UCLA’s Jerry Rice Jr. catches an opportunity

Jerry Rice Jr. gets to be himself this week.

That’s a big step forward.

Rice has had many identities and worn many numbers the last two seasons as a member of UCLA football’s scout team.

The scout squad is made up of reserves — most of whom have relatively little chance of playing in a game — who impersonate the Bruins’ next opponent during workouts.

A few weeks back, Rice was Oregon State’s James Rodgers.

A week later, he was a Washington State receiver — he can’t remember which one.

But this week, Rice is Rice. The non-scholarship player, whose father is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is in the Bruins’ game plan when they play California at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.

“I’ve played a lot of different guys, now I’m getting my shot,” Rice said. “It’s kind of a crazy feeling.”

His opportunity is the result of four front-line receivers’ being among the six UCLA players who were suspended for their part in an on-field fight against Arizona on Thursday.

Randall Carroll, Taylor Embree, Shaquelle Evans and Ricky Marvray have been disqualified from Saturday’s game, leaving Nelson Rosario and Josh Smith as the only available receivers with experience.

“Jerry finds himself with a golden opportunity,” UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel said. “He knows what to do. We’re going to find out about him. It’s exciting for me to get a chance to watch him.”

Rice has been waiting for this chance since coming to UCLA in 2009. His work ethic has been such that he will be given a scholarship starting the next quarter.

But for an athlete, there is no reward better than playing time, and he will see game action Saturday for the first time since his senior year at Atherton (Calif.) Menlo.

Dreams will go with him.

“I want to get into the end zone,” said Rice, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound sophomore. “Maybe get three or four catches. Anything else would be a bonus.”

The week already feels different for Rice, starting with the usual receivers’ meeting on Sunday.

“I’m overwhelmed, I’m excited, I’m very nervous,” Rice said.

Rice had two scholarship offers — from Kansas State and Air Force — as a senior in high school. He had an offer to walk on at California, but “it was too close to home,” he said.

UCLA offered a chance to “get away from home,” Rice said. “I needed to grow up. I wanted to live on my own.”

Being Jerry Rice’s son meant he couldn’t remain anonymous while getting settled, but he handled it well.

“Jerry is one of those great kids you love to have in your program,” Neuheisel said.

Rice knew he was joining a team already deep in receivers, but he had a vision beyond football. “If all I do is walk out of here with a UCLA degree, that’s like a win in itself,” he said.

He now has an opportunity to do more than that.

Neuheisel is hoping receiver Jerry Johnson can come back from an injury to give the Bruins “a few plays.”

Johnson has not participated in a game since suffering a broken ankle against Arizona last season. Jordon James, an F-back and running back, may also line up at receiver. Freshman Devin Lucien had planned to redshirt, and Neuheisel is still deciding whether to alter that strategy.

The only receiver without issues behind Rosario and Smith is Rice.

“Jerry is going to get his chance,” offensive coordinator Mike Johnson said. “We’re going to throw him in there and see how he does.”

Rice makes only one promise.

“Patience is a virtue. I have been waiting for an opportunity and this is it,” he said. “I’m going to have fun.”

chris.foster@latimes.com

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