Four games into 2018, Fresno State was 3-1 and on its way to 12-2 and a Mountain West Conference championship.
Justin Rice had a solid role in all of that, playing on all of the Bulldogs’ special teams units and as a backup linebacker to three highly productive players. He had the skill set, football instincts and versatility to play at the Mike behind Jeff Allison, the Will behind George Helmuth and the Sam behind James Bailey, and did.
But barring injury, those three starters weren’t coming off the football field, so the junior from Modesto took advantage of an NCAA rule change that allowed a player to participate in any four games and still retain a redshirt season.