Jerry Rice is widely considered one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history. Rice’s son, Brenden Rice, followed in his father’s footsteps and recently became an NFL receiver.

The younger Rice finished his college football career with 1,821 receiving yards. Earlier this year, he declared for the NFL Draft, and last month fell to the Los Angeles Chargers in the seventh round. 

While many projections had Brenden as a Day 2 or Day draft pick, his slide to the final round of the draft took some by surprise — especially his Hall of Fame father.

“My dad was hot,” Rice told reporters as he smiled. “You guys get the flash like … the humble dude, right? Me, he’s like, ‘Hell no, we’re going to take this to a different level. These guys going to feel us.’”

Rice attended his friend’s funeral on the same day the Chargers called and told him he would be one of their draft picks.

“It was just like a blessing from God because he allowed me to go ahead and just mourn the death of my friend,” Rice said, “and then after that just go ahead and be happy, and it was a glorious day.”

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He found the silver lining in his unexpected tumble in the draft. The 22-year-old now gets the opportunity to catch passes from quarterback Justin Herbert.

“I’m in the best position possible to go ahead and make my mark and make my own legacy. I went from Caleb Williams to Justin Herbert, and I’m in a room that’s going to allow me to compete, day-in and day-out,” Rice said.

Former pro football player and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Jerry Rice, talks with his son, Brenden Rice #2 of the USC Trojans, following the spring football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on April 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

The Chargers moved on from wide receiver Mike Williams and traded away six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen this offseason, which gives Rice an opportunity to play a significant role in the team’s offense.

“Everything’s upon me. If you guys don’t see me coming on this fall, that’s on me. If you guys see me out there, then I put in the necessary work to put my best foot in the door and go out there and produce.”

USC quarterback Caleb Williams, right, talks with Austin Jones, #6, Brenden Rice, #2, and Tahj Washington, #16, at Pro Day at USC on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)

Rice spent the first two seasons of his college football career at Colorado, before transferring to USC in 2022.

Brenden suggested that it remains to be determined whether he is a better athlete than his father was, but he is certainly motivated to surpass his dad’s NFL rookie production.

“I feel as though we’re neck and neck. I’m faster, and I heard his rookie season in the NFL wasn’t good,” Rice said. “I gotta go top him.”

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Miguel Berry’s goal deep in stoppage time Saturday gave the Galaxy a 2-2 tie with Real Salt Lake before a sellout crowd of 25,220 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Berry came off the bench in the 69th minute, then 25 minutes later banged in a cross from Riqui Puig on the final touch of the game to rescue a point. The Galaxy’s other score came from Gabriel Pec, whose low left-footed shot deflected off RSL keeper Zac MacMath early in the second half to snap the team’s 269-minute scoreless streak dating to April 21.

Cristian Arango got RSL’s two scores in a 21-minute span of the first half. Even with the late score RSL (6-2-4) extended its MLS-best unbeaten streak to eight games and its lead atop the Western Conference table to two points over Minnesota United, the Galaxy’s next opponent.

The Galaxy (5-2-5), winless in their last three, remained third in the standings.

The Galaxy were on the front foot from the start, outshooting RSL 9-0 in the first 19 minutes. But the visitors made their first shot count, with Arango beating defender Maya Yoshida to a high cross in the center of the box, then heading it past former LAFC teammate John McCarthy in the 21st minute.

Arango beat McCarthy from the center of again 21 minutes later, this time with his right foot, one-timing home a nifty pass from Andrés Gómez. That goal was Arango’s 11th of the season, tying him with DC United’s Christian Benteke and Inter Miami’s Luis Suárez for the MLS lead.

Pec pulled that back after an RSL turnover 10 minutes into the second half.

Winger Joseph Paintsil wound up with the loose ball and sent it on to Riqui Puig, who dribbled across the top of the box before right-footing a soft feed in front of a hard-charging Pec on the left wing. After the goal, his third of the season, Pec lifted the bottom of his jersey to show a message on his white undershirt that dedicated the goal to the people of Rio Grande do Sul, his home state in southern Brazil, which has been devastated by recent floods.

Puig also assisted on that goal and leads the team with seven. More importantly, however, the score gave the Galaxy life and they pushed hard for the equalizer, outshooting RSL 23-12 and putting six shots on target. They also had 10 corners to RSL’s four.

But MacMath was stout in goal until the final seconds, making five saves, before Berry finally got a right-footed shot past him for his first score with the Galaxy.

Pitcher Paul Skenes was the first player selected in last year’s MLB Draft. After beginning the 2024 season in the minors pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate, he recently got the call to join the big league club.

Skenes earned a spot with the Pirates after he put together a string of strong performances at the minor league level. 

The 21-year-old’s solid pitching continued during his MLB debut. He struck out seven Chicago Cubs batters in four innings Saturday.

Skenes, who has been dating gymnast Olivia Dunne, credits the LSU gymnastics star for supporting him amid the pressure he faced leading up to his long-awaited debut on an MLB mound.

OLIVIA DUNNE REVEALS HOW SHE AND BOYFRIEND PAUL SKENES FOUND OUT ABOUT PIRATES CALL-UP

“It’s been great. She’s helped me in a lot of ways in terms of managing all the hype, I guess, if you will, and how to manage everything that goes around being a pro athlete because she’s kinda lived it. So, it’s been great,” Skenes said Friday.

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Skenes also attended LSU and was named the Most Outstanding Player after the Tigers won the College World Series in 2023.

LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne, middle, waves to fans before boyfriend Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates (not pictured) is introduced in his big league debut against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park.  (Charles LeClaire/USA Today Sports)

Dunne has also starred in her sport, earning SEC Gymnast of the Week honors earlier this season. Last month, Dunne watched her teammates win the all-around national championship for the first time in school history.

LSU’s Olivia Dunne poses for a photo holding the trophy following the team’s win in the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, April 20, 2024.  (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dunne has a considerable following on multiple social media platforms, and she acts as a brand ambassador for several companies. She has an estimated name, image and likeness (NIL) value of $3.7 million, according to data complied by On3.

Weather forced Cubs and Pirates players to exit the field at the top of the fifth inning. The game was tied at six at the time of the rain delay.

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