Tulsa RB Deneric Prince knocking on door of NFL dream
TULSA, Okla. (BVM) – The state of Texas is known for its football, whether that is at the high school level, college or pro. This is what Tulsa running back Deneric Prince grew up on.
The 6-foot, 219-pound back was raised in a football family in Manvel, about 30 minutes south of Houston, with LaDainian Tomlinson as his favorite player. He would watch him score touchdown after touchdown with the aspirations of one day doing that himself.
Now two months away from the NFL Draft, Prince will have his chance.
🔥84-YARDS TO THE HOUSE!🔥
Deneric Prince, we have no words!#AmericanFB x @TulsaFootball pic.twitter.com/gLjAgc7V2y
— American Football (@American_FB) October 22, 2022
“It’s always been a dream of mine to get to the NFL,” Prince said.
In his high school days, he emerged as one to watch. As a senior at Manvel High School, he ran for 863 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning him a selection to the all-district second-team.
He committed to Texas A&M in June leading up to his senior year and signed with the program following the season.
Being able to get a collegiate scholarship is his biggest personal achievement to date, trumping any on-the-field success.
“My parents raised me to be a good kid and helped me get to where I am today,” Prince said.
He repaid them by earning a free education.
After spending two years with the Aggies, he transferred to the Golden Hurricane.
For many coveted recruits, this type of situation can be a crossroads in their career. But Prince saw the opportunity in front of him and took advantage.
“I had a lot of adversities and I was able to overcome those adversities,” Prince said.
Since he arrived at Tulsa in 2020, he has been as consistent as they come. That season he accumulated 470 yards with four touchdowns and averaged 5.3 yards per carry.
He put up similar numbers in 2021, before getting his first opportunity as the lead back this past season. He proved the coaching staff right with 729 yards and five touchdowns, while also bumping up that yards per carry number to 5.8.
Didn’t take long for Tulsa’s Deneric Prince to top 100 yards tonight… this 66-yard burst gives him 110 yards on six carries in the first quarter. A sleeper RB in this #NFLDraft class. pic.twitter.com/3MXeDi2klz
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) November 19, 2022
He finished his collegiate career with zero fumbles.
After a successful tenure at Tulsa, and possessing the tools to succeed in the NFL, he has attracted the attention of pro scouts.
“I believed if I kept putting in the work and kept trusting the process that I would be in this situation,” Prince said.
He has had a great start to his pre-draft process with a standout performance at the Shrine Bowl and can enhance that even further with the upcoming NFL combine.
Tulsa @TulsaFootball running back Deneric Prince @denericprince prepping for NFL scouting combine with @blaylock_23 at @armedsports @MalkaSports pic.twitter.com/mBL13PKQqd
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) February 25, 2023
Similar to the opportunity that he was given at Tulsa, Prince wants to prove an NFL organization right.
“I’m looking to make anybody’s team,” Prince said. “They won’t regret taking a chance on me.”
