Rivers prepped for NFL
ATLANTA — Roland Rivers III has gone back to his roots — literally.
The Slippery Rock University quarterback and Harlon Hill Trophy winner as the best player in Division II football is keeping himself fit and ready for this week’s NFL Draft.
“All of the parks and stadiums are closed,” Rivers said of his hometown, just outside of Atlanta. “But there’s a big empty field across the street from our house. We played (pick-up) football games there nine, 10 years ago.
“I’m out there with my brother every day. He runs pass patterns for me. We’re having fun and I’m staying sharp.”
Ravarius Rivers is an All-American safety at Valdosta State, where quarterback Rivers began his college career before transferring to SRU two years ago.
After piling up numerous records at The Rock — including accounting for a Division II-record 61 touchdowns last season — the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Rivers is confident a career in the NFL awaits him.
“I can be a leader, the face of a franchise, I truly believe that,” he said. “Whatever opportunity I get, I’m going to make the most of it.
“I’ve got the strongest arm, throw the best deep ball in this draft class.”
SRU coach Shawn Lutz doesn’t doubt that statement.
“The guy can throw the ball 65, 70 yards in the air,” Lutz said. “He’s just so strong. The quarterback everyone compares him to is (former Tennessee Titan) Steve McNair.
“Roland can improvise, extend plays. All the years I’ve coached, I’ve never seen a player more driven to play in the NFL.”
Though Rivers threw for 4,460 yards and 52 touchdowns while accumulating 5,160 yards of total offense — all SRU records — he is coming out of Division II with numerous Division I QBs rated ahead of him.
The Athletic has Rivers ranked 27th among this year’s quarterback class. Some draft rating sites have him in the top 25.
“I’ve seen him in the top 20 by a couple of them,” Lutz said of those recruiting lists. “But it’s only a seven-round draft and the quarterback position is so scrutinized by the NFL, far more than any other position.”
Rivers did get to Villanova University to participate in a Pro Day in front of 21 NFL scouts just before those activities were shut down by the coronavirus pandemic.
Subsequent Pro Days — including one in Pittsburgh for Pennsylvania Sate Athletic Conference players — were canceled.
“Roland put on a show that day,” Lutz said of Villanova. “That day definitely helped him. He really is a leader. He’s an inspiring player.”
Rivers was a team captain at Valdosta State and SRU. He won 23 of the 26 games he started at The Rock over two years.
And he is on the NFL’s radar.
“The Rams, Chargers and Colts all called me within the past couple of days to make sure they had the right phone number,” Rivers said. “They told me I’m on their draft boards.
“Stephen Denmark, a cornerback at Valdosta and one of my best friends, was drafted in the seventh round by the Chicago Bears last year. I want to hear my name called. That’s my dream.
“If I don’t get drafted and I sign as a free agent with somebody, that’s fine. I want to wind up in somebody’s camp this summer. I’ll take it from there. I don’t care how it happens, just that it happens,” he added.
