Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 62-13vs UL Monroe | 3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Total | 3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#32
AJ Rice
Freshman linebacker for Mississippi State. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 240 lb · Huntsville, AL · Madison Academy
Returning to Mississippi State for 2026
The numbers
3
tackles · 2026
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 3 tackles, vs UL Monroe
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
1 linebacker for Mississippi State. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Mississippi State in 2025.
AJ Rice
He has spent two seasons in the Mississippi State linebacker corps. The receipt: 3 tackles against UL Monroe — Week 1, 2026.
3 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
2025
- Signed with Mississippi State3-star out of Madison Academy
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Mississippi State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Jeff Lebby, all run-leaning offenses — 7-8 over that span.
2025Mississippi State5-8HC: Jeff Lebby · Run-leaning
2026Mississippi State2-0HC: Jeff Lebby · Run-leaning
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 1 game: 3.0 TKL/g, 0.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Jeff Lebby
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Mississippi State | 3 | -- | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Mississippi State | 1 | -- | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 4 | -- | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Mississippi State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Mississippi State
Returning around him
- 2 Mississippi State players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -12 net (28 in / 40 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Mississippi State · Last season: 5-8 · Talent rank #20 · 2026 recruiting class #23
Background
Career Honors 2025 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll Career Notes Played in two career games with zero starts … Following the 2025 season, had one tackle. 2025 (True Freshman Season) Played in two games with zero starts … Earned a redshirt … Made his collegiate debut against Alcorn State (9/13) and re...
The linebacker corps · Mississippi State
- #10Jalen Smith57 tackles · 2025
- #7Zakari Tillman47 tackles · 2025
- #16Derion Gullette38 tackles · 2025
- #11Tyler Lockhart34 tackles · 2025
- #32AJ Rice1 tackle · 2025
6 more on the roster · Mississippi State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology