USC's Rice declares for NFL draft

(Columbia-AP) January 7, 2007 - South Carolina's all-time leader in touchdown receptions Sidney Rice 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. This comes less than a week after Rice told News 10's Mark Quinn he was staying for another season with the Gamecocks.

Spokesman Steve Fink says Spurrier was "disappointed" and wished Rice would stay another year, but that Spurrier wishes Rice the best.

Rice's breakout came last season when he was a freshman All-American. This year he continued to be strong down the stretch.

Rice has already left campus to move to Arizona where he can train full-time for the NFL pre-draft workouts that take place in March.

Updated 6:20pm by Logan Smith