Ray Rice is exploring every avenue to get back into the NFL. That journey has taken Rice to Carson, Calif., this week where he is serving as an assistant coach at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

Rice has been out of the NFL for the past two seasons since the infamous video surfaced of the former Rutgers running back punching his then-fiancee in an Atlantic City casino elevator in February 2014.

"It's always great when you get to get around a group of young men and give them real life lessons, but you also get to be around the game of football," Rice said in an interview with ESPNU during the network's broadcast of Wednesday's practice. "The game of football has done more good for me than it's done bad. I'm here to help these kids. I'm here to give them every bit of my life experiences and to help them out with decision making. Obviously, we know the reason why I haven't played, but I want these guys to understand the severity of my decision so they never go out there and make that mistake."

Rice said he will be open about his mistake when he addresses the NFL hopefuls, including former Rutgers linebacker Quentin Gause, participating in the all-star game, which takes place on Saturday (6 p.m., ESPN2).

"There's a zero-tolerance policy (for domestic violence) and there's no place for it in society," Rice said. "I want to let them understand that because it really came down to decision-making and that was the worst decision I've ever made. I want them to understand that and take football out of it. But have some fun with them as well. I want these guys to understand the game and what's going to happen at the next level for them."

Rice, who turns 29 on Friday, remains optimistic that he'll get another NFL shot.

"I'm still hopeful," the former Baltimore Ravens star said. "It's never over until it's over. I'm not ready to give it up. I think my second chance might take a little longer than I expected, but I know I still have a lot of game left - I'm not worried about that part of it."

If Rice gets a second chance, he vows to make the most of the opportunity.

"I've done a lot of work in the community so I would love to be able to give back to any city that I would be blessed and fortunate to go to," Rice said. "And obviously football would be something that I'd play my heart out for the fans, I would play my heart out for everybody that's rooting for me and I would give it my all. I'm in a situation where I had everything to gain and I lost it all. And that's not money, but I'm just saying, I have everything to go forward with now and pin my ears back and give everything I've got to the community and give everything I've got to the game of football."

Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.