Player Career

Justin Rice Career Story

Career story, signature performances, transfer context, and season arc are grouped for biography-style searches.

Player Story

Justin Rice story

Justin Rice built his college career from 2016 through 2021 as a linebacker from Modesto, CA wearing No. 3, spending time with Arkansas State, Fresno State, and Utah State. The clearest part of Justin Rice's career was his defensive production: 325 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, and 5 interceptions across 47 career games in the available record. His largest box-score season came in 2021 with Utah State. Those numbers show where he fit, how often the ball or action found him, and how his role developed over time.

Defensive careers can be hard to read from one number, but Justin Rice's production has multiple signals. His career also includes 11 rushing yards and 15 receiving yards, giving the story more than a single-category snapshot. With 47 career games in the available record, his career has enough shape to show both opportunity and production across Arkansas State, Fresno State, and Utah State.

The arc is straightforward: Justin Rice moved through the depth chart, found a larger role, and turned that opportunity into production that can be understood through standard football numbers.

Career Arc

Track team changes, role shifts, and season-to-season movement.

  1. 1

    Fresno State

    2016-2019

    Opening stop

  2. 2

    Arkansas State

    2020

    Peak year stop

  3. 3

    Utah State

    2021

    Final stop

Season Value Progression

2016201720182019202020212021
SeasonTeamPrimaryEfficiencyUsageDelta
2016 Regular SeasonFresno State000
2017 Regular SeasonFresno State214.43.92
2018 Regular SeasonFresno State08.41.6-2
2019 Regular SeasonFresno State2357.716.723
2020 Regular SeasonArkansas State29.556.817.96.5
2021 PostseasonUtah State2050.615.4-9.5
2021 Regular SeasonUtah State2050.615.40

Signature Performances

Top Games

#1 Featured game

vs Central Arkansas

Week 6 · W 50-27

Win with backfield disruption leading the way.

8

Havoc Plays

100 takeover

8 disruption/tackle impact with 100 takeover score.

#2

@ USC

Week 1 · L 23-31

5

Havoc Plays

97.2 takeover

Loss with 5 impact plays across the defensive snap sheet.

5 disruption/tackle impact with 97.2 takeover score.

#3

@ San Diego State

Week 14 · W 46-13 · Conference game

3.5

Havoc Plays

92.2 takeover

Win with 3.5 impact plays across the defensive snap sheet.

3.5 disruption/tackle impact with 92.2 takeover score.

#4

vs Troy

Week 9 · L 10-38 · Conference game

5

Havoc Plays

87.5 takeover

Loss with backfield disruption leading the way.

5 disruption/tackle impact with 87.5 takeover score.

#5

vs North Dakota

Week 2 · W 48-24

3

Havoc Plays

84.4 takeover

Win with 3 impact plays across the defensive snap sheet.

3 disruption/tackle impact with 84.4 takeover score.

Top Seasons

#1 Season by Season Value

2020 Regular Season · Arkansas State

29.5 primary output · 56.8 efficiency · 17.9 usage

79.1

#2

2019 Regular Season · Fresno State

72.8

23 primary · 57.7 efficiency · 16.7 usage

#3

2021 Postseason · Utah State

67.8

20 primary · 50.6 efficiency · 15.4 usage

Milestones

22

Impact games

20

Splash games

17

10+ tackle games