David Rivers
By: Dave-Te' Thomas

#12-DAVID RIVERS Western Carolina University Catamounts 6:02.5-221

ANALYSIS
Positives... Natural leader with good size and impressive quickness...Elusive scrambler who throws well on the move...Very effective at scanning the field to spot his alternate receivers...Stands in under pressure, maintaining his poise in the pocket...Shows good accuracy on his long throws...Has excellent touch and timing in the short area... Throws a tight spiral and generally threads the needle with his passes...Able to alter his delivery to put added heat behind his tosses, when needed...Holds the ball high and has a very quick over-the-top release.

Negatives... Sails some throws and hangs the deep bombs, at times...Loses some effectiveness when throwing from non-set positions...Despite his arm strength, gets into a rhythm where he is more comfortable as a touch thrower, rather than gamble by unleashing the bomb.

CAREER NOTES
After seeing limited action during his first three years at the University of Virginia, Rivers found a home with the Catamounts in 2000...Really came on strong in the second half of the season, re-writing several of that school's passing records... Started the last ten games in 2000, completing 208 of 350 passes (59.4%) for 2878 yards and 17 touchdowns...Only Jeff Gilbert (2993 yards in 1983) threw for more yards in a season for the Catamounts...His 208 pass completions rank second on WCU's season-record list behind Gilbert's 267 in 1983...First player in school history to have multiple 400-yard passing performances...Including his time spent at Virginia, he hit on 232 of 395 passes (58.7%) for 3153 yards and 20 touchdowns during his careeer.

REMIND ME OF... Tampa Bay's Brad Johnson.

GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL... This kid has come a long way in only one year as a starter. He has the size and poise, only lacking in experience. He may sneak into the end of the draft's first day, but if the Dolphins are wise, they will forgo their pursuit of a mediocre veteran quarterback, take this guy and develop him. He's certainly worth a late third-fourth round choice.

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