2   Melvin Rice
	Class: Senior Hometown: Chicago, IL High School: Morgan Park Height / Weight: 5-11 / 195 Position: CB Experience: 3L

Started at cornerback for most of the last three seasons and moved into ninth place on the NIU career charts for passes broken up with 18. Made 175 career tackles with 102 solo.

2008: Ranked sixth on the team with 50 tackles, and his 33 solo stops were fourth-highest on the squad. Led NIU in pass break ups with six, recovered a fumble, forced another and made one tackle for loss. Made two or more tackles in every game for the Huskies. Earned NIU's defensive skill (DB or LB) honor a team-leading five times during the year, as he picked up the honor for the Minnesota, Tennessee, Miami, Bowling Green and Central Michigan games. Set season-bests in both total tackles (8) and unassisted tackles (6) at Eastern Michigan. Had five solo tackles, seven total, versus Miami and broke up a pair of passes. Recorded four unassisted tackles in both the Western Michigan and Bowling Green games and added a tackle for loss versus the Falcons. Racked up five tackles and broke up two passes in the bowl game versus Louisiana Tech. Tallied five tackles, four solo, recovered a fumble and broke up a pass versus Central Michigan. Finished the Ball State game with four total stops. Forced a fumble at Tennessee that NIU recovered to stop a Vols' drive and added three tackles in that contest. Also compiled three tackles in both the Kent State and Navy games. Broke up a pass and made two solo tackles versus Minnesota.

2007: Started at cornerback in all eight games in which he played. Tied for the team lead in pass break-ups with six. Ranked sixth on the team with a career-best 61 tackles and contributed 3.5 tackles for loss. Made 31 solo stops and totaled 61 tackles. Had seven or more tackles in each of his last four games and averaged over seven tackles per game on the year. Tallied 10 stops vs. Iowa (9-1). Recorded seven tackles, including 1.5 for loss with two pass break-ups vs. Southern Illinois (9-8). Registered five tackles and deflected a pass vs. Eastern Michigan (9-15). Recorded four tackles and a pass break-up at Idaho (9-22) as he had at least one PBU in three straight September games. Credited with seven tackles, 1.5 for loss, at Central Michigan (9-29). Set a career-high with 12 tackles and broke up a pass at Temple (10-6). Totaled seven tackles and a pass break-up vs. Kent State (11-10). Made nine stops at Navy (11-17).

2006: Played in all 13 games and made seven starts at cornerback, including the Poinsettia Bowl. Totaled 47 tackles with two tackles for loss. Tied for team-high honors with two interceptions and recorded three pass break ups. Returned one kickoff for 18 yards vs. Iowa. Made first start and totaled six tackles vs. Buffalo (9-16). Credited with six stops vs. Indiana State (9-23). Tallied four solo tackles at Miami (10-8). Recorded five tackles, including one for loss, at Western Michigan (10-14). Intercepted pass and had three tackles against Temple (10-21). Registered five tackles with interception vs. Central Michigan (11-17). Racked up career-high seven tackles, one for loss, and was credited with a pass break up vs. TCU in Poinsettia Bowl (12-19).

2005: Appeared in 12 games on defense and special teams. Recorded 15 tackles, including eight solo stops. Made collegiate debut and had a tackle at Michigan (9-3). Credited with pass break up against Tennessee Tech (9-17). Totaled four tackles and a pass break up at Akron (9-23). Had two tackles vs. Ball State (10-29).Registered two tackles and one pass break up at Central Michigan (11-5).

High School: Unanimous all-state selection as a senior. Ranked No. 41 CB by Rivals.com, No. 46 in Midwest Top 100 by The Sporting News, and No. 90 in Midwest Hot 100 by Scout.com. Named team captain and Most Valuable DB, first team Chicago Public League All-Section, first team Chicago Sun-Times All-Public League, first team All-Area, and first team (Large School) All-State, honorable mention Daily Southtown All-Area, first team Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report All-Area, special mention Champaign News-Gazette All-State, second team Chicago Tribune All-State, and first team IHSFCA Class 7A All-State as a senior. Listed as No. 1 area DB by Chicago Tribune prior to senior campaign. Recorded 95 tackles, five fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and two blocked kicks on 12-1 Section champion and state Class 7A playoff semifinalist in final prep season. Recovered errant punt snap for TD in 2004 quarterfinals vs. O'Fallon. Earned first team all-section honors and made 124 stops, five interceptions, two QB sacks, and two fumble recoveries on team that went 10-2, won league title and was state quarterfinalist during junior year. Voted team Special Teams MVP as sophomore and team Rookie of the Year as freshman. Four-time football letterwinner and earned two letters in track.

Personal: Born December 13, 1986. Sociology/criminology major. Son of Melvin Rice and Sherrell Harris. Huskie Scholar earned a 3.15 spring semester GPA. Admirer of Ray Lewis and Muhammad Ali.

RICE'S CAREER STATISTICS

RICE'S CAREER GAME HIGHS
Tackles: 12, at Temple, 10-06-07
TFLs: 1.5, twice, last at Central Michigan, 9-29-07
Interceptions: 1, twice, last vs. Central Michigan, 11-17-06