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<\/p>\nIn a 2021 season that was dismal for the Colorado Buffaloes, and particularly on offense, Brenden Rice was one of the few bright spots.<\/p>\n
Nobody on that CU team put up impressive numbers on offense, but Rice was, without question, the most explosive player and someone Buff fans were excited about.<\/p>\n
Then, he left.<\/p>\n
Rice\u2019s decision to leave CU and transfer to USC in December of 2021 wasn\u2019t surprising, but it was painful for Buff fans.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Rice will make his return to Boulder, as the No. 8 Trojans (4-0, 2-0 Pac-12) face Colorado (3-1, 0-1) at Folsom Field (10 a.m., Fox).<\/p>\n
\u201cVery familiar (territory) and I can\u2019t wait to get back to Folsom,\u201d Rice told USC reporters this week. \u201cColorado is my first love, so just seeing how coach (Deion) Sanders has transformed Colorado, it makes me happy. But at the same time, going back, that nostalgia, it\u2019s a rival to me now and I can\u2019t wait to tear up Folsom.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Rice, the son of NFL Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice, flashed his potential with six catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns and an 81-yard punt return for touchdown. In 2021, he caught 21 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns and averaged 27.6 yards on kickoff returns.<\/p>\n
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At USC, Rice has continued to develop, to the point that he\u2019s now one of the most reliable weapons for Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams. Rice caught 39 passes for 611 yards and four touchdowns last year. He has 12 catches for 257 yards and five touchdowns so far this year.<\/p>\n
Although he\u2019s become a star for USC, Rice said this week he still is fond of CU and he\u2019s enjoyed seeing the transformation of the Buffs\u2019 program led by Sanders.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe city of Boulder is a college town, so being in that environment, the fans were like, this is a sleeping giant away (from being good),\u201d Rice said. \u201cDeion Sanders was able to come wake them up and I\u2019m happy for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of the Sanders\u2019 most memorable battles during his Hall of Fame career came against Jerry Rice. And, the two of them were teammates for a year, helping the San Francisco 49ers win a Super Bowl in 1995.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, the sons of Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice could go against each other. CU safety Shilo Sanders is one of the leaders of the Buffs\u2019 secondary, but it\u2019s unclear if he will be healthy enough to play.<\/p>\n
Asked about seeing the sons face each other, Coach Prime said he \u201ccould care less.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t give a darn about that,\u201d he said. \u201cI care about all my kids, man \u2013 all my kids that have on a Colorado Buffalo uniform. That\u2019s what I care about. \u2026 I care about Mr. Williams, you know, Caleb Williams, and that whole host of young men that\u2019s coming.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m happy for Jerry that his son is doing his thing. I saw (Hall of Famer Terrell Owens) post about his son who scored a touchdown last week. And I\u2019m happy with any father that\u2019s there in their kids\u2019 life and doing a wonderful thing, I really am. I\u2019m into fatherhood, I really am.\u201d<\/p>\n
College Sports | <\/p>\n
College Sports | <\/p>\n College Sports | <\/p>\n College Sports | <\/p>\n College Sports | <\/p>\n Of course, once the game starts, fatherhood doesn\u2019t matter, and neither does the fact that Rice used to be a Buff. The current Buffs simply want to stop him and the rest of the Trojans.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m excited every week, no matter who I go against,\u201d CU cornerback Omarion Cooper said. \u201cI\u2019m trying to take this opportunity to the next level; trying to compete. I\u2019m a competitor.\u201d<\/p>\n As for Rice, he\u2019ll have some special feelings coming back to Folsom Field, but is preparing for a battle.<\/p>\n \u201cColorado\u2019s DBs and their defensive unit is gonna be sound,\u201d he said. \u201cCoach Prime has gone ahead and made sure they\u2019re up to par, they\u2019re gonna come ready, they\u2019re gonna come ready to dogfight. They\u2019re gonna protect home. Going to somebody else\u2019s house to really go ahead and get a (win) is hard.\u201d<\/p>\n Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.<\/em><\/p>\n Suzanne Morphew's remains found in Saguache County<\/li>\n Keeler: Where's Cormani McClain? Stuck in Deion Sanders' doghouse. There's only one way out. "It's time to grow up."<\/li>\n 40,000 drivers caught on camera cutting illegally in and out of Colorado highway express lanes<\/li>\n Lauren Boebert escorted out of "Beetlejuice" musical in Denver after "causing a disturbance"<\/li>\n Here's how the Floyd Hill project on I-70 will affect ski traffic this winter<\/li>\n Parent sues Denver school board member Auon\u2019tai Anderson in test of Colorado\u2019s new social media law<\/li>\n Pot boom wakes sleepy Dinosaur, Colorado: \u201cThere\u2019s money running out of our ears\u201d<\/li>\n Construction starts on $125M, 81-acre technology park in Broomfield<\/li>\n Kiszla: Jamal Murray, strawberry Starburst and why the Nuggets don't care if the Bucks traded for Damian Lillard<\/li>\n Six buddies open gay bar in former Prohibition Bar space on East Colfax<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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