Eric Rivers — WR | Georgia Tech | Sr. (2026 Draft)

DynastySignal Scouting Report

The Short Version

Eric Rivers is a lean, speed-oriented flex receiver with legitimate deep threat ability and dangerous after-the-catch production — the kind of player who can make an NFL roster if he lands in the right offensive system. He's a transfer who went from Memphis to FIU (where he exploded for 62/1172/12 TDs in 2024 at Group of 5 level) before proving he can do it against Power 4 competition at Georgia Tech in 2025. The case for him is real vertical speed — he was running away from Clemson corners on 3rd-and-long in September — plus multi-purpose usage as a jet-sweep runner and versatile aligner. The case against: he's 5'11" and 180 lbs with a wiry, underdeveloped frame, his best statistical season came against FCS and Conference USA defenses, and he has zero demonstrated ability to win physically at the catch point in press coverage. He's a Day 3 flier with a scheme-dependent ceiling.

Measurables & Background

| Category | Detail |

|---|---|

| Name | Eric Rivers |

| Position | Wide Receiver |

| School | Georgia Tech (transfer) |

| Draft Class | 2026 |

| Height | 5'11" |

| Weight | 180 lbs |

| Hometown | Chattanooga, TN |

| Prior School(s) | Memphis (2021), FIU (2023–2024) |

| Forty | Not confirmed (estimated sub-4.45 based on film) |

| Arms | Not confirmed |

Career Stats:

| Year | School | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Rush Yds |

|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|

| 2021 | Memphis | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |

| 2023 | FIU | 11 | 32 | 370 | 11.6 | 2 | 3 |

| 2024 | FIU | 12 | 62 | 1,172 | 18.9 | 12 | 0 |

| 2025 | Georgia Tech | 13 | 46 | 658 | 14.3 | 7 | 68 |

2025 Georgia Tech Select Game Splits:

| Opponent | Rec | Yds | TD | Notes |

|---|---|---|---|---|

| Clemson | 3 | 72 | 0 | +1 rush, 66 yds (!) |

| Wake Forest | 8 | 77 | 0 | High volume, short routes |

| NC State | 3 | 97 | 0 | Big-play game |

| Boston College | 7 | 119 | 0 | Career-high reception game |

| BYU (Bowl) | 4 | 102 | 1 | +1 rush, 77 yds |

Film Sources Reviewed

| Source | Prefix | Frames | Key Content |

|---|---|---|---|

| ACC Digital Network — Midseason Highlights (2025) | official_ | 18 | Gardner-Webb, Clemson, Wake Forest catch sequences; close-up body/build frames; TD celebration |

| ACC Digital Network — Regular Season Highlights (2025) | highlights_ | 18 | Full ACC schedule coverage; Clemson, VT, NC State, Duke, Pitt, BC games; routes/YAC/contested catch |

| Inside The Edge — Georgia Tech 2026 Highlights | highlights_2_ | 19 | Deeper play selection; BC end zone contested catch; NC State open-field speed; run-after-catch sequences |

What The Film Shows

Route Running — **C+**

Rivers is a functional route runner whose production is more a function of speed and scheme than elite technique. The 3rd-and-8 deep route against Clemson (official_005, highlights_2_002) shows the ability to win vertically with a clean release and fluid stem — he's not jamming his feet at the top of the route, he's running through it. The Wake Forest game (highlights_007, highlights_2_007) shows him working back-shoulder and red zone comebacks with body control. What you don't see enough of: crisp double-moves, hard-breaking out routes at intermediate depth, or the kind of footwork manipulation that wins against zone defenders sitting underneath. He tends to rely on speed to create the completion window rather than route precision. The Georgia game frame (highlights_2_001) shows him in a spread formation against Georgia's elite corners — and he wasn't a significant factor in that game, which is a data point. Functional, not special.

Athleticism & Speed — **B+**

This is Rivers' calling card and the reason you're watching him. The Clemson deep-route sequence is the most compelling evidence: he runs by a Power 4 corner on a 3rd-and-8 vertical (official_005, official_006, highlights_2_002) with the defender trailing by two yards at the catch point. That's genuine separation against ACC caliber athleticism, not scheme-generated open looks. His 66-yard jet sweep run against Clemson and 77-yard run in the BYU bowl game further confirm he has genuine top-end speed that translates to designed touches. The open-field running frames from Gardner-Webb (highlights_2_014) and the NC State midfield isolation (highlights_2_009) show a fluid long strider who covers ground with elite efficiency — this is not a slot receiver who tops out at 4.5. Against Virginia Tech (highlights_2_010, highlights_2_015), his straight-line burst is visibly faster than the defenders reacting to him. Estimated 4.38–4.43 range.

Hands & Catching — **B-**

No evident drop issues in the film. The contested catch at Boston College's end zone (highlights_2_018) is the strongest clip in the set — Rivers adjusts to an imperfect throw near the back pylon with two BC defenders in his space, extends his hands away from his body, and secures the catch cleanly. That's a legitimate test that he passed. The Clemson sideline catch (official_006) shows the over-the-shoulder tracking ability with a cornerback in phase. What's harder to evaluate: his body-to-hands catch ratio (too many frames show post-catch rather than the catch itself), and there's no clear film of him securing a ball through contact with a defender initiating at the catch point. His 63.5% catch rate at Georgia Tech on 74 targets (per PlayerProfiler) is respectable but not elite. The hands check out; the truly contested catch sample in this film is thin.

YAC & After Contact — **B**

This trait shows up consistently across all three film sources. The Gardner-Webb close-up (highlights_2_014) shows him breaking out of a tackle attempt and accelerating toward the end zone — his pad level when running is high, but his burst through the arm tackle is real. The NC State game (highlights_2_009) shows clean open-field acceleration after a crossing catch. The jet sweep usage — six designed run plays in 2025 for 68 yards — isn't just scheme filler; GT coaches wouldn't put him in handoff situations if he didn't have the short-area burst to make something happen. He's a long strider who gains ground quickly in space but doesn't show the lateral suddenness to make multiple defenders miss in a phone booth. His YAC value comes from speed, not elusiveness.

Blocking — **C**

Georgia Tech's offense under Brent Key requires its receivers to stalk-block on perimeter runs constantly — this is a team that ran the ball on 60%+ of plays in 2025, meaning Rivers was blocking on the edge every third snap. He was kept in the lineup, which tells you something (GT coaches don't play reluctant blockers), but the film frames don't give us clean evaluation windows. The wide-angle run plays against Virginia Tech (highlights_010) and Wake Forest (highlights_007, highlights_009) show receivers in block positions, but the distance makes technique assessment impossible. No obvious blown block plays, no obvious standout block plays. File this as adequate and move on.

Scheme Fit — **B**

Rivers projects best in an offense that wants to attack vertically from the boundary and slot, uses jet motion and manufactured touches, and doesn't require him to win against press coverage every down. Air Raid systems (i.e., Andy Reid, Kliff Kingsbury-style, or spread college-to-pros imports), West Coast offenses that deploy motion to stress safeties, and any team with a gap in their "speed/chess piece" role will like him on Day 3. He aligns outside and in the slot (frames across all three sources show varied alignment). He's not a stack-the-box run blocker or a 50/50-ball contested red zone threat. He's a chess piece who can run you off the field vertically, contribute on jet sweeps, and fill an X-factor role. Dynasty owners should target him in systems where the QB has strong deep-ball accuracy.

Strengths Summary

Concerns & Risks

NFL Comp

Comp 1: Jaelon Darden (Floor) / Tyler Lockett (Ceiling)

The profile screams speed receiver in need of the right landing spot. If the speed doesn't translate (rare, but it happens), Jaelon Darden is the comps: undersized, explosive at the college level, can't carve out a role without genuine scheme fit. If he lands in a creative offensive system with a gunslinger QB who can threaten vertically, Tyler Lockett is the ceiling — a lean 5'11" speed receiver who creates separation through route efficiency and top-end speed, makes plays in the end zone despite an unimposing frame, and maximizes value on designed touches. Rivers' rushing usage (jet sweeps, reverses) adds a Lockett-esque chess piece element.

Comp 2: Kendric Pryor-type (Most Likely NFL Outcome)

The realistic outcome is a Kendric Pryor/Jalen Reagor-type — a speed receiver drafted late who earns special teams roles, gets occasional offensive snaps in a gadget capacity, and develops into a functional WR3 if the system is right. The FIU-to-GT trajectory shows upward ambition and coachability; the volume questions are real.

Bottom Line

Eric Rivers is a legitimate speed threat who overcame a quiet start at Memphis, found himself at FIU, and then earned real reps against Power 4 competition at Georgia Tech — this isn't a flash-in-the-pan stat line. The Clemson film alone is worth a late-round pick; getting 72 receiving yards and a 66-yard run against a ranked ACC team is not a fluke. The legitimate risk is his frame, the inconsistency against better defenses, and the need for a creative offensive system to unlock him. In dynasty, target him as a late stash — if he runs a 4.38 at the Combine, the phone calls will start before Day 3.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 63/100

Projected Pick: R5, Pick 140–165

Film Score: 63 / 100

Scout 2 Report: Eric Rivers, WR, Georgia Tech (2026 Draft)

The Short Version

Twitchy slot assassin from a pass-shy GT offense—contrarian take: he's Puka 2.0, Day 2 value with WR2 ceiling in creative OC schemes. Hype trains miss him for bigger names, but tape screams producer.

Measurables & Background

| Attribute | Detail |

|---------------|-------------------------|

| Height | ~5-11 (est. from tape) |

| Weight | ~190 lbs (est.) |

| 40 Time | Unknown |

| Age | ~21 |

| School | Georgia Tech |

| 2025 Stats | 42 REC, 556 yds, TDs (midseason); est. full: 75/950/9 |

| Background | GT mainstay, ACC volume eater despite run-first attack |

Film Sources

| Source | Duration | Frames | Prefix |

|---------------------------------------------|----------|--------|--------------|

| ACC Digital Network — Midseason Highlights | 5:58 | 18 | official_ |

| ACC Digital Network — Regular Season HLs | 10:08 | 37 | highlights_ |

| Inside The Edge — 2026 Highlights | 5:37 | 19 | highlights_2_ |

Film Analysis

Route Running: 8/10 - Sells stems deep on digs/slants, crisp breaks (highlights_004 vs Clemson corner trail, official_012 sharp cut vs Wake). Not Tyreek nuanced, but pro crisp.

Release Quickness: 9/10 - Explosive rocker step beats press (highlights_001 vs Colorado DB, official_003 stutter release). Rare hesitation. A-

Separation (Short Area): 9/10 - Elite twitch, hip flip creates space in zone (official_007 vs VT, highlights_013 COD burst). Slot mismatch hunter.

Hands/Ball Skills: 8/10 - Attacks ball, secure thru contact (highlights_010 sideline grab, highlights_2_005 low extension). Few drops visible.

YAC Ability: 8.5/10 - Visionary cutter, spin/stiff arm (highlights_2_010 vs NCSt, official_016 juke). 5-10 yds common.

Blocking: 7/10 - Willing drive, sustains (highlights_2_007 vs Pitt edge). Effort > power.

Overall Grade: B+

Strengths

Concerns

Dynasty Outlook

1-3 Yr Projection: Y1 gadget slot (15-20% snaps), Y2 flex starter (70 rec/800/6), Y3 WR2 in motion-heavy tree (SF/MIA/GB fit). Dynasty WR30 → WR18 upside. Trade stash pre-draft.

NFL Comp

Bottom Line

Rivers is the anti-flash prospect who racks up Day 1 snaps/targets—draft capital undersells his tape. Target in R2; he'll mock the doubters by 2028.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 84/100

Projected Pick: R2, Pick 45-55

Film Score: 84 / 100