Cincinnati Bengals 2008 Draft

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1st Round pick #9... Keith Rivers LB USC

Overview

Rivers carries on the tradition of standout linebackers to perform for the Trojans - tough, physical with excellent play reading ability and the range to make plays in pursuit. He is very fluid in his movements when dropping back in pass coverage, so much so that the coaches even utilized him at safety in various zone coverage packages.

Rivers' ability to play a variety of positions proved invaluable earlier in his career. In addition to excelling at weak-side linebacker, he was often used as a defensive end in pass rushing situations during his first two seasons with the Trojans. He also played through nagging left ankle problems in 2007, but still performed at a high level to garner All-American honors.

At Lake Mary High School, Rivers earned USA Today All-USA first-team, Parade, Super Prep, Prep Star, EA Sports and Insiders.com All-American first-team honors. He was a member of the Super Prep Elite 50, Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team, Lemming Top 100, Super Prep All-Dixie, Prep Star All-Southeast and Fox Sports Net All-South squads.

The Gatorade Florida Player of the Year and Florida Class 6A Mr. Football runner-up as a senior linebacker, Rivers recorded 111 tackles, 14 stops for losses, two sacks and a pair of interceptions in 2003. As a junior in 2002, he was a Student Sports Junior All-American and Florida Class 5A second-team choice, as he posted 160 tackles, 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage, including four sacks and had two interceptions. He made All-State as a sophomore in 2001 when he had 100-plus tackles.

Born in Riverside, California, Rivers enrolled at Southern California in 2004. He saw significant playing time in 13 games as a reserve weak-side linebacker and was also used as a defensive end in pass rushing situations. He went on to record 25 tackles (13 solos) with 2.5 sacks and three stops for losses. He picked off one pass, deflected another and caused a fumble, as he was awarded All-Pac 10 Conference Freshman Team honors.

Rivers earned All-Pac 10 honorable mention while starting 11 games at weak-side linebacker in 2005. He sat out the Stanford and UCLA games with a nagging hamstring problem, but still delivered 52 tackles (35 solos) with a sack and three stops behind the line of scrimmage. He had the second interception for his career and also recovered a pair of fumbles.

The All-Pac 10 first-team pick added All-American honorable mention while receiving the team's Bob Chandler Award in 2006. He started all 13 games, leading the team with 85 tackles (47 solos), including two sacks and 7.5 stops for losses. He caused three fumbles, recovered another and batted away two passes.

Arthroscopic left ankle surgery in spring camp hampered Rivers' off-season conditioning program in 2007 and he later missed the Arizona State clash while nursing that sore ankle, but he still received All-American and All-Pac 10 Conference first-team honors. He started 11 of 12 games, but the ankle injury limited his range, as he had just five stops behind the line of scrimmage. He did finish second on the team with 78 tackles (44 solos), adding a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and four pass deflections in his final season.

In 49 games at Southern California, Rivers started 35 contests. He finished with 240 tackles (139 solos), 5.5 sacks for minus-42 yards and 18.5 stops for losses of 77 yards. He was credited with three quarterback pressures and gained 36 yards on two interception returns while also deflecting seven passes. He caused five fumbles and recovered six others.

• Pick No. 46: Cincinnati Bengals select Jerome Simpson, WR, Coastal Carolina

Pro analysis: Are the Bengals tipping their hand at all? If nothing else, Simpson could compete for some of Chris Henry's snaps now that Henry's on the street. If Chad Johnson is ultimately moved, Simpson could be groomed for a larger role as Ocho Cinco's replacement


77... Pat Sims DT Auburn

97... Andre Caldwell WR Florida

112... Anthony Collins OT Kansas

145... Jason Shirley DT Fresno State

177... Corey Lynch S Appalachian State

207... Matt Sherry TE Villanova

244... Angelo Craig DE Cincinnati

246...Mario Urritia WR Louisville