JUCO Linebacker Lonnie Rice Commits to Syracuse
Syracuse football continues its hot streak on the recruiting trail. Junior college linebacker Lonnie Rice committed to the Orange, he announced on Monday. Rice took an official visit to Syracuse over the weekend. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
"It's been a long time coming," Rice said of the Syracuse offer. "So when it finally happened, I already knew what I was going to do."
During the 2022 season at Lackawanna, Rice accumulated 39 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. He is listed at 6-0, 220 pounds on Lackawanna football's website.
Syracuse recruited Rice out of high school, where he starred for Bishop McDevitt High in Pennsylvania. Rice even visited the Orange as a high school prospect, though an offer was not extended. He ultimately signed with Buffalo as part of the 2020 recruiting class before turning to the JUCO ranks.
As a junior college prospect, Syracuse did offer and pursued heavily as it wanted to add experienced talent to its roster. Rice's official visit over the weekend sealed the deal.
Rice is the third junior college prospect in Syracuse's 2023 class, joining offensive linemen J'Onre Reed and Lysander Moeolo. He is the second linebacker in the class along with Zyian Moultrie-Goddard. Rice's commitment puts the Orange at 15 high school and junior college players in the 2023 class. Syracuse also has four incoming transfers.
It has been an offseason of change for Syracuse, which has lost both of its coordinators in the last week. Robert Anae took the offensive coordinator job at NC State while Tony White left to be Nebraska’s defensive coordinator. The Orange named Jason Beck its new offensive coordinator and Rocky Long its new defensive coordinator.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for National Signing Day on Wednesday and the Pinstripe Bowl on the 29th.
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