Former NC State Lineman Darion Rivers Transfers to Troy, Looking for Fresh Start
Darion Rivers is heading south. The former NC State offensive lineman has committed to the Troy Trojans, becoming the latest Wolfpack player to find a new home through the transfer portal.
Rivers, a 2023 recruit, didn’t see the field in his first two seasons at NC State. This past year, he managed to crack the rotation briefly, logging 25 offensive snaps across two games. It wasn’t a huge sample size, but it was a glimpse of the potential that made him a coveted recruit coming out of high school.
And that potential was no joke. Rated a four-star prospect by ON3, Rivers was ranked as the No. 240 overall player in the 2023 class, the No. 17 offensive tackle nationally, and the No. 7 player in the state of North Carolina.
That kind of pedigree doesn’t disappear overnight-it just needs the right opportunity to develop. At Troy, Rivers will be looking to reset and prove he can live up to the expectations that followed him out of high school.
He arrives in Troy with two years of eligibility remaining, giving him time to grow into a contributor on the Trojans’ offensive line. With a fresh start and a chance to compete for playing time, Rivers could become a key piece in the trenches for a Troy program that’s been steadily building in recent seasons.
Rivers is one of several NC State players to enter the portal and land elsewhere this cycle. Here’s a look at where some of his former teammates have landed:
- Noah Rogers (WR) - Alabama
- Hollywood Smothers (RB) - Texas
- Terrell Anderson (WR) - USC
- Jacarrius Peak (LT) - South Carolina
- Kelvon McBride (LB) - Marshall
- Val Erickson (OL) - Liberty
- Justin Terrell (DE) - Sam Houston
- Elijah Groves (LB) - Sam Houston
- Terris Dudley (LB) - UCONN
- Brock Stukes (OL) - Sam Houston
- Kenny Soares Jr. (LB) - Michigan State
- Rente Hinton (DB) - Marshall
It’s a wide-ranging list, with players landing at Power Five programs, Group of Five contenders, and rising FCS squads alike. For Rivers, Troy offers a chance to finally step into a bigger role, and maybe even anchor an offensive line that could use his size and upside.
Sometimes, all a player needs is a change of scenery. Rivers is betting that Troy is the right one.