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Imagine carrying a name that basically means "Greatest of All Time" on the back of your jersey. Every time you step onto a grass field, people aren't just watching you—they're comparing your footwork, your hands, and your speed to a literal legend. That was the reality for Jerry Rice Jr UNLV fans remember from back in 2013.
It’s easy to look at the stats and dismiss it. People see 11 catches and think "that’s it?" But they're missing the point. To really get why that one season in Las Vegas was a big deal, you have to look at the grind he went through just to get there.
The Long Road from UCLA to Las Vegas
Before he ever wore the Rebels’ scarlet and gray, Jerry Rice Jr. was a walk-on at UCLA. Honestly, being a walk-on when your dad is Jerry Rice is a choice. You’re choosing the hard way. He spent years in Westwood basically fighting for every single scrap of playing time. By the time he graduated from UCLA in 2013, he had his degree in history but still had a burning need to prove he could produce on the field.
That’s when he decided to transfer to UNLV for his final year of eligibility.
He didn't just go there to play; he went there to get his master’s degree too. While a lot of guys are focused solely on the NFL dream, he was balancing graduate-level coursework with the Mountain West schedule. It’s a side of student-athletes we sort of forget about.
Why the 2013 Season was Actually Historic for UNLV
The 2013 Rebels season wasn't just another year in the desert. It was the first time the program had seen a winning record since 2000. For a team that had been struggling for over a decade, having a guy with Rice’s work ethic in the locker room was huge.
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He wasn't the focal point of the offense—Devante Davis and Marcus Sullivan were the primary targets—but he was a reliable veteran. During his time with Jerry Rice Jr UNLV coaches frequently praised his "pro-style" approach. He didn't drop balls. He ran the routes exactly how they were drawn on the whiteboard.
The Heart of Dallas Bowl Moment
If you’re looking for the definitive highlight of his college career, it happened on New Year's Day, 2014. UNLV was playing North Texas in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. The Rebels were trailing, and the game was slipping away.
Then, in the fourth quarter, it happened.
A 13-yard pass. Rice Jr. hauled it in for a touchdown. It was his first and only collegiate touchdown. Think about that for a second. The son of the man who scored 208 NFL touchdowns finally got his own in the very last game of his college career. It was poetic. Even though UNLV lost the game 36-14, that moment stayed with the fans. It felt like a weight had been lifted.
Breaking Down the Jerry Rice Jr UNLV Numbers
Let's talk cold hard facts because sports fans love a good stat sheet.
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- Games Played: 11
- Receptions: 11
- Receiving Yards: 86
- Average per Catch: 7.8 yards
- Touchdowns: 1
Compare that to his UCLA stats where he caught 9 passes for 69 yards across three active seasons. He actually doubled his production in just one year in Vegas. He was 5-foot-10 and about 185 pounds—smaller than his dad, but he had that same twitchy movement off the line of scrimmage.
The NFL Tryouts and the "What If"
After the bowl game, the draft buzz was quiet, but the interest was there because of the pedigree. He worked out at the 49ers' local pro day—which must have been surreal—and eventually got a shot with the Baltimore Ravens on a tryout basis.
He eventually signed with the Washington Redskins (now the Commanders) in June 2014.
Disaster struck almost immediately. During training camp, he tore his labrum in his shoulder. That was basically the end of the NFL dream. He spent time on injured reserve and later tried his hand in the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes in 2015 and 2016, but that shoulder injury is a tough one for a wideout to fully overcome.
Where is He in 2026?
You've probably wondered what happens when the cleats are hung up for good. Jerry Jr. didn't let the end of his football career define him. He took that same "first one in, last one out" mentality he learned from his dad and pivoted to a completely different field.
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As of early 2026, he’s a highly successful real estate professional in California. He’s been with the Oldham Group at Compass for years now. It turns out, the discipline required to be a walk-on at UCLA and a grad-transfer at UNLV translates pretty well to the high-stakes world of luxury real estate.
He also recently got engaged to his long-time partner, Sarah, in a stunning ceremony in Italy. His dad, who is currently busy as a head coach for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games, has been vocal on social media about how proud he is.
Actionable Insights from the Rice Jr. Story
The takeaway here isn't about whether he lived up to the "Rice" name. He didn't have to be the GOAT; he just had to be himself.
- Value the Pivot: If you're a former athlete or someone facing a career change, look at how Rice used his "History" and "Master's" background to build a brand in real estate.
- Work Ethic Over Hype: Being a walk-on is a mindset. Use that "earn everything" approach in your current job.
- Legacy is Personal: You don't have to repeat your parents' successes to be successful.
If you want to dig deeper into the 2013 UNLV roster or see how other "sons of legends" like Brenden Rice (Jerry's other son) are faring in the pros today, start by looking at the evolution of the Mountain West conference. It’s a breeding ground for talent that often gets overlooked by the big-market scouts.