Take me home: Morgantown utility player Rice stays home with PWO opportunity at WVU
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (BVM) — One picture in Cam Rice鈥檚 college commitment announcement summarized the situation perfectly. As a quarterback and linebacker for Morgantown High School, Rice made his name known in the city of Morgantown with his all-state performance as a jack-of-all-trades type player. That鈥檚 why the photo of him, donning West Virginia University鈥檚 all white uniforms, crouched in front of lit up letters spelling 鈥淭AKE ME HOME,鈥� fit the moment so well. Rice, with his commitment to the Mountaineers, was going to be home.
鈥淚t was a lifelong dream for me,鈥� Rice said. 鈥淓ver since growing up as a little kid, going to the football games and enjoying the atmosphere I always looked up to it. I can鈥檛 wait to get started.鈥�
100% Committed!
— Cam Rice (@CamRice4355)
It wasn鈥檛 always going to be this way. Rice wasn鈥檛 well sought after at the Division I level, claiming most of his opportunities from the schools in Division II. Despite heavy interest from schools like Concord University, Tiffin University, Wheeling University and West Virginia Wesleyan, Rice was enamored with nearby DII program Fairmont State. After a visit on Dec. 10, Rice felt that it was Fairmont State, not WVU, that was going to be his home. So much so that on Jan. 9, he committed to the Fighting Falcons and their scholarship opportunity rather than take the preferred walk-on opportunity he was given with the Mountaineers.
However, something didn鈥檛 feel right for Rice. As he took some time to sit with his decision, he realized that something was pulling him away from Fairmont State and the Fighting Falcons. A sense of belonging. A sense of home.
Rice鈥檚 grandmother, Lori Rice, has worked with the Mountaineers football team for over 30 years as an administrative assistant. Being raised primarily by Lori, Cam would spend a lot of time around the players, coaches and staff of the Mountaineers football team, growing up and experiencing the environment. That was a feeling that Fairmont State couldn鈥檛 replicate.
鈥淩eally I was thinking about my future and what would be best for me and I really wanted to follow my dreams and stay here,鈥� Cam said. 鈥淚 grew up around it. Growing in that building, around head coaches and those players and looking up to all of them. Now that I can be a part of that is something really special.鈥�
With that feeling, Cam decided to decommit from the Fairmont State program and reopen his recruitment. Though his options were once again open, there was truly only one place Cam wanted to be and that was in Morgantown, his hometown. And so the 6-foot-2, 230-pound athlete decided to bet on himself so he could remain in Morgantown as a PWO for West Virginia University.
鈥淩eally it鈥檚 going to start day one,鈥� Cam said. 鈥淢aking sure everyone knows who I am and that I鈥檓 here to work. I鈥檓 ready to earn everything.鈥�
https://twitter.com/MohiganAthletic/status/1357018962618384387
For head coach Neal Brown and the Mountaineers, they receive one of the most dynamic players in the entire state of West Virginia. A two-star prospect by 247Sports, Cam was able to lead the Mohigans to a 3-3 record in a COVID-19 shortened season. Used more as a runner than passer, Cam scored six touchdowns on the ground for the Mohigans on offense while on defense he played a bit of everything from off-ball linebacker, outside rushing linebacker or even as an in-the-box safety. Defense is also where Cam would earn most of his recognition, earning second team Class AAA all-state as a defensive utility player.
鈥淚t meant a lot to me especially as a utility player because I was pretty much labeled as an athlete my whole high school career,鈥� Cam said. 鈥淚 kind of like being in that category because I can play any position and a lot of coaches like that.鈥�
Now, Cam will look to make the same impact he made on the field for the Mohigans with the Mountaineers. With his knowledge of a number of different roles across both sides of the ball, Cam will have an advantage over some of the other PWOs and general walk-ons he will compete with at the next level. Recruited as a defensive end, Cam is ready to add to the Mountaineers defensive reputation.
鈥淵eah I鈥檓 definitely excited,鈥� Cam said. 鈥淚 fell in love with [playing defense], just doing as much as I can to help the team.鈥�
Meanwhile, he will have plenty of support from the Morgantown community as the hometown kid looking to make his city proud.
鈥淚 love it,鈥� Cam said. 鈥淚 already have the fans behind my back and I can鈥檛 wait to get out there and start working. 鈥� I鈥檓 hoping to get in there, start working hard, earn a scholarship as soon as possible and earn a spot on the field as soon as possible.鈥澛�
While country roads may take West Virginians home, Cam鈥檚 destination will only be down the street.
