BIOGRAPHY
Derek Rivers was born on May 9, 1994, in Augusta, Maine and currently plays defensive end in the NFL. Rivers attended Kinston High School and played college football at Youngstown State University.
During high school, Rivers played linebacker and tight end, was an all-conference selection on defense, he helped Kinston advanced to NCHSAA 2A State Championship Game during senior season.
Rivers played for the Youngstown State University football team from 2013 to 2016. In 2013 Rivers played in 10 games as a defensive end reserve, credited with 13 tackles, including seven solo stops, he posted three sacks on the season. In 2014 Rivers played in all 12 games and made 11 starts at defensive end, finished with 50 total tackles, including 31 solo stops, he had 17 TFLs and 14 sacks to go along with 11 quarterback hurries. In eight league games had 41 total tackles, including 23 solo stops, had 10 sacks, 11 TFLs and seven QB hurries, the 14 sacks for the campaign were the third-most in a season in school history. In 2015 he was in the mix throughout the season for FCS Defensive Player-of-the-Year honors, a first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection for the second straight season, Rivers set the school career record for sacks during the year and through three seasons has 26, on the year had 52 total tackles, including 37 solo stops. In 2016 Rivers was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award for the nation's top FCS Defensive Player, was a first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection for the third straight season, Rivers started all 16 games for the 12-4 Penguins which reached the Division I National Championship Game, credited with 58 total tackles (44 solos), 19.5 TFLs and 15 sacks and also had 21 QB hurries.
Rivers was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round, 83rd overall, in the 2017 NFL Draft. On July 27, 2009, the New England Patriots signed Rivers to a four-year contract.
