LSU backup quarterback Stephen Rivers, brother of Philip Rivers, will transfer
There is now one less available candidate to replace Zach Mettenberger as quarterback at LSU as Stephen Rivers, brother of Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, has decided to transfer.
Rivers, who works as a student assistant in the LSU sports information department, “gave an impromptu news conference” at halftime of Wednesday’s LSU-Mississippi game according to The Advocate.
“There’s an opportunity for me to hopefully play somewhere else,” Rivers said. “I've had a great three years here, maybe not necessarily gotten on the field as much as I wanted to, but I've really enjoyed my time here.”
Rivers is on track to graduate in May, so he should be able to utilize the graduate transfer rule and play at another school in the fall. The Athens, Ala. native has two years of eligibility remaining.
He began the 2013 season as Mettenberger’s backup, but freshman Anthony Jennings moved past him on the depth chart as the season progressed. Jennings led LSU to a comeback victory over Arkansas after Mettenberger went down with a knee injury in the season finale. Jennings then started in the Tigers’ Outback Bowl win over Iowa.
Despite slipping on the depth chart, Rivers said the separation between he and LSU is amicable.
“They've been really cooperative,” Rivers said of LSU’s coaching staff. “Everything’s good. There’s no bad blood. I really love this place. The hard part about it is there’s really nothing bad I can say. I hate to be leaving, but sometimes you've just got to do what’s best for you.”
Jennings appears to be the favorite to start for LSU in 2014, but four-star recruits Hayden Rettig and Brandon Harris, as well as former Penn State quarterback Rob Bolden, will also compete for playing time.
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