6-7 Rice gets noticed at game

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• By Richard Davenport
• 11:57PM on November 19th, 2009

It’s a good bet Arkansas fans noticed Indiana offensive lineman Nick Rice during the Troy game last Saturday. He was by far the largest prospect visiting as the Razorbacks took on the Trojans.

Rice, 6-7, 330, 5.95 of Greenwood Community has always been fond of the way football is played in the south.

“I would like to play up here in the North but the South has always interested me,” Rice said. “Because I’ve watched on TV and think I want to be down there. I want to get away from this atmosphere and try a new one and I want to try to somewhere down South. The most surprising thing is how the game moves down there.”

Rice, who is receiving interest from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Virginia, Kansas, Purdue and Indiana, liked the intensity of the Razorback fans.

“It was pretty nice,” said Rice, who reports a 320-pound bench press and 415 squat. “I really enjoyed the atmosphere. I liked the fans’ reaction every time they would score. I like how they cheer at every circumstance like first down every time. That’s something I would like to be around.”

Rice was able to talk to offensive line coach Mike Summers and recruiting coordinator Tim Horton along with some academic advisors before the game.

While he’s attended games at Notre Dame and Indiana, Rice said fan participation at Arkansas is better.

“The crowd is crazier,” Rice said. “I like their reactions. Notre Dame, I like the history up there but I like the how the crowds get involved.”

Being a newcomer to the hog call didn’t keep Rice from picking up the famous cheer in quick fashion.

“I loved it,” He said. “I’ve been called a hog all my life being a lineman. I figured it out after a little bit, it took me about two times before I got it.”

Rice’s mother was also impressed.

“She thought the atmosphere was great,” Rice said. “She loved the stadium and enjoyed the whole feel of it. She wants me to play somewhere like that.”

Rice talked to several of the Arkansas’ coaches and was exposed to their sense of humor.

“They kept saying ‘we think you’re the biggest kicker we’ve ever recruited’,” Rice said. “They were all pretty nice to me.”