Wildcats Draft Profiles: Josh Rivas Looks Towards the NFL

Former Kansas State Wildcats offensive lineman Josh Rivas looks to take the next step in his football career. How legitimate of a prospect is he though?

Coming out of high school, guard Josh Rivas was a cannot-miss prospect for the Kansas State Wildcats. The former Hutchinson Salthawk collected accolades during his junior and senior seasons. He ultimately was rated the third-best player in the state of Kansas by ESPN and 247Sports, and in the top 50 nationally at his position for the Class of 2017. His physical play style fit right into the old-school Kansas State offense. Rivas and Kansas State were just meant to be.

Ultimately, Rivas was a staple in Manhattan. He redshirted in 2017 but saw action through the rest of his tenure. He was a four-year letter winner and played in 46 career games with 23 starts. Rivas saw nearly 2,000 offensive snaps during his Kansas State career and did not allow a sack among his 362 pass-blocking snaps his senior season.

Rivas was always a member of good blocking units but never saw many individual accolades. He earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press in 2019, but that was his highest award. Rivas was always just a solid lineman for the Wildcats, and that is alright.

That is why his draft declaration came as a surprise to some outside of the team.

“To the K-State family, I want to start by thanking Coach Snyder and Coach Dickey for the role they had in shaping me into the player and the man I am today,” Rivas said in a statement on Twitter. “At this time, I will be signing with PSM and declaring for the 2022 NFL draft. Again thank you K-State for everything you gave me when I first stepped onto campus 5 years ago. EMAW.”

Now that Rivas has his representation and is moving on from Kansas State, Wildcats fans wished him the best on social media. However, will Rivas’ talent and their well-wishes be enough on draft day?

Strengths

When you look for Josh Rivas highlights, the word “maul” is commonplace. That is a good way to describe his best moments at Kansas State.

Rivas would often decimate opponents at the second level, whether pulling or just moving up. in both high school and college, Rivas was a popular player to run behind. In 2021, the Wildcats tied for second in the Big 12 with 29 rushing touchdowns, while the Wildcats’ 4.83 yards per rush ranked sixth in school history. Rivas was a big part of both those stats.

If you need more proof of “maul”, see below.

Rivas is not just a big body but looks great on the move. He can pull very well, getting to his man with a purpose. While kick-out blocks are in the lineman arsenal, Rivas will often pull and then get his hips around quickly, all while maintaining his block.

Rivas just has that motor a lineman needs in the NFL. Every step and movement is with a purpose and that purpose is often fulfilled. He led all Big 12 guards in 2021 with an 83.6 grade, according to PFF.  The more you watch Rivas, the better he gets. As a guard that is.

Weaknesses

All that considered, what would hold Rivas back from being a legitimate prospect?

Due to his measurables, Rivas is being evaluated as a tackle by many draft analysts. However, Rivas has never taken a college snap at the position. Teams often like an element of versatility for offensive line depth, something that Rivas does not have right now.

Also, while Rivas moves well forward and pulling, Rivas does leave other movements to be desired. Specifically, his hands and feet become less active after initial contact. Both will be essential facing more athletic defenders in the NFL.

Rivas also displays a lack of next-level flexibility and bend, both before and after the block. Comparing him to his peers, such as Central Michigan’s Bernhard Raimann or Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum, starkly shows the difference.

While he still got the job done at Kansas State, those details matter to any team’s front office.

Final Verdict

In a world of pros and cons, Rivas certainly has more pros than cons.

His motor, anchor, and size all translate well to the next level. The concerns about his bend are valid though, something that needs to be considered. But, concerns about his lack of tackle reps can be fixed during training camp or preseason.

Rivas has displayed too many good things at Kansas State to count him out of the draft. Quarterback Skylar Thompson is still the school’s best bet at a draft pick, but Rivas has a much higher draft ceiling. He could go anywhere from a fifth-round selection to an undrafted free agent. The possibilities are more open for Rivas than any other Wildcat draft prospect.

What team would not want plays like that from their offensive line? While the Kansas City Chiefs are very set at interior offensive line, there are 31 other teams out there. Rivas warrants a draft selection, but the pre-draft process will ultimately decide his fate.