For Ravens rookie running back Ray Rice, making the grade in the NFL will be tough, but nothing compared to what he?s overcome off the field.
A second-round pick out of Rutgers, Rice grew up in a single-parent household after his father, Calvin, was killed in a drive-by shooting when Ray was just 1. Janet Rice raised Ray and his two siblings while she worked as a special education teacher in New Rochelle, N.Y.
For Rice, having the chance to play in Baltimore made the NFL draft even more special for him.
“It?s a dream come true for me to remain on the East Coast,” he said. “Being near my family is very important to me.”
Rice, at 5-feet-8 and 200 pounds, gives the Ravens insurance in the backfield in case starter Willis McGahee gets injured. At Rutgers, Rice gained a reputation as a workhorse, becoming the Scarlet Knights? most prolific runner in just three seasons. He finished with 4,926 yards and 49 touchdowns on 910 carries. He declared for the draft in January shortly after completing his junior season.
However, Rice will not carry the ball nearly as much in the NFL, although he could still be an important cog in the Ravens? offense. Rice and McGahee could be in the backfield at the same time for offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who had success in San Diego with LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner.
“I think [Rice] has the durability,” said Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens? general manager. “We like the way he runs. He has a very low center of gravity, so he doesn?t take a lot of hits. He mainly delivers a blow instead of taking a blow. Could he play a 16-game season? I think he can and be a guy that [we?re] very, very happy with.”
The Ravens are convinced Rice can help out on special teams as a return specialist, something he didn?t do in college because of his high number of carries. Much of that assessment came from Ravens offensive assistant Craig Ver Steeg, who was the offensive coordinator at Rutgers last year.
“He?s the right kind of guy ? one of my favorite players in the draft,” said Eric DeCosta, the Ravens? director of college scouting. “Love the kid. He?s got the right kind of mentality to be a great special teams player for us. He gives us a lot of value as a second running back, and I?m very excited.”
Rice said he is ready for any role with the Ravens.
“I know the transition won?t be easy,” Rice said. “I?m just a guy who tries to take care of business on and off the field, and I hope the fans in Baltimore will be able to see that.”
