Sterling standout to walk on at ISU

“Jack said the same thing. He said the coaches don’t put up with anything, and that he didn’t feel any different than anyone else on the team. That’s what I wanted to hear.”

The coaching staff was a big part of the issue for Rivera. He not only felt comfortable in the Bloomington-Normal area, but also with the staff recruiting him.

Rivera participated in a football camp at ISU this past summer, then attended one of the Redbirds’ games last fall. He made a campus visit a week ago Saturday, and just as the previous two times, he left with a good feeling.

“Everything felt right every time,” Rivera said. “The coaching staff seems like they know what they’re doing, seems like they get the most out of their players, and being from a high-school program like that, it felt natural.

“I see this program taking off the next couple of years even more than it has already, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

The other major factor for Rivera was family. He’ll be one of four Rivera children in college next fall, and he wanted to make sure his family could come and see him play.

“I’m a family guy, and our family supports each and every one of us,” Rivera said. “Niko’s only about 40 minutes away, we have family in Mason City, near Springfield, so they’re only 45 minutes away, and it’s only a two-hour drive for my parents. That was definitely important t me.”

Rivera plans to attend next summer’s workouts as much as he can, hoping to make a good impression right from the start. He’s unsure where he’ll play at the next level, but it looks like defense is the way the Redbirds coaches are leaning right now.

Rivera’s recruiting coordinator was Jake Schoonover, ISU’s assistant linebackers coach, but the Redbirds will have Rivera marked down firmly in the “athlete” category when he arrives on campus.

“Every school I talked to just had be labeled as an athlete,” Rivera said. “I played so many positions and sports in high school that it just made sense.

“But I like it, actually. I’m not locked into a position; they can throw me in wherever they need me, and I’ll be able to adapt to it quickly. I think it’s a better opportunity for me to fit in with the team.”