SLIPPERY ROCK — It's been 17 months since Roland Rivers III has played a football game.

The record-setting Slippery Rock University quarterback still isn't convinced he's played his last one.

“He's still chasing it,” SRU football coach Shawn Lutz said of a potential pro football career. “Roland has never given up on himself or his dream. He's as confident as ever.

“I just hope some NFL team gives him a look ... even if it's just one day in somebody's camp, he's earned it.”

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Rivers played in 26 games for The Rock in 2018 and 2019. He threw for 7,181 yards and 80 touchdowns, ran for 1,297 and 16 scores and won 23 of those 26 games. He was 14-0 against the PSAC West.

Rivers owns SRU career records of 80 touchdown passes, 63.3 completion percentage and 326 yards of total offense per game. He won the Harlon Hill Trophy as the best football player in all of NCAA Division II his senior season.

Yet no professional opportunity has ever been offered to him.

“If not for COVID-19, I believe I'd be on an NFL roster battling to compete right now,” Rivers said. “There was no rookie camp last year, no in-person workouts.

“I don't even know if there will be any mini-camp or OTA's this season. Still, I'm getting myself out there.”

Penn State Director of Player Personnel Andy Frank invited Rivers to the Nittany Lions' Pro Day last month, as he needed a quarterback to throw to highly regarded tight end Pat Freiermuth.

Freiermuth is expected to be picked somewhat early in the NFL draft later this month.

“I know Andy Frank and he reached out to me, knowing I was still working out and staying in shape,” Rivers said. “Every NFL team was at their Pro Day. I wasn't passing that up.

“I threw 12 to 15 passes (to Freiermuth), different patterns, and put the ballon the money. They put it out on YouTube. I talked to (Pittsburgh Steelers brass) Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert afterward and they said they liked me, to be patient, things would open up.”

Rivers is ineligible for the draft this year, since his draft class has passed.

“He'd have to sign as a free agent,” Lutz said. “This is Roland's last shot and he knows it. It has to happen for him now.

“I can't imagine some team not taking a look. He's got the build, the arm, strength, the physical strength and mobility, and he's an articulate guy. The tools are there.”

Rivers is 25 years old.

“I know it's now or never,” he admitted. “I feel like I'm a coachble player and I've got the same type of skill-set as Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, the type of quarterback teams are looking for now.

“I'm motivated to do this because once I get in somebody's camp, I will progress toward being a starter in that league. I'm convinced of that.”

Rivers has been working out at the Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami (Fla.), where numerous NFL players put in off-season training.

“I've been working out and holding my own with the best,” he said.

While the Canadian Football League remains a viable option, Rivers said he hasn't looked in that direction “because they don't know if they're going to have a season this year and I need to make something happen now.”

A communications major at The Rock, Rivers needs two more classes to graduate.

“I remind him of that every time we talk,” Lutz said. “He's aware. But Roland's still in football mode.

“I'm confident he'll get his degree. He just won't quit on his football pursuits and I don't blame him. He's an awfully talented quarterback.”