Wherever he goes – playing middle linebacker, outside linebacker or just talking to the media – Mike Rivera brings an intensity that makes him seem mad almost all the time.
He’s not, but like a few of his peers among Kansas University’s linebacker fleet, Rivera seems to play football with a nonstop chip on his shoulder. The question now is, where exactly is he going to play?
Rivera spent most of Sunday’s open practice as an outside linebacker, while Joe Mortensen manned the middle, and James Holt was on the opposite side. It could be the most logical fit, after Rivera played middle and Mortensen outside a year ago with mixed results.
But there still are four weeks to go until Kansas and Central Michigan meet on Sept. 1 in the season opener. And, like many positions three practices into preseason camp, nothing is close to decided just yet.
“My role is just wherever I can be to help the team,” Rivera said. “Wherever they put me, I’m going to play hard. Wherever they need me, I’m going to get the job done.”
Mortensen moved to middle linebacker before spring practices, creating competition between him and his close friend Rivera. The battle culminated at the spring game, with Mortensen holding a slight advantage.
Rivera’s size and speed, though, make it hard for KU’s coaches simply to make him a backup. Heck, Rivera led the Jayhawks with 90 tackles a year ago.
“We’ve been jumping him around,” KU coach Mark Mangino said. “You can see him inside, outside, you can see him and Joe on the field at the same time. It’s different packages that we’re utilizing and trying to play to the strengths of our linebackers.”
Rivera worked outside for much of Sunday and exclusively when Mortensen was on the field with him. Mortensen and Rivera are KU’s top two linebackers, though Holt, Arist Wright, Jake Schermer and Olaitan Oguntodu all figure prominently in KU’s plans.
“We’re just rotating around,” Rivera said.
They worked well together Sunday. On one play while KU was practicing its two-minute offense, Oguntodu tipped a Kerry Meier pass, and Mortensen ended up making a dazzling interception while falling down, inciting hoots and hollers from the defensive sideline. Even Drew Dudley, a true freshmen who may not figure into KU’s 2007 plans, had a sharp pass breakup on an underneath route.
But most eyes from the crowded public practice were on Rivera and his intriguing future.
“I’m learning it real quick,” Rivera said. “I’m comfortable either way. I’m liking outside, I like middle – wherever.
“The most important thing,” he added, “is making sure everyone knows what they’re doing. Once we get that, it’s just getting that mental edge, playing hard and making sure we’re physical every day and doing it consistently.”
