MJ Rivers signs with Illinois Football

MJ Rivers signed with Illinois on Wednesday in the first day of the Early Signing Period.

For more on the Frisco, Texas, native, from our Ian Gold’s Pigskin’ Crootin’ Roundup on Sept. 13:

Rivers is a 3-star quarterback with a big arm and a nice tight motion, and after watching his film, he is probably the preferred quarterback option in the Illini 2018 class next to wildcard commit Coran Taylor.

Rivers has a very similar build to current Illini quarterback Chayce Crouch. Everyone remember the days of Tim Tebow spreading the ball out at Florida and automatically moving the chains on 3rd and short? Rivers has a similarly massive build and runs heavy. Some big guys can run the football but not pop back linebackers on contact; Rivers sheds defensive backs like gnats and linebackers fall backward upon his contact. As this 2017 season progresses I assume (hopefully) that we’ll see Crouch run more, taking advantage of his greatest strength. He’s a tremendously powerful and competitive athlete. With the addition of three dual-threat quarterbacks in 2018, and Cam Thomas in 2017, it’s apparent McGee and Lovie want to play 11 on 11 football and keep the quarterback a running option.

Rivers committed to Illinois on Sept. 11.

247 ranks him as the 24th-best QB in the class of 2018.

Continue following The Champaign Room for breaking news coverage of Illinois during the Early Signing Period.