Tippecanoe Valley’s Jose Rivera signed on with Manchester University football Wednesday. From left, in front are mother Linette Rivera, Jose, father Antonio Rivera. In back are girlfriend Lorena Santiago, Valley head football coach Stephen Moriarty and sister Flor Rivera. (Photo by James Costello)

AKRON — Tippecanoe Valley senior Jose Rivera says his college choice was a pretty easy one to make. Nearby Manchester’s football program should be happy to have him.

Standout two-way lineman and kicker Rivera signed on with the NCAA Division III Spartans during a signing ceremony at Valley High School Wednesday.

“It feels great. I’m happy,” said the soft-spoken Rivera. “I planned on playing in college since I started playing football, so it’s great now that I’ve actually signed.”

Rivera — an All-Three Rivers Conference First Team selection at defensive tackle each of the past two seasons, as well as the Rochester Sentinel’s Most Valuable Offensive Lineman and an Indiana Football Coaches All-Region 2 pick in 2018 — described the choice as a bit of a no-brainer.

“It was quite easy, actually. Manchester was the only college I actually visited for football, and it’s close to home so it’s easy — live at home and go to college at the same time and play football. Pretty much like another four years of high school,” he said.

Rivera recorded 19 total tackles, three sacks and two fumble recoveries at defensive tackle this past fall while leading the Vikings to a 6-5 season that included a 13-7 Bell Game win over Rochester in September. Listed at 6’3” and 342 pounds, Rivera also served as the team’s kicker, tallying an average of 43 yards per kickoff with 15 successful PATs over his senior year.

But perhaps even more impressive are Rivera’s work ethic and leadership, says Valley head coach Stephen Moriarty.

“The nice thing about Jose is that he’s a leader on and off the field. Even in the weight room in the offseason he was recruiting other players to come in, those younger guys, and leading them by example,” he said. “He always worked hard, and if you weren’t working hard he was going to make sure that you followed his lead. I think, especially during the season, the thing they’ll get is kind of a director or leader on the field, always making sure that we’re all pushing each other. And he will definitely help the younger kids knowing to do, especially on offensive and defensive line, knowing where to line up, who to get, who to block and their responsibilities. That’s one big thing that Manchester is going to gain that we’re going to lose.”

Showing younger players the way is kind of Rivera’s forte, as it turns out. It’s the single thing he says he’d most like to be remembered for during his time with Valley football, and it’s an initiative that has touched Moriarty not only as boss of the program but personally, too.

“When we were on the practice field, it’s a Thursday night, and my son Grady came out with me, and it was nice because Jose took the time to go talk to Grady and tell him even that he liked his shoes. Being a starter and kind of an all-star of the team, he would take the time to spend with the little kids,” recalled Moriarty. “I think I told that story in a lot of the things I filled out for him for his recruiting letters is he’s just so good with the young kids. All my sons look up to him; they love Jose. And for him to take time out to spend with those little kids, he’ll never know how much that means to them until they get older. But he set a precedent for my children, I know that as well.”

Rivera plans to study accounting at Manchester, a private liberal arts college located in North Manchester. The Spartans went 4-6 overall with a 4-4 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference record over the 2018 season.