Get to know defensive lineman Derek Rivers, signed as an unrestricted free agent on March 23, 2021.
Name: Derek Rivers
Position: Defensive lineman
Height/Weight: 6-5, 250
Hometown: Kinston, North Carolina
School: Youngstown State
Get to know Derek:
- Rivers spent four seasons with the New England Patriots (2017-2020) after being selected in the third round (83rd overall pick) of the 2017 NFL Draft.
- Last year, Rivers recorded 1.5 sacks, four quarterback hits and a tackle for loss in his 10 games with New England. He also played in five regular season games for the Rams and contributed a tackle for loss.
- Born in Augusta, Maine, Rivers' family moved to North Carolina at an early age.
- His father, John Rivers played football and basketball for Virginia Tech.
- His sister, Lydia was a star basketball player at Radford University and for one season at Virginia Tech as a graduate student.
- Rivers played four seasons (2013-16) at Youngstown (Ohio) State University. During his junior year (2015), he was a First-Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection after recording 52 total tackles (37 solo), 15.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks.
- As a senior, Rivers was named AP Second-Team All-American and a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award for the nation's top FCS Defensive Player when he helped lead the Penguins to a National Championship Game appearance.
- Rivers finished as the Penguins all-time sack leader, including 14 sacks during the 2016 season, which ranked second in the FCS.
- Rivers attended Kinston High School where he helped the football team advance to the NCHSAA 2A State Championship Game during his senior season (2011). He also played basketball and won an NCHSAA 2A Championship in 2011-12.
- After high school, he attended Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia for a prep season where he played defensive end and tight end.
- At the 2017 NFL Combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds, which was the fourth best among defensive lineman.
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