Paying Off The Work

Cam Rice was looking for his next home. 

After four years at three different spots in college football, he had one year of eligibility left. He’d worked tirelessly to earn a chance to play at the Division 1 level again, he just needed to find his next stop. He found it in College Park and it’s already paying off wonderfully for the Terps.

“Maryland checked all my boxes,” Rice said. “It’s close to home, so my family can come to all the home games. I wanted to play in a prestigious conference. The coaching staff and the connections they have are next level.”

Rice is a thumper on defense and has been a staple of a stout line that Maryland has boasted in 2025. His whirlwind journey has taken him all over college football. Different states, different levels, but the same relentless player. 

Cam and his brother, Kaden, grew up in Morgantown, WV. They were raised by their grandmother, Lori, who’s been an administrative assistant for West Virginia football since 1987. 

“He was raised on a football field,” Lori said. “I raised him and his brother from the time they were very little. I put them in every sport there was, except for hockey and lacrosse.”

The brothers participated in activities ranging from musical instruments (Cam played the violin and trumpet) to flag football to baseball and basketball. 

“I think it’s big growing up learning how to be a part of something bigger than yourself,” Rice said. “Whether that’s sports, musical things, whatever it is, it gives you the chance to be a part of something.”

During his time as a high school basketball player, a local radio station described Cam as a “bull in a china shop” on the court, complimenting his size and stature. 

“I didn’t have the best basketball skills,” Rice said with a chuckle. “But I played really hard. That nickname still resonates today on how I play the game of football: really hard with high effort.”

Now, Rice is a bull rushing through opposing offenses and wreaking havoc in their backfields. He recorded his first sack as a Terp in Maryland’s win over Wisconsin and posted a season-high six tackles when Maryland downed Northern Illinois in early September.

“Over the last few years, he’s come into his own,” Lori said. “He's taking care of business with football and knowing what he wants and going after it and working hard. He started at the bottom, and has worked his way up.”

Indeed, he has. Rice’s unique path to College Park through college football started in Morgantown as a walk-on linebacker for the Mountaineers. He didn’t play much and began to look into other options that were financially friendlier. 

He transferred to D2 West Liberty in West Virginia, where he was able to play alongside Kaden and break through and get his name recognized. 

“I feel like we always continue to push each other like iron sharpens iron, and that's been the way since we were kids,” Kaden said. “He's always played with my friends and I've always played with his friends. We've always just tried to build each other up as best as we can.”

Rice recorded 89 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, 11 pass breakups and forced six fumbles across two stellar seasons with West Liberty. An unbelievable 2023 campaign saw him bring home a slew of accolades, including Division II All-American, 2023 Harlon Hill Trophy Nominee (Division II College Football Player of the Year) and 2023 Cliff Harris Award Finalist (Small College Defensive Player of the Year).

“I have loved every minute of watching Kaden and Cam grow through sports and be affiliated with sports,” Lori said. “It's really been a lot of fun. Nerve-wracking at times, but fun. I loved it.”

Rice wanted to elevate his game, but the eligibility requirements of the time required him to graduate before he could move back up to the Division 1 level. So, as he always does, Rice tackled the obstacle head-on. He graduated a year early so he could transfer to Ohio University for the 2024 season.

“As an older brother, seeing his success is everything,” Kaden said. “He’s bounced back from so much adversity in life, from being a walk-on to D2 to then finally thriving in some type of winning program at Ohio and now here at Maryland, and that's what he just wants to continue to do, continue to win and produce amazing plays on the field. I feel like that's exactly what he's done at every level he's been at so far.”

Rice was taking over 23 credits and enrolling in summer classes and internships on top of playing football and trying to get himself scouted and noticed.

“I feel like he's just an amazing human being who just wants to be better in every aspect,” Kaden said. “He did everything in his power to graduate early so he can get back on that field, get back on the big stage. He’s just relentlessly trying to be better every day.”

The proverbial bus route of his career has featured several stops, yet he’s found continued success and learned lessons at each destination, growing in maturity, skill and faith. 

“Every step that he has taken, he’s said, ‘Grandma, I don't regret any of my choices with how I’ve managed my football career,’,” Lori said. “You know, you can make a choice and then say, ‘Oh, I shouldn't have done that’, but he’s learned something from every step along the way.”

Kaden’s football career was cut short by injury, but Rice’s older brother has adopted a new role from teammate to anchor.

“We help each other so much,” Kaden said. “We text each other every day. We usually send a weekly Bible verse text and some words of the week, inspiration to keep us focused and grounded. I always send them a very detailed text message before games to let the dog out.” 

“I definitely would not be here today without having him in my corner,” Rice said. “He’s so positive. He keeps my head on straight and helps me keep the main thing the main thing.”

Maryland is reaping the benefits of Rice’s impressive journey and wonderful perseverance. He found a home in College Park, one he’s distraught to only spend one season in. He’s making the most of every opportunity and each moment. He’s recorded at least half a sack in back-to-back and showing the Big Ten just what happens when a bull finds a china shop, or a Terp finds a backfield. 

“He’s got a dog mentality,” Kaden said. “I mean, he's an unstoppable force any given moment, no matter who's in front of him. He's going to stand on all 10 toes. He's going to do what he can. He's going to do exactly what the coach tells him to do. He has relentless effort. Last year, he played with a torn labrum and a broken hand, and you could have seen he was unfazed the whole game.”

Both Lori and Kaden have been able to make it to SECU Stadium to see Rice play this season. Despite her position with WVU football, Lori says the priority chain has always been faith, family, football.

“Where your kid plays is where your heart is,” Lori said, “I mean, I love Mountaineer football. It's been my life for 39 years, but my grandson is my heart.”