Lakeland University Athletics

2020-21: Started all three games in Muskies’ abbreviated spring season… Rushed 68 times for 280 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 93.3 yards per game… Rushed for 116 yards in season-opening win over Concordia (Wis.) March 20, then set new school career rushing yardage mark the next week against Rockford March 27… Also caught one pass for 14 yards… Became Lakeland’s first career 3,000-yard rusher and enters final season with 3,036 career yards… Recipient of Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Scholar-Athlete Award for the third straight year.

2019: Started all 10 games as a junior and had one of the greatest seasons in school history, rushing 222 times for a Lakeland football single-season record 1,375 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns … Caught 17 passes for 189 yards and one touchdown… Teamed with Dezmon Eddie to become the first pair of 1,000-yard rushers in a season in school history, with Rivers notching the fifth 1,000-yard rushing season in school history… Rushed for a career-high 276 yards against Carroll on Sept. 7, the fourth-most yards in a game in school history and one of six 100-yard games on the season… Earned second consecutive all-NACC first-team selection after leading conference in total rushing yards and yards per game (137.5) and ranking third in total all-purpose yards (1,564) and all-purpose yards per game (156.4), tied for fifth in rushing touchdowns and tied for ninth in total points (60)… Also finished sixth nationally in NCAA Division III in total rushing yards and eighth in country in rushing yards/game… Finished in the top 50 in Division III in four statistical categories… Recipient of NACC Scholar-Athlete Award.

2018: Played in all 10 games as a sophomore, starting seven… Had a breakout season, rushing 157 times for 980 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns, leading the Muskies in all four categories on his way to first team all-NACC honors as a running back… Caught seven passes for 105 yards… Also was a second team all-NACC pick as a kick returner, as he brought back 28 kickoffs for 583 yards and one touchdown… Rushed for at least 100 yards five times, including a career-high 175 yards against Eureka (Ill.) Nov. 3… Scored three touchdowns on the ground Oct. 20 at Wisconsin Lutheran… Named NACC Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 91 yards at Wisconsin-Platteville Sept. 22… Brought back a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown in season opener against Carroll Sept. 1… Led NACC in kickoff return yards and ranked second in conference in two-point conversions (5), third in all-purpose yards (1,668) and all-purpose yards per game (166.8), fourth in rushing touchdowns and points scored (70) and fifth in rushing yards… Also ranked 15th nationally in NCAA Division III in all-purpose yards/game… Recipient of NACC Scholar-Athlete Award.

2017: Played in all 11 games as a freshman… Rushed 46 times for 402 yards, an impressive average of 8.7 yards per carry, and also added two touchdowns… Ranked third on team in rushing yards… Posted first career 100-yard rushing game with 13 carries for 155 yards and a touchdown Nov. 11 against Rockford… Scored first collegiate touchdown on the ground Oct. 14 against Benedictine… Also returned seven kickoffs for 116 yards, with the team’s longest return of the season of 69 yards Oct. 7 against Adrian (Mich.).

High School: Member of football, basketball and track & field teams.
 
Personal: Born Feb. 20, 1999… Son of Larry & Hasina Rivers and has one brother (Hassan) and one sister (La’cacia)… Completed his undergraduate degree from Lakeland in business administration in May 2021 and is working on his masters in organizational leadership and development.
 

Favorite movie: The Comebacks
Favorite TV show: American Dad
Favorite musicial: J. Cole
Favorite food: Macaroni & cheese