WEST LIBERTY — Cam Rice has been playing football since he was a child.
“I started playing tackle football in 3rd grade,” he said. “My brother always loved watching and playing football which made me more interested.”
Rice is a 2021 graduate of Morgantown High School. He is currently a redshirt-freshman at West Liberty University. He originally signed with West Virginia University as a preferred walk-on, but transferred to West Liberty after one season.
“I learned a lot during my time at WVU but It was a better decision for me to leave and go somewhere I can actually show what I’m capable of,” Rice said.
Rice, a defensive end, had an outstanding first season with the Hilltoppers, being named the Mountain East Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year.
“Winning the Freshman of the Year was an amazing accomplishment and I am very blessed,” Rice said. “It feels good that my hard work is being recognized.”
He finished with 13.5 tackles for loss, including 11 solo. He led the Hilltoppers with 5.5 sacks, and was one of two players to force and recover a fumble, finishing with two forced and one recovered.
He was named MEC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in an overtime win against Fairmont State, with seven tackles (four for loss) and two sacks including a strip sack that turned into a touchdown.
“Fairmont isn’t too far from my hometown so I had my family in the stands and it was a Thursday night game under the lights,” Rice said. “It felt really good to contribute to the win and the strip sack for a touchdown was awesome. Being named the defensive player of the week was awesome and I was very happy my team was able to come out with the win.”
Rice was also named Second Team All-MEC at the conclusion of the season. Suffice to say, Rice is happy with how his season went.
“I think it went pretty well but there’s a lot of room for improvement,” he said. “I am looking forward to my sophomore season.”
Cam is not the only Rice on the West Liberty football team. His brother Kaden is a wide receiver.
“When I went into the transfer portal I only had D II schools reaching out and my brother being at West liberty did influence me because I always wanted to play with him again,” he said.
Rice played both quarterback and linebacker as a Mohigan. He received All-State Second Team Honors as well as All-Ohio Valley Conference honors. He was a multi-sport athlete during his time at MHS, playing both football and basketball.
“I always played multiple sports growing up and when I got to high school I pretty much narrowed it down to football and basketball,” Rice said. “I loved playing basketball for Coach (Dave) Tallman at MHS.”
Rice is majoring in exercise physiology at WLU.
“After I graduate I’d like to keep playing football at the professional level and then I’d like to become a personal trainer or a coach,” he said.
Rice is the grandson of Lori Rice, longtime WVU Associate Administrator for the football coach.
BY KERRI KOSTEN
TWEET @DomPostSports
