Landon Rice, TE, Jacksonville State

Ed Hunt:  What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?

Landon Rice:  I’m 6’4 ½ and 248.  My official 40 was a 4.83 and unofficial is a 4.75.

Ed Hunt:  Why were you dismissed from Auburn?

Landon Rice:  The reason I left Auburn was the girl I was dating accused me of sexual assault and Title IX did their own investigation of the case. I was dating her March and April of 2016 (I was an early enrollee at Auburn, and I had already graduated high school at 18). She accused me of sexual assault in August of 2016. The last time we saw each other was April. We stopped dating because summer break was coming up and she was going home. I wasn’t going to see her as often. I told her summer break was coming, and I was going to be really busy with summer workouts, classes and football was going to be cranking up. I was a true freshman and I needed to have a strong summer camp and summer classes and I wouldn’t have a lot of time to hang out. Three months later, I find out this girl is accusing me of sexual assault.  I didn’t know what a Title IX case was, and it was never a rape case. It was a sexual assault case (It was presented as a sexual assault case to the Grand Jury a year later). Title IX contacted me via email the day fall camp started in August, and they told me to meet them in their office the following day. Still not knowing what Title IX was, I went to the meeting and the lady asked me about my relationship with this girl. She asked me if I knew that this girl was accusing me of sexual assault. I said that I didn’t know that. I was confused because the last time I saw that girl was in April and everything we did was consensual and there were never any red flags. Everything was consensual. She actually spent the night with me in my dorm room the last time we saw each other. Title IX and my coaches were saying it was okay. We connected through text messages over summer break, and I knew she was irritated and mad, but I didn’t know she was implying rape. I was trying to make her feel better. This texting happened during the summer. We quit texting and she made it clear that she didn’t want to see me anymore. She never told me why she was pissed off. She accused me during fall camp. Coach Malzahn called me into his office at the end of fall camp. He told me to call my parents. I was 18, and it was tough talking about this kind of thing to my parents. I felt like I was letting my parents down having to leave the school. I was part of the Auburn family. I withdrew from school during fall camp the Thursday before the Saturday game before Auburn played Clemson in 2016. As a family, we decided to leave. A month after I left, they did the investigation and found me guilty through Title IX (not in court). It was almost impossible to overturn a Title IX case because Title IX’s policy is considered guilty until proven innocent. I was never provided any legal representation and never given any guidance by my advisors on what to do. Everyone told me it was going to be fine. I left and was attacked by the media for a year. Then I came back to Auburn for the case. The District Attorney presented my case as a sexual assault case to the Grand Jury. They called the girl in to tell her testimony and then they called me in and I told them my story. The District Attorney and Grand Jury decided with me and said no bill and dismissed the case. Then Auburn said I was in good standing with them and Title IX sanctions expired, and they placed me in good standing with Auburn University. I have documentation to prove that.

Ed Hunt:  What have you learned from this experience?

Landon Rice:  Really it changed my whole life. While I was doing my fall camp, I rededicated my life to Jesus Christ. I was really at rock bottom. I didn’t know who to turn to. All I could really could do was dedicate my life to God. The only way I could wake up in the morning was giving my life to God. I got on my knees. I gave my life to God. My dad started teaching Sunday school. My family had to come together. The full armor of God gave us hope and all of this stuff would be over with. Having a relationship with God gives me a purpose to life. I don’t live for myself. I live for him. I value my family and friends and all the people to support me. It brought my family closer together. My uncle became a preacher. I could see God moving in my brother’s life. My whole family suffered from that. It brought us all together.

Ed Hunt:  Where are you currently training for the draft?

Landon Rice:  I’m training at Willis Performance Training.

Ed Hunt:  Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?

Landon Rice: I played basketball my junior year of high school and ran track my freshman year of high school.

Ed Hunt:  What positions did you play in high school? 

Landon Rice: I played tight end and defensive end.

Ed Hunt:  Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?

Landon Rice:  Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, and Auburn. Some other power five and non-power five conference schools as well.

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Ed Hunt:  How would you sum up your career at Jacksonville State?

Landon Rice:  I would say productive and blessed to be able to play college football after having it taken away from me. I had a grateful attitude. That’s the mindset that I had every practice, every workout and every game.

Ed Hunt:  What are your strengths?

Landon Rice:  I would say my strengths are as a football player is I’m a blue-collar football player. I’m a servant leader. I make my teammates around me better. I am a high energy guy. I like to motivate my teammates to win and better themselves.

Ed Hunt:  What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?

Landon Rice:  I would just say explosion, more balanced in and out of cuts on my routes and flexibility.

Ed Hunt:  What is the highlight of your career up to this point?

Landon Rice:  I would say the highlight of my college career was to be the lone captain against Florida State. I value that my team and coaches chose me. It was a huge victory for my family after football being taken away from me having to think that especially against a school like Florida State my senior year.

Ed Hunt:  What is your favorite NFL team?

Landon Rice:  The Atlanta Falcons. I’m from Georgia and that’s our home team. We have to root for the Falcons.

Ed Hunt:  Is there an NFL tight end that you like to watch on film?

Landon Rice:  Yes, Jason Witten. I love his approach to the game. Just the man that he is. Just his character. How he values film study. He is very detailed in the little things. He is a blue-collar kind of guy. That’s how Jason Witten has always played. We have the same birthday, May 6. Tyler Higbee with the Rams and George Kittle. We watched a lot of the 49ers in college. The Tennessee Titans run game as they block. To model your routes, I like to watch Travis Kelce. I think he does the best job getting open.

Ed Hunt:  What underclassmen on your team should we keep an eye out for next season?

Landon Rice:  Trae Barry. I’m projecting he will be the #1 TE next year. After another year, he’s going to be the guy. He has tremendous grit. He has the best hands in the nation. I will put him against anybody. He is a great guy, is a friend, and he is going to do great things in the NFL.

Ed Hunt:  Which defender was your toughest matchup throughout your career?

Landon Rice:  I would say Florida State’s Amari Gainer. #33 for Florida State.

Ed Hunt:  What is the most important trait for a tight end?

Landon Rice:  I would say physicality, durability, and dependability.

Ed Hunt:  What do you enjoy most about football?

Landon Rice:  I would say football has always been in my life. I don’t know life without football. I remember doing the Oklahoma drill with my brother. My dad is a high school football coach. Being able to play a competitive sport. Thinking back to middle school and high school and stuff and working so hard with your friends. The relationships that football brings. There are so many people involved with a football program and I really enjoy being apart of different people’s lives.

Ed Hunt:  How has this journey of perseverance made you stronger?

Landon Rice:  It has taught to never give up on my dreams. I had my dream school taken away from me. I never gave up playing College Football and getting a college degree. Since I was kid, watching Lawrence Taylor highlight videos. The thing in my life is roll with the punches. The Bible teaches us to have joy in the suffering. It might be terrible. Don’t have a “woe is me” attitude. Look to help others around you. It’s about everybody around you and not having a poor mentality.

Ed Hunt:  What are your hobbies?

Landon Rice:  I like to fish. I like to ride around back roads. Listening to country music. We like to pick up food and eat in the truck with my fiancé. My fiancé’s name is Tillery. Hanging out with friends and family. I like to play football too. I like to float down creeks and rivers. I like to go hiking.

Ed Hunt:  What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?

Landon Rice:  I want to give back to people. I want to serve the public. I look to serve the public through a career. In disaster relief and the community and to serve people. I’ve already been on a mission to trip to Tanzania. I want to go back to Tanzania after the Covid stuff. I’ve been engaged for a year, and we are looking to get married and have a beautiful family. We want to raise some kids and pour into their life like my family did.

Ed Hunt:  What makes you unique?

Landon Rice:  Physicality and grit. I would say I’m a great teammate. Every team I’ve been a part of I’ve been a leader. I lead by action. I’m going to be the first guy to a workout and I want to lead guys around. A servant leader. I bring a lot of enthusiasm and energy. I can get along with everybody from Tanzania to Georgia to center of Alabama. I love to meet people.

Ed Hunt:  What five words best describe you?

Landon Rice:  I would say Christian, servant, humble, family-oriented, and country.

Ed Hunt:  What did you think of the Super Bowl?

Landon Rice:  I thought the Buccaneers were a lot more physical and that’s why they won. I love Devin White. I love his effort and that he is all over the field. I think the Bucs’ team brings physicality. The Bucs’ center plays with a lot of physicality. The Bucs brought it and the Chiefs could never get their footing.