2018 Football Roster
Jersey Number 8
M.J. Rivers II
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-4 / 215
- Position:
- QB
- Hometown:
- Frisco, Texas
- High School:
- Lone Star
Career Highs
Attempts: 29 vs. South Florida, 9/15/18
Completions: 20 vs. South Florida, 9/15/18
Passing Yards: 168 vs. South Florida, 9/15/18
Passing Touchdowns: 2 vs. Western Illinois, 9/8/18
Long Pass: 32 vs. South Florida, 9/15/18
Carries: 11 vs. South Florida, 9/15/18
Rushing Yards: 36 vs. Western Illinois, 9/8/18
Long Rush: 12 vs. Penn State, 9/21/18
Total Offense: 173 vs. Penn State, 9/21/18
2018 Freshman
- Played eight games with three starts at quarterback
- 56-of-101 passing for 547 yards and three touchdowns
- 49 carries for 65 yards
- Third true freshman quarterback in Illinois history to start three or more games (1998 Kurt Kittner, 2005 Juice Williams)
- Fifth true freshman quarterback in Illinois history to start a game
- Made his Illinois debut against Western Illinois after starting QB AJ Bush Jr. left with an injury
- Threw two touchdowns in his Illinois debut vs. Western Illinois
High School
- Three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN
- Ranked No. 964 recruit in the nation by 247Sports
- Ranked No. 28 dual threat quarterback in the nation by 247Sports
- Ranked No. 46 pocket passer quarterback in the nation by ESPN
- Ranked No. 118 recruit in Texas by 247Sports and No. 163 by ESPN
- Ranked No. 34 recruit in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by the Star-Telegram
- Completed 130-of-201 passes for 2,611 yards and 28 touchdowns and rushed for 950 yards as a senior at Lone Star
- Led Lone Star to the 2017 Texas 5A Division II Region II finals
- Totaled 425 yards of total offense in the 2017 5A Division II Region II semifinals against Waxahachie
- Scored six touchdowns (four rushing, two passing) in the 2017 Texas state playoffs first round
- Transferred to Lone Star from Prestonwood Christian
- Completed 165-of-252 passes for 2,234 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed for 1,361 yards as a junior at Prestonwood Christian
- Son of former NFL tight end Marcellus Rivers
- Verbally committed to Illinois in September 2017
- Offers included Iowa State and New Mexico
Personal
- Born Nov. 2, 1999
- Enrolled in general curriculum
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 3/5/26
Thursday, March 05
Illinois Football | Bobby Hauck Introductory Press Conference 2/12/26
Thursday, February 12
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 2/4/26
Thursday, February 05
Illinois Football | Xavier Scott Return Announcement Press Conference Press Conference 1/21/26
Wednesday, January 21
