NFL Draft 2024: Jerry Rice’s son Brenden flies to Dallas to carry the coffin of Keith Miller III after his best friend’s shock death at 23… as USC receiver waits to receive a call

  • Former Texas A&M-Commerce receiver Keith Miller III was recently found dead
  • Brenden Rice, the son of NFL legend Jerry Rice, was best friends with Miller
  • Rice flew to Dallas to serve as a pallbearer and deliver the death speech at his funeral

Brenden Rice, the son of NFL legend Jerry Rice, flew to Dallas on Saturday to carry the casket and deliver the death speech at Keith Miller III’s funeral.

Miller III, Rice’s best friend and former Texas A&M-Commerce wide receiver, was found dead earlier this month. He was only 23.

According to NFL NetworkUSC star Rice boarded a flight to Texas for the funeral but will answer the call when it comes.

Miller was found two weeks ago near the Texas A&M-Commerce campus.

The football star’s shocking death prompted an outpouring of grief from loved ones, former teammates and coaches, as well as the Dallas community.

Brenden Rice will carry the casket and deliver the death speech at Keith Miller III’s funeral

Miller III, Rice's best friend and former Texas A&M-Commerce WR, was recently found dead

Miller III, Rice’s best friend and former Texas A&M-Commerce WR, was recently found dead

Rice, whose father Jerry had a Hall of Fame NFL career, was a former teammate of Miller’s at Colorado.

Both started their college careers in Boulder before transferring to Texas A&M Commerce and USC, respectively.

“I love you Brotha,” the younger Rice wrote on Instagram. He also appeared to say he would take care of Miller’s son, adding, “On everything I love your (sic) son will be taken care of.”

In another post with a photo of Miller and a young boy, Rice wrote, “Luka is honest, I got him.”

Miller’s girlfriend, Caila Jae, claimed that “Keith was mentally struggling with something that I, or even his mother, couldn’t help him with.”

Rice, a former Colorado teammate of the late receiver, shared a photo of Miller's son

Rice, a former Colorado teammate of the late receiver, shared a photo of Miller’s son

Miller III started playing college football at Colorado before transferring to Commerce

Miller III started playing college football at Colorado before transferring to Commerce

Shortly after news of Miller’s death surfaced, A fundraising was launched with all funds ‘going towards funeral costs, family support and directly to his young son’.

Rice hopes to be drafted this weekend, believing he and Caleb Williams can match Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski if they are both selected by the Chicago Bears.

Former USC quarterback Williams was the first overall pick after having a promising relationship with Rice on the Trojans.

“I’m telling you, we can handle it. We could be that next duo, just like Gronk and Tom Brady,” Rice said TMZ.