Local state champion receiver to walk on at South Carolina

Eriq Rice had a breakout season in helping AC Flora to its first football state championship.

Now Rice will be staying home to play college football, as the receiver accepted a preferred walk-on offer to play at South Carolina. The Gamecocks offered him back in December.

Rice also had offers from Stetson, Newberry, Benedict and Presbyterian.

Being a preferred walk-on guarantees a recruit a spot on the roster but no financial assistance to start his college career. He can also enroll and participate in preseason workouts at the same time as scholarship athletes.

The 6-foot-2 receiver earned all-state honors after catching 27 passes for 672 yards and nine touchdowns this season for the Falcons. In the 4A championship game against North Myrtle Beach, Rice hauled in seven passes for 117 yards and two touchdown passes.

Rice also is a standout for the AC Flora basketball and is averaging eight points a game.