Former Youngstown State defensive ends Derek Rivers and Avery Moss have both been invited to attend the NFL Scouting Combine, which will be held Feb. 28-March 6 in Indianapolis.
Also, Rivers will play in the Reese's Senior Bowl and Moss has been selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game. The East-West Shrine Game is Jan. 21 in St. Petersburg, Fla., while the Senior Bowl is Jan. 28 in Mobile, Ala.
Both players concluded amazing senior campaigns at the 2017 Division I National Championship Game last Saturday against James Madison. Each had a sack in their final game for the Penguins in the contest against the Dukes.
In the National Championship Game, Moss had a game-high eight tackles, including seven solo stops and three TFLs in the contest vs. JMU. Rivers had six tackles, three of which were solos, as well as a pair of TFLs.
Derek Rivers
CAREER: A three-time first-team All-MVFC selection...had 173 career tackles, including 119 solo stops...had 56.5 tackles for loss, 41 sacks and 48 QB hurries...is the school's career leader with 41 sacks, 19 more than the previous record...played in 49 games.
2016: Second-team All-American by STATS and The Associated Press...First-team All-MVFC selection...had 58 total tackles, 44 of which were solos...was credited with 15 sacks and added 21 QB hurries...started all 16 games at defensive end...had sacks in 11 of 16 games...in the playoffs had 21 tackles, 13 of which are solo stops...had five sacks and five QB hurries...in MVFC games had 30 tackles (24 solos), with eight sacks, 9.5 TFLS and nine hurries...had a season-high three sacks at Illinois State...also had two against South Dakota and Eastern Washington…had a season-best seven tackles, including six solos vs. SIU…had a 3.81 GPA in the fall semester.
Avery Moss
2016: First-team All-MVFC honoree...had 59 total tackles, including 42 solo stops...was second on the team with 17.5 TFLs and 11 sacks...leads the team with four forced fumbles...started the first 11 games, but has battled injuries since the Missouri State game...left the MSU game with an ankle injury and did not play against Samford...started but was in an out of the lineup at Jacksonville State...played entire game against Wofford and had a career-high nine tackles...in National Championship Game vs. James Madison was healthy and had a tremendous game...was credited with a game-high eight tackles, including seven solo stops...had three TFLs, including a sack...in MVFC games, had 32 total tackles, including 19 solo stops…registered eight sacks in league play with four hurries and three pass breakups…led the team with 10.5 TFLs vs. league foes.
