Penn State locks in visit with intriguing wide receiver in transfer portal
Penn State head coach James Franklin and his staff have a lot to balance at the moment. In addition to preparing for its first-round playoff game against SMU in just 10 days from now, the Nittany Lions are also working to add key players via the transfer portal for next year’s team after it officially opened on Monday.
Now, we’ve learned of at least one player who plans to visit, as On3’s Hayes Fawcett confirmed Wednesday afternoon that former Florida International wide receiver Eric Rivers intends to take a visit to State College just before the Nittany Lions host SMU on Dec. 19-20.
But that won’t be the only visit that he takes. Beginning this weekend, Rivers will make the short trip across town to Coral Gables to visit with Miami’s coaching staff, Dec. 13-14. He’s then expected to head to Nebraska the following day, Dec. 15-16, to meet with Matt Rhule and his staff in Lincoln. If all goes to plan, Rivers will then take one more visit after Penn State, traveling to Boulder, Col., to meet with Deion Sanders and his staff Dec. 21-22.
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A Class of 2021 recruit from Chattanooga, Tenn., Rivers originally went to Memphis after graduating from McCallie School. He earned playing time in six games as a true freshman in 2021 before taking a redshirt in 2022 because of injury. That eventually led to him transferring to FIU ahead of the 2023 season.
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As a redshirt sophomore, Rivers totaled 32 receptions for 370 yards and two touchdowns for the Panthers, but that’s nothing compared to what he did this past season, racking up 62 receptions for 1,172 yards and 12 touchdowns. Although he did have seven drops this past season, he grades out among the best wide receivers who are currently in the portal with a grade of 82.7 this past season.
This past season, Rivers, who’s listed at 5-foot-11, 174 pounds, set an FIU single-game record with 295 yards receiving yards and three touchdowns against New Mexico State. He also surpassed 100 yards receiving four times this past season. He also scored a touchdown in seven of FIU’s eight Conference USA games in 2024.
On3’s Transfer Portal Rankings currently rate Rivers as the 22nd-best player in the portal as of Dec. 11. He’s the seventh-best wide receiver. So far, the Nittany Lions have had just two players enter the transfer portal: tight end Jerry Cross and defensive lineman T.A. Cunningham.
