
High-IQ Buford captain with SEC-level upside and early playmaking traits
Rivera arrives at Memphis as a 6-foot-2, 190-pound freshman linebacker who was a three-star recruit, a captain in Buford’s championship run, and a high-end athlete with production as both a tackler and disruptive defender in high school. In his senior season, he posted 46 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble, and he chose Memphis over offers from Kansas, Tennessee, and Texas. The fit makes sense if you want a competitive, versatile linebacker with special-teams value and room to add strength as he develops.





