Former YSU star Rivers likely to miss 2017
By Brian Dzenis
Former Youngstown State defensive end Derek Rivers will likely miss his rookie season with the New England Patriots. ESPN reports he tore his ACL and sprained the LCL in his left knee.
Rivers went down during a kickoff drill on Wednesday in a joint practice with the Houston Texans at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. The Patriots play the Texans in Houston on Saturday. ESPN reported that Rivers will get a second opinion to determine whether surgery is needed.
Rivers declined to comment when reached Friday night.
Rivers was a third round pick — 83rd overall — in the 2017 NFL Draft. He is the Penguins’ all-time leader in sacks with 41 during his YSU career. In his final season in Youngstown last year, he had a school-record nine 19 sacks as the Penguins made the Football Championship Subdivision championship game, losing to James Madison, 28-14.
He was YSU’s first draft pick since Harry Deligianis in 1998 and the second-highest pick in school history behind Ron Jaworski at 37th overall.