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2017 NFL Draft: Youngstown State Derek Rivers Scouting Report

By Jon Dove

Mar 4, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Youngstown defensive end Derek Rivers speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Youngstown defensive end Derek Rivers speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Youngstown State’s Derek Rivers is a small-school prospect who should hear his name called during the 2017 NFL Draft’s second day.

Derek Rivers features an excellent build and looks the part of an NFL player. He has long arms, good bulk and fluid movement skills. The fact that his experience mainly came against a lower-level competition should only impact his overall draft stock a small amount.

Rivers absolutely dominated the teams he faced by generating consistent pressure in the backfield. He routinely jumped out as the best athlete on the field.  Rivers also helped himself during the Senior Bowl where he handled the step up in competition.

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It’s important to note that Rivers isn’t just an athlete as he also shows natural football awareness. He’s someone who plays with a strong base and balance. This allows him to hold at the point of attack and easily change direction.

Rivers is committed to using his hands and shows the ability to press the blocker to create space. He flashes the bend needed to turn the corner and burst to close on the ball carrier. His hand placement and raw strength help him employ a power move.

Despite his success, Rivers is still a work in progress and someone who will need time to reach his full potential. The good news is that he’ll receive better coaching and improved strength training in the NFL. He is the type of raw prospect that coaches love to develop. They see him as a piece of clay that they can mold into something special.

There’s no doubting the fact that Rivers is raw, but he’s a good enough athlete to make an immediate impact. He’s ready to contribute on special teams and as a situational pass rusher from day one.

Overall, Rivers projects as an edge player who can handle defensive end or outside linebacker. The hope is that he’ll quickly develop into a dangerous pass rusher who can attack with speed and power. His size and strength also give him the potential to be a top-notch run defender.

Draft Range: 2nd Round

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