Career: Owns the William Paterson career receptions (159), yardage (2,209) and touchdowns (23) records, starting in 29 of 36 games ... A member of the 2008 and 2009 All-NJAC First Teams and the 2008 D3Football.com All-East Region Second Team ... Also holds the school's single-season catches (74, 2008) and yardage (965, 2008) marks, and the single-game receptions (16, 9/27/08 at Rowan) and yardage (226, 9/27/08 at Rowan) records ... Compiled nine 100-yard receiving games during his career.
2009: Was named to the All-NJAC First Team for the second straight year after starting all 10 games and catching 51 passes for 751 yards and nine touchdowns ... Also rushed four times for 31 yards (7.8 yards/attempt) and returned 11 kickoffs for 177 yards (16.1 yards/return) ... Invited to play in the 2009 Tazon de Estrellas (Bowl of the Stars) and the Division III Football Senior Classic all-star games ... Ranked third in the NJAC in receptions/game (5.1) and receiving yards/game (75.1), sixth in all-purpose yardage (95.9 yards/game), tied for eighth in scoring/TDs (5.4 points/game), and tied for 11th in overall scoring (5.4 points/game) ... Had season bests of eight receptions, 181 yards and two touchdowns during a 43-28 Homecoming victory against The College of New Jersey (10/17/09) ... Also had a season-long 42-yard kickoff return against the Lions ... Hauled in eight passes for 118 yards and a score in a 20-6 win at King's (9/19/09) ... Posted totals of seven receptions, 110 yards and a touchdown against Cortland (10/24/09) ... Finished his career with his fourth 100-yard game of the season (seven receptions, 102 yards, two TDs) during a 34-7 victory against Western Connecticut (11/14/09) ... Served as a team captain.
2008: Established new school records with his 74 catches and 965 receiving yards during the 2008 campaign, earning spots on the D3Football.com All-East Region Second Team and the All-NJAC First Team ... Also caught seven touchdown passes and returned eight kickoffs for 158 yards (19.8 yards/return) ... Ranked first in both receiving yards/game (96.5, 30th in Division III) and receptions/game (7.4, 16th in NCAA), and seventh in all-purpose yardage (114.3 yards/game), in the NJAC ... Was named the ECAC Southeast Region and NJAC Offensive Player of the Week after breaking the school records for receptions (16) and yards (226) Sept. 27 at Rowan ... Hauled in nine passes for 138 yards and two TDs, including a 74-yard scoring play, during a 21-13 win against U.S. Merchant Marine (9/20/08) ... Had his third 100-yard game of the year with 10 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown in a 51-24 victory against Buffalo State (11/1/08).
2007: Had a breakout season as a sophomore, leading the Pioneers with 33 catches, 493 yards and seven touchdowns in nine starts ... Was fifth in the NJAC in receptions/game (3.67), sixth in receiving yards/game (54.8) and seventh in scoring/TDs (4.7 points/game) ... Named the NJAC and ECAC Southeast Region Offensive Player of the Week after a seven-catch, 117-yard, four-touchdown performance in a 41-12 victory at U.S. Merchant Marine (9/15/07) ... Had a season-best 140 yards, including a 25-yard TD, on seven catches at Montclair State (11/3/07).
2006: Saw action in seven games as a freshman, primarily contributing on special teams ... Pulled in his first career reception at No. 16 Rowan (11/10/06).
Prior to William Paterson: Played professional baseball in the Milwaukee Brewers’ organization after being selected in the 15th round of the 2003 Draft.
Academics: Majoring in sociology.
Rivera's Career Statistics
|
Year
|
GP-GS
|
Rec.
|
Yds.
|
Avg.
|
TD
|
Long
|
Avg./Gm.
|
|
2006
|
7-0
|
1
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
|
2007
|
9-9
|
33
|
493
|
14.9
|
7
|
60
|
54.8
|
|
2008
|
10-10
|
74
|
965
|
13.0
|
7
|
74
|
96.5
|
|
2009
|
10-10
|
51
|
751
|
14.7
|
9
|
76
|
75.1
|
|
Totals
|
36-29
|
159
|
2,209
|
13.9
|
23
|
76
|
61.4
|
