Eric Rivers

Eric Rivers
No. 83 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PositionWide receiver
Roster status
Practice squad
Personal information
Born (2002-09-17) September 17, 2002 (age 24)
Listed height
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight
176 lb (80 kg)
Career information
High schoolMcCallie
(Chattanooga, Tennessee)
College
NFL draft2026: undrafted
Career history
* Offseason or practice squad member only
Awards and highlights
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Eric Rivers (born September 17, 2002) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Memphis Tigers, FIU Panthers, and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Early life

Rivers attended The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. As a senior, he recorded 25 receptions for 509 yards and seven touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 231 yards and three touchdowns, before committing to play college football at the University of Memphis.

College career

After playing sparingly as a freshman in 2021 and not playing due to injury in 2022 at Memphis, Rivers entered the transfer portal. Rivers transferred to Florida International University to play for the FIU Panthers. In his first season with FIU, he recorded 32 receptions for 343 yards and two touchdowns, before having a breakout season the following year. In 2024, he set the school record for single game receiving yards, hauling in 295 yards and three touchdowns against New Mexico State.

On December 18, 2024, Rivers announced his decision to transfer to the Georgia Institute of Technology to play for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

College statistics

Season Team Games Receiving
GPGSRecYdsAvgTD
2021Memphis 70000.00
2022Memphis 00DNP (injury—shoulder)
2023FIU 1103237011.62
2024FIU 1212621,17218.912
2025Georgia Tech 772325711.21
Career3113971,56616.114

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspan40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard splitVertical jumpBroad jump
5 ft 10+1⁄8 in
(1.78 m)		176 lb
(80 kg)		30+1⁄2 in
(0.77 m)		9 in
(0.23 m)		6 ft 2+7⁄8 in
(1.90 m)		4.35 s1.52 s2.55 s37.0 in
(0.94 m)		10 ft 7 in
(3.23 m)
All values from NFL Combine

Rivers signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on May 8, 2026. Rivers was waived by the Buccaneers as a part of final roster cuts on August 30; he was re-signed to the team's practice squad the following day.

References

  1. ↑ Nyman, Rick (October 2, 2020). "McCallie Senior Eric Rivers Becomes Big Play Maker For Big Blue". WDEF. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Eric Rivers becoming a difference maker for McCallie football program". Chattanooga Times Free Press. October 17, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Signing day prep notebook: McCallie's Eric Rivers offers versatility to Memphis Tigers". Chattanooga Times Free Press. February 3, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  4. ↑ Barnes, Evan. "Memphis football WR Eric Rivers enters transfer portal". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  5. ↑ Villa, Walter. "FIU football hoping to keep record-setting receiver Eric Rivers through 2026 season". Miami Herald.
  6. ↑ Villa, Walter. "Eric Rivers sets receiving record in FIU's needed win over New Mexico State". Miami Herald.
  7. ↑ Truax, Barkley (December 19, 2024). "Coveted WR transfer Eric Rivers commits to surprising ACC destination". On3. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Eric Rivers Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Eric Rivers College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  10. ↑ Smith, Scott (May 8, 2026). "Bucs Add 14 More Rookies After 2026 Draft". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  11. ↑ Smith, Scott (August 30, 2026). "Jake Browning, Chris Braswell Among Cuts as Bucs Get Roster Down to 53". Buccaneers.com.
  12. ↑ Smith, Scott (August 31, 2026). "Bucs Address Secondary Depth, Add Third QB on First Practice Squad of 2026". Buccaneers.com.