Rivera attended Banning High School in Wilmington, California. He was a two-year letterman in football where he was starting Receiver. Rivera led the team in receptions and receiving yardage his senior year. Rivera also was named to the All Marine League and Los Angeles City 1st Team as a receiver. Rivera was receiving his passes from Quarterback Vince Ferragamo who also went on to play in the NFL. The Ferragamo to Rivera air bomb was one of the most feared high school tandems in the United States their senior year.
College career
Rivera inked a letter of intent with the University of CaliforniaGolden Bears, where he was named 1975 Consensus All-America Team.[1] Rivera was a receiver and punt-return specialist. Rivera had 138 career receptions and 2085 receiving yard for 9 total touchdowns.