[Nick]

South Carolina sophomore Rice leaving school for NFL
Associated Press
Updated: Jan. 7, 2007, 4:43 PM ET

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Sophomore Sidney Rice, South Carolina's career leader in touchdown receptions, is giving up his final two seasons to enter the NFL draft.

Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier confirmed through a spokesman Sunday that Rice would go pro.

Spurrier was "disappointed and wished [Rice] would've stayed around another year," spokesman Steve Fink said.

In two seasons, Rice caught 23 TDs to set the school's career mark. With 1,090 yards receiving this year, Rice became the first South Carolina wideout to break the 1,000-yard mark twice in his career. The only other 1,000-yard season in Gamecock history was by former Green Bay Packers star Sterling Sharpe.

Rice had 11 100-yard games, also a school career record.

He caught 72 passes this year and leaves sixth all-time on the school list with 142 receptions.

Underclassmen had until Jan. 15 to declare for the draft. Rice has until Jan. 20 to withdraw his name from consideration and return to school.

The more I think about this wide receiver class as juniors continue to declare, the more I'm starting to think I was wrong about this and posters like MikeB and RF16 who have advocated for first day receivers are right. This class seems to have so much talent at receiver that it may simply be too good to pass on, especially depending on what we do in free agency.