Eric Rivers, Former McCallie star, Driven by Family and Grit in Final Collegiate Season
Eric Rivers, a standout receiver who led McCallie to back-to-back state championships in his final two prep football seasons, is channeling the discipline and resilience forged at his alma mater into his final collegiate year. Rivers credits McCallie with instilling a powerful work ethic and a toughness that he believes is essential for navigating life’s challenges.
“Going to McCallie instilled that work hard mentality and just made me keep pushing every day to keep going and getting better,” rivers stated. “You have to push through things no matter how hard they get. Life is difficult. You go through ups and downs and just have to keep going no matter what. having that mentality from a young age at McCallie helped me a lot.”
This offseason, rivers has focused on refining his route running, alongside improvements to his pace and tempo, aiming to gain an edge over opposing defenders. he has also cultivated a strong bond with teammate king,with the two working out together daily and enjoying recreational golf. rivers and his teammates recently participated in the Home Run Derby as part of the All-Star Game festivities at Truist Park.The move closer to home in Atlanta has been welcomed by Rivers’ family,even though his parents were dedicated attendees at every FIU game last season. His mother, LaShandra Rivers, expressed pride in his accomplishments, noting his perfectionist tendencies and self-driven nature. “Eric always has strived to work hard and wanted to do well,” she said. “He is like a perfectionist. He works really hard and is extremely focused and self-driven. I am not surprised at what he has accomplished, but simultaneously occurring, everything is sort of surreal. We are just thankful and grateful he is pursuing what he loves. We are really proud of him.”
Rivers is steadfast to make his final collegiate season his most triumphant yet, with his primary motivation stemming from his two-year-old son, Eli. “The number one reason why I keep going is for my son,” Rivers shared. “I always want to be somebody he can look up to. On top of that, I want to keep proving myself. Nothing was given to me.I want to continue to prove myself to everyone who didn’t believe in me. but my greatest motivation is definitely my 2-year-old son (Eli), for sure.”
He concludes by emphasizing his faith and commitment to his path: “I am just following my heart and trusting God, and whatever He calls me to do. That is where my feet will be.”
