From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Georgia Tech WR Eric Rivers.
No. 3 Eric Rivers/WR Georgia Tech 5096/176 (Fifth-year Senior)
Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Eric Rivers 5096/176 9″ 30 1/2″ 74 7/8″
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
4.35 1.52 N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
10’7″ 37″ N/A
The Good
– Top-tier vertical speed
– Exceptional initial burst off the line
– Displays high-end body control to high point the ball
– Fluid and sudden transitions in and out of his breaks
– Excellent use of pacing in his routes
– Demonstrates understanding of zone voids and DB leverage
– Adjusts seamlessly to deep throws down the boundary
– Showcases soft hands in open space
– Highly elusive and creative in the open field
– Capable of outracing defensive pursuit angles
– High-effort blocker who embraces dirty work on the perimeter
– Dynamic return ability
The Bad
– Undersized to play on the perimeter
– Underwhelming physical play strength
– Catch radius and extension limited by arm length
– Rounds off secondary cuts when relying on pure speed
– Release packages are predictable against heavy press coverage
– Struggles in contested catch situations
– Susceptible to concentration drops when turning upfield
– Lacks contact balance and tackle-breaking power
– Goes down relatively easily
Stats
– 2025 stats: 46 catches, 658 yards, 14.3 yards per reception, 2 touchdowns, 2 drops, 7 rushes, 56 yards, 13 games played
– Career stats: 140 receptions, 2200 yards, 15.7 yards per reception, 16 touchdowns, 11 drops, 9 rushes, 56 yards, 43 games played
– FIU career stats: 94 receptions, 1542 yards, 16.4 yards per reception, 14 touchdowns, 9 drops, 2 rushes, 0 yards, 23 games played
– Memphis career stats (as DB): 3 tackles, 7 games played
– 1.94 yards per route run (2025)
– 2.37 yards per route run (Career)
– 12.8 adjusted depth of target (2025)
– 5.1 yards after catch per reception (2025)
Injury History
– Missed the entire season due to a torn labrum (2022)
– Suffered a shoulder injury that limited his participation in spring practices but made a full recovery (2025)
– Underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia following the NFL Combine (2026)
Background
– Born Sept. 17, 2002 (23 years old)
– Began career at Memphis before transferring to FIU for two seasons and finishing his last season at Georgia Tech
– Walked on to Memphis as a defensive back but transitioned to wide receiver after freshman season
– Three-star prospect out of McCallie, where he helped lead them to back-to-back Division II-AAA State Championships
– Played receiver, running back, corner, and kick returner
– Earned All-State selections in football, basketball, and track
– Eclipsed 1,000 points during his basketball career
– Averaged 17 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.5 steals as a senior
– Competed in TSSAA State Track and Field Championships
– Has personal bests in the 100 meters (11.39 seconds), 200 meters (23.97 seconds), and 400 meters (54.27 seconds)
– Biletnikoff Award Watch List (2025)
– Third-team All-American and first player in FIU history to earn All-American honors (2024)
– First-team All-Conference USA (2024)
– Holds FIU single-season records for receiving yards (1,172) and touchdowns (12)
– States that his son, Eli, is his primary motivation
– Two-time walk-on at Memphis and FIU
– Credits his religion for helping him through his injury recovery and transfer decisions
– Earned his Bachelor’s from FIU and is pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration
Tape Breakdown
Rivers transitioned to receiver after spending his freshman year at cornerback. The move paid off, even though an injury cost him his opportunity at Memphis. He broke out at FIU, and his time at Georgia Tech solidified him as one of the premier vertical threats in this draft class. After posting a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, the testing confirmed what the tape already showed. He’s a burner capable of running past any defensive back.
Because of his smaller stature, his long-term NFL home will likely be in the slot, even though he primarily aligned on the boundary in college. If he’s moved inside, his athleticism still translates. He has elite, instantaneous burst.
That acceleration is the catalyst for his entire game. It allows him to quickly eat up cushions and immediately stress defensive backs off the line of scrimmage. With Rivers on the field, the vertical plane of the defense is threatened from the snap.
Despite weighing just 176 pounds, Rivers has a surprisingly refined release package built on foot speed, lateral burst and calculated hand usage.
Against hard press coverage, he leans on a variety of footwork tools. He frequently uses a rapid stutter release to freeze the corner’s feet or a speed release to the outside to slip past the jam.
While his play strength isn’t ideal, he shows effective hand-fighting ability and understands how to swipe away the DB’s punch, keeping his frame clean as he enters the stem of his route.
Against off-man or soft press looks, Rivers quickly chews up the cushion. He gets on top of the defender’s toes and forces the corner to open his hips prematurely.
He pairs that with a strong feel for route pacing. Instead of running at full speed on every snap – which would make him predictable – he deliberately varies his tempo. He’ll jog through the early phase of a vertical stem to sell a shorter route, then suddenly hit the gas and blow past his matchup with his acceleration.
On breaking routes, Rivers shows efficient footwork to snap off cleanly. He uses the rocker step effectively, planting hard off one foot to sell a break in one direction before snapping his weight back and working the opposite way. His top-tier agility keeps defensive backs on their heels and forces them to guess where he’s going.
On manufactured touches, Rivers is a weapon. Given his size, his elusiveness is driven by suddenness and agility rather than tackle-breaking power. In space, he’s highly creative, showing the shake and wiggle to make the first defender miss in tight quarters.
He pairs that elusiveness with outstanding peripheral vision. He quickly identifies secondary pursuit angles and finds cutback lanes to exploit. With his track-level speed, he can outrun linebackers and chase down pursuing defensive backs to the boundary.
Conclusion
After switching positions early in his career, Rivers emerged as a dynamic vertical threat capable of consistently taking the top off a defense. His size may ultimately push him into the slot at the next level, but his top-tier athleticism should still create mismatches on the inside.
He’s more than just a straight-line burner. Rivers shows advanced footwork to defeat press, along with the hand usage to swipe away a defender’s initial punch. His burst quickly erases cushion against soft press, while his agility and twitch allow him to snap off routes and generate separation with ease.
From a playstyle standpoint, Darnell Mooney is an apt comparison. Both hover around a similar stature yet play bigger than their frames, and both are legitimate deep threats who can stretch the field vertically. Mooney is more natural and dependable at securing and high-pointing the football, but if Rivers is primarily deployed inside, he won’t be asked to live in as many true 50/50 situations.
NFL Draft Projection: Mid-Late Day Three
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 7.4 (Spot Starter)
Grade Range: 7.0 – 7.8
Games Watched: @ Colorado (2025), @ Duke (2025), @ NC State (2025), @ Boston College (2025), @ BYU (2025)
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