Country Music Star, 40, Takes a Step Back From Music for Major Career Move

Chase Rice has amassed a huge following as a country music star.

The "Eyes On You" crooner has been on tour, giving the masses what they want with his twangy voice in stadiums and arenas across the country for the better part of a decade. But that is all soon coming to an end.

Rice, 40, announced on his Instagram Story that for the first time in 13 years, he will take next year off from touring. His next occupation? An oldie but a goodie.

What's Next for Chase Rice?

"Taking next year off from touring for the first time in 13 years. Gonna go back and apply and train for my 6th year in college football," the country star posted on his Instagram Story. "I got this. [North] Carolina’s my first choice. @thereallanekiffin, you’re a factor into this. I hereby open my recruitment."

That's right, Rice teased he's turning back the clock and throwing on the football pads. Rice may be joshing around. But then again, he's a legitimate football standout, and it sounds like he wants to play for Lane Kiffin, should he choose to leave Ole Miss and take his talents to Florida, one of the several high-profile coaching vacancies Kiffin is rumored to be considering.

Rice Played at UNC

The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder was born in Florida but raised in Asheville, North Carolina. He was a football star at Reynolds High School and one of the top 25 players in the state, per the Charlotte Observer.

He took his talents to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Yes, the same school where Bill Belichick is now the head football coach.

As a redshirt freshman, Rice played in all 11 games on special teams in 2005. He was also a backup linebacker, making four tackles that year. As a sophomore the following year, Rice played in all 12 games and started three games.

Rice earned the starting outside linebacker role as a junior the following year, in what turned out to be a short-lived season following a devastating ankle injury in the season opener against James Madison.

In his senior year, Rice, whose brother played football at Duke, played in all 13 games but primarily was used in nickel packages and on special teams.

Rice has lived quite the life. He was the runner-up on Survivor: Nicaragua and a NASCAR pit-crew member before finding stardom as a country music star.