'He's Healthy Now': Purdue WR Mershawn Rice Ready to Contribute During 2021 Season
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Mershawn Rice has become all too familiar with Purdue athletic trainer Ryan Luekan over the last two years. He spent a lot of time in the training room preparing for the 2021 season.
After being plagued by injuries with the Purdue football program, Rice has transformed his entire body of work. Route running, core strength, hand-eye coordination — you name it, he's improved it.
Rice, who has battled through a pulled hamstring and a high ankle sprain, is flashing his potential at wide receiver during the Boilermakers' fall camp. Now healthy, he's doing everything he can to stay on the field.
"It's definitely a blessing. The last two years have been very, very tough for me. But I fought through it, I prayed, and I just accepted the way things happen," Rice said. "They just happen for a reason. I do everything I can to take care of my body now, and I feel really good about it. And the transformation has been great, so I'm just happy to get out there this year."
Rice is a former four-star recruit out of Reynoldsburg High School in Ohio. And while the 6-foot-2, 200-pound receiver certainly adds size and athleticism to the Purdue offense, his mind may be one of his biggest strengths.
He's had two years to understand the playbook in its entirety. Not only is he proficient in understanding his assignments, but he's also immersed himself in defensive coverages and fronts. He said it makes it easier for him to go out and play.
There weren't enough good things that Purdue wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard had to say about Rice. Shephard raved about the sophomore's knowledge.
When the receivers break down opposing defenses in meetings, Rice signals everything that's supposed to happen. Shephard said he doesn't even have to verbalize it.
"So far through camp, he has shown leadership qualities that I didn't know at what point it would actually present itself within the group," Shephard said of Rice. "But our guys all look up to him. Obviously with David Bell being out there, they look up to him as well. But that young man has morphed himself into a leader and he's learned how to practice the right way. I'm very, very excited about what he can potentially do."
The Boilermakers' receiving corps is full of speed. Next to Bell, junior Milton Wright and sophomore TJ Sheffield bring explosiveness and big-play ability. Redshirt fifth-year senior Jackson Anthrop can play multiple roles for the offense as well.
And when you throw a healthy Rice into the mix, Purdue's offense can cook up something dangerous for defenses in 2021.
"I think it puts us in contention of being one of the better receiver corps in the nation," Bell said. "He's a top guy coming out of high school, but he's had a handful of injuries. But he's overcoming them, and he's healthy now. So I'm really excited to see what he can do in the season."
It hasn't been an easy road for Rice. He's utilized his time to strengthen his body and sharpen his mind, all while remaining committed to the Boilermakers. Rice put himself in a position for a potential breakout year due to the work he's put in before the upcoming season.
"I was kind of confused to why it was happening to me. And then I started doing some self reflecting and some praying and then things started to change for me," Rice said. "So I owe it all to God. And I really appreciate the way things are going even though it hasn't been the way I wanted it to."
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D.J. Fezler is a staff writer for BoilermakersCountry.com. Hailing from The Region, he is from Cedar Lake in Northwest Indiana and has spent the last two years covering Purdue football and basketball.