Alundis Marcell Brice (born May 1, 1971) is an American former professional football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He was also a member of the Toronto Argonauts and Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at the University of Mississippi.
| No. 23, 29, 21 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Cornerback / Safety | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | May 1, 1970 Brookhaven, Mississippi, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 178 lb (81 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Brookhaven (MS) | ||||||||
| College: | Mississippi | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1995 / round: 4 / pick: 129 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| As a coach: | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Stats at ArenaFan.com | |||||||||
Early life
editBrice attended Brookhaven High School, where he played as a wide receiver and cornerback. He received Class 5A All-State honors as a senior. He competed in track, winning the state title in the 200 metres.
He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Mississippi. He was originally recruited as a wide receiver, but after he didn't record a single reception as a sophomore even though he played in every game, he was converted into a cornerback.
Brice was named the starter at left cornerback as a junior, developing as a dominant player and a key part in the team leading all NCAA Division I schools in fewest total yards allowed per game (234.5). He had 7 interceptions (second in school history). He also became the second player in school history to return 2 interceptions for touchdowns in a single-season.
As a senior, he changed his jersey number to 38, in honor of Chuckie Mullins who was paralyzed in 1989. He started at left cornerback, registering 50 tackles (42 solo), 7 interceptions (4 interceptions in the last 2 games) and 9 passes defensed. At the end of the year he was shot in the chest while breaking up an on-campus altercation, with the bullet nearly hitting his heart. After an 11-day stay in the hospital, he resumed his preparation for the 1995 NFL draft.[1]
He practiced track, posting personal best times of 10.75 seconds (100 metres), 21.62 seconds (200 metres) and 6.22 seconds (55 metres) as a sophomore.
Professional career
editDallas Cowboys
editBrice was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (129th overall) of the 1995 NFL draft, after he dropped because of health concerns.[2] When the team acquired Deion Sanders, Brice was given a BMW car to switch jersey numbers so that Sanders could wear his #21, even though Brice had already stated he had no attachment to the number.[3]
As a rookie, he played on special teams and the nickel defense. He started against the Oakland Raiders in place of Larry Brown, who had missed the week because of a family tragedy. He finished the season with 9 defensive tackles, one interception, 2 passes defensed and 4 special teams tackles.
In 1996, in the second game against the New York Giants, he had a career-high 4 tackles. In the fourteenth game against the Arizona Cardinals, he was making his second career start in place of an injured Sanders, when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.[4] He was placed on the injured reserve list. He collected 11 defensive tackles (one for loss) and one special teams tackle.
In 1997, he suffered a career-threatening injury during his rehab treatment, when his kneecap ruptured into two pieces. He recovered from the injury, but was released to make room for Sanders on August 21.[5]
Philadelphia Eagles
editOn April 24, 1998, he signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent. On August 25, he was released before the start of the season.[6]
Milwaukee Mustangs (AFL)
editOn March 20, 1998, he was signed by the Milwaukee Mustangs of the Arena Football League.[7] He was activated on October 15.[8]
Tampa Bay Storm (AFL)
editOn November 10, 1998, the Tampa Bay Storm selected Brice in the third round of the expansion draft, using a pick they obtained in a trade with the Buffalo Destroyers. He was waived on April 18, 1999.
Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
editOn June 11, 1999, he was signed as a free agent by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, to play free safety.[9] He appeared in 18 games, tallying 35 defensive tackles, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 special teams tackles.
Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL)
editOn April 20, 2000, he signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.[10] He was a backup free safety, appearing in 4 games and making 14 tackles. He wasn't re-signed after the season.
Personal life
editIn 2002, he began his coaching career as a graduate football assistant at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. In 2003, he was a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Mississippi.[11] In 2004, he was hired as the cornerback assistant coach for the University of Idaho.[12]
From 2007 to 2008, he was the secondary coach at Portland State University.[13] From 2017 to 2019, he was an employment area Director with SL Start, later called Compass Careers Solutions.
References
edit- ^ "Former Mississippi defensive back Alundis Brice was released". Associated Press News. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- ^ "1995 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ ""Neon Deion" helped, and hindered, the 'Boys". Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- ^ "Cowboys' Brice and Bates Injured". Los Angeles Times. December 10, 1996. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- ^ "Deion finds religion, will play vs. Steelers". August 22, 1997. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. August 26, 1998. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- ^ "Transactions". March 21, 1998. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- ^ "Transactions". October 16, 1998. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- ^ "Transactions". June 12, 1999. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- ^ "Transactions". April 21, 2000. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- ^ "Cutcliffe Announces Staff Position Changes For 2004". February 19, 2004. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. January 8, 2004. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- ^ "Glanville names new assistant coach". February 26, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2020.