2021 NFL Draft: 10 Day 3 sleepers who could be pro studs

By Randy Gurzi | Apr 16, 2021

TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 23: Tay Gowan #23 of the UCF Knights breaks up a pass intended for Armani Levias #15 of the Marshall Thundering Herd during the fourth quarter at the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on December 23, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

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Monty Rice, 2021 NFL Draft (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

5. Monty Rice, LB, Georgia

Georgia is one of those programs that always turns out NFL-level talent. And sometimes, they have players on their roster who get a little overlooked since they don’t jump off the tape as first-round talents.

That’s the case here with Monty Rice, who was a four-year player who started the majority of his career with the Bulldogs.

After picking up 22 tackles with two for a loss as a freshman, he really started to see time in the base defense in 2018. That year, he had 59 tackles but missed five games due to a knee injury. Rice was able to get healthy for the following season and posted his best numbers as a Dawg.

Rice finished with 89 tackles and was the co-defensive MVP for their team. With only nine games played in 2020, he had another 49 tackles and a career-best four for a loss. However, he still flew largely under the radar — and was said to have taken a small step back in 2020.

The 2019 tape showed a more polished player but he’s still a player to watch for a couple of reasons. One, he played against elite talent in the SEC and never looked overmatched. Two, he is a sure-tackler who can find the ball carrier with ease. He won’t be an early pick, but Monty Rice could carve out a nice career for himself.

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