For the past three years, aspiring football players have had the opportunity to attend a free, three-hour annual camp in Beaumont, Texas, thanks to Duke cornerback Chandler Rivers. This event, known as his “More than an Athlete” camp, takes place on Mother’s Day weekend at the very stadium where Rivers developed into a prominent player. Attendees participate in skill drills, led by Beaumont United High School alumni, enjoy a seminar over Buffalo Wild Wings, and even engage in TikTok dances with Rivers himself. Rivers actively participates, encouraging campers during drills and 40-yard dashes. His influence in the 409 area code is considerable, drawing in the community, and even his Duke position coach, V’Angelo Bentley, traveled to attend this year’s event.
The camp is a true family affair. Chandler’s parents, Derrick and Cheryl Rivers, along with their friends, prepare “swag bags” the night before, while his former high school teammates volunteer as youth coaches. Derrick Rivers lightheartedly mentioned doing “most of the work,” but emphasized how local businesses in the city eagerly sponsor the initiative, keen to associate their names with the popular and outgoing Rivers. Chandler revealed that his father suggested the idea, noting it was unusual for a college freshman, let alone any college student, to host such a camp.
This annual camp perfectly embodies Rivers’ character. As he prepares for his senior season, having already earned All-American honors and drawn the attention of NFL scouts, this “lockdown cornerback” maintains a cheerful and humble confidence. His rigorous preparation and the motivation he draws from those who doubt his smaller stature have positioned him to become one of Duke football’s most successful players in history.
Athletic talent runs in Chandler’s family; his father, Derrick, played baseball, and his mother, Cheryl, ran track in college. Chandler himself excelled in high school beyond football, placing second in the state for long jump and being part of a state championship basketball team. Although basketball was his initial passion, his father advised him to focus on football due to his 5-foot-10 height and the larger number of players on a football field. His mother remembers a young Chandler, even in kindergarten, spending hours playing with football action figures he received for Christmas, hinting at his natural inclination towards the sport.
During his time at Beaumont United High School, Rivers demonstrated remarkable versatility. He played as both a rusher and receiver, scoring 31 touchdowns over three years, and on defense, accumulated over 300 tackles and 25 interceptions. He even handled punting duties for the Timberwolves. His arrival significantly turned around the team’s performance from a previous 1-9 season. Derrick expressed confidence in Chandler’s future success, whether in professional life, athletics, or academics, attributing it to his son’s dedication and willingness to put in extra effort.
Despite his accomplishments and strong camp performances, Rivers’ size often led to lower rankings. However, this early experience taught him to disregard external criticism and maintain a positive outlook. He continued to work hard, eventually receiving numerous strong offers from Power Five conferences and interest from within his home state as a three-star recruit. Rivers believes that playing football in Texas offers superior preparation for college football compared to other states, citing the experience of playing in front of large crowds as a valuable advantage.
The connection with Duke began through Chandler’s high school position coach, who had played defensive back at Baylor with Trooper Taylor, Duke’s former associate head coach. Taylor’s compelling phone pitch to Derrick resonated with their family values, making Duke seem like a fitting environment for Chandler. Initially, Chandler was unfamiliar with Duke, but a conversation with his parents highlighting the value of a Duke degree, combined with the opportunity to compete for a starting position immediately, solidified his interest. He remarked on the appeal of attending a top-10 academic institution that also has the potential to be a top-10 football program, seeing it as offering “the best of both worlds.”
During his junior year, Rivers made a spontaneous decision to commit to Duke during a Zoom call with then-head coach David Cutcliffe and the coaching staff. He became the first commit of the 2022 class, a group that now forms the core of the Blue Devil team. His commitment came at a low point for the Duke football program, following a 3-9 season in 2021, but Rivers, much like in high school, was unfazed by the team’s struggles. As he stated on the Devil Up Podcast, “I ain’t ever been a loser. I don’t feel like that’s going to change when I get to college.”
Chandler’s vision quickly materialized. As a freshman, he played in all 13 games, never missing a game in his collegiate career, and earned Duke’s Rookie of the Year award. The Blue Devils also saw a significant improvement, achieving a 9-4 season culminating in a Military Bowl victory against UCF, where Rivers secured his first career interception. His consistency continued over the next two years. He earned Birmingham Bowl MVP honors with three pass breakups under interim coach Taylor, recorded pick-sixes in consecutive years against Florida State, and was ranked the second-highest cornerback by Pro Football Focus in 2024. At the end of his junior year, four publications named Rivers an All-American, and he received first-team All-ACC recognition.
Rivers’ exceptional speed makes him effective as a blitzer, frequently disrupting screens for tackles for loss. He is a reliable tackler, capable of guarding receivers of all sizes despite his own frame. With three years of experience facing highly-touted NFL quarterbacks, Rivers’ name is now appearing on 2025 NFL Draft big boards. He attributes his confidence to thorough preparation, stating, “Because at the end of that day, you gotta be confident to play [defensive back]. If you [aren’t], they won’t let you ever play.”
However, the Duke program’s trajectory did not mirror Rivers’ individual success. When former head coach Mike Elko departed for Texas A&M in 2023, there were rumors that Chandler might transfer closer to home. Derrick Rivers consistently dispelled these rumors, asserting, “We never once could consider leaving. I told him ‘You’ve got a chance to make history, son. You’ve got a chance to be the winningest player in Duke’s history for four consecutive years.’” Both parents instilled in Rivers the importance of purpose and passion, values evident throughout his Duke career. Moving 18 hours away was a “short-term sacrifice for a long-term goal,” a commitment from which Chandler never deviated. His consistent aim has been to earn a Duke degree and contribute to transforming the football program.
Chandler explained his decision to remain at Duke, citing “the people in the locker room” and the culture, which he believes is player-created. He felt he “couldn’t leave that for anything.” A devout Catholic, Rivers’ faith has provided a strong foundation, guiding him away from distractions. He recounts a pivotal moment in middle school after hearing Damon West, a former college football quarterback who found faith while incarcerated, speak. This experience led a young Chandler to declare his conversion to Christianity to his parents, and faith has since been central to his life and family bonds. Derrick Rivers is most proud of Chandler’s sustained focus and his resistance to temptations like lucrative NIL offers and the pervasive transfer portal. Regardless of which bowl game Duke plays in, Derrick is confident in Chandler’s commitment to play.
Meanwhile, Chandler has skillfully navigated the NIL landscape, leveraging his natural charisma on social media to maximize his marketability. He describes his brand as simply enjoying himself: “I’m always smiling. I’m always just energetic around people,” he said, adding that he genu
inely enjoys having fun.
