. Beginning his career with a school-record eight straight games with a TD, he recorded 70 receptions for 1,143 yards and 13 TDs in 2005 – being named first-team All-SEC – and added 72 receptions, 1,090 receiving yards, 10 TDs and second-team All-SEC honors in 2006. In just two seasons, Rice broke Sterling Sharpe’s South Carolina record for career touchdowns with 23.
Standing 6-foot-4 and carrying 202 pounds, Rice was selected in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He caught 31 passes for 396 yards and four TDs in his rookie season and was named to the Pro Football Writers Association’s All-Rookie Team. After battling injury in 2008, he had the best season of his career in 2009. On his way to making the NFC Pro Bowl team, Rice caught 83 balls for 1,312 yards and eight TDs.
After an injury-marred 2010 season, Rice signed a five-year, $41 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks. He played three seasons in Seattle – catching 97 passes for 1,463 yards and 12 TDs. He was a member of the 2013 Seahawks squad that won Super Bowl XLVIII. Rice retired in July 2014 due to multiple concussions during his career.
The next player on the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 18, will be announced next Monday. Players will be announced individually every Monday, with No. 1 unveiled on Monday, December 7.
Players already announced on the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team:
No. 20 – Brad Smith (QB, Missouri, 2003 and 2005); No. 21 – Derrick Mason (WR, Michigan State, 1995); No. 22 – Garrison Hearst (RB, Georgia, 1991); No. 23 – Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech, 2023); No. 24 – Tim Krumrie (NG, Wisconsin, 1982); No. 25 – Muhsin Muhammad (WR, Michigan State, 1995); No. 26 – Ja’Mar Toombs (RB, Texas A&M, 2000); No. 27 – Otis Wilson (LB, Louisville, 1977); No. 28 – A.J. Green (WR, Georgia, 2009); No. 29 – Rocky Calmus (LB – Oklahoma, 1999); No. 30 – Flozell Adams (OT – Michigan State, 1995);
No. 31 – Willie Blade (DT, Mississippi State, 2000); No. 32 – Scott Thomas (S, Air Force, 1983 & 1984); No. 33 – Chad Hennings (DT, Air Force, 1984); No. 34 — Dameyune Craig (QB, Auburn, 1996); No. 35 – Geno Atkins (DT, Georgia, 2009); No. 36 – Rondell Mealey (RB, LSU, 1997); No. 37 – Rolando McClain (LB, Alabama, 2007); No. 38 – Weldon Brown (CB, Louisiana Tech, 2008); No. 39 – Andre Smith (OT, Alabama, 2006 & 2007; No. 40 – Tiki Barber (RB, Virginia, 1994);
No. 41 – Puka Nacua (WR, BYU, 2021); No. 42 – Gary Kubiak (QB; Texas A&M, 1981); No. 43 — Seneca Wallace (QB, Iowa State, 2001); No. 44 – Todd McClure (C, LSU, 1995 & 1997); No. 45 – Gary Anderson (K, Syracuse, 1979); No. 46 – Booger McFarland (LB, LSU, 1995 & 1997); No. 47 – Tremaine Edmunds (LB – Virginia Tech, 2015); No. 48 – Bill Musgrave (QB – Oregon, 1989); No. 49 – Larry Anderson (DB – Louisiana Tech, 1977); No. 50 – Lorenza Baker (LB – Louisiana Tech, 1990).