Sheldon Richardson decides to sign with Missouri
Sheldon Richardson, one of the key pieces to Missouri’s recruiting class, is sticking with the Tigers he said this morning.
“It was an emotional decision,” Richardson said. “But this is best for everybody.”
Richardson, a defensive end/tight end at Gateway Tech, had committed to the Tigers in June but as other schools continued recruiting him, the suspense built. He visited Miami last weekend and was down to the Tigers and ‘Canes.
“I’m not a recruit anymore,” he told Post-Dispatch correspondent Gerry Fraley. “I’m just a regular freshman now.”
He’s as regular as any 6-4, 290-pound football player can be. Although he talked a lot during the process about wanting to play tight end, Richardson (6-4, 290) was ranked highest as a defensive lineman. Rivals.com had him as the No. 1 defensive tackle in the country and No. 4 prospect overall. ESPN.Com had him at No. 8.
Richardson, who is currently listed by Missouri as a defensive lineman, said he will go to Columbia with the idea of playing both offense and defense. He said he brought up the idea with Missouri coaches during the recruiting process and they didn’t say no.
Richardson, however, has yet to be cleared academically by the NCAA Clearinghouse, but has time to take the ACT test again.
He said he is two points shy and will be taking it again in another week. “I’ll keep taking it all summer if I have to,” Richardson said.
Earlier in the day, Miami signed another nationally ranked tight end in Billy Sanders from Utah, so that could have played a role in Richardson’s decision.
His signing gives Missouri 25 for this class.
Great news for Mizzou!! Now hit the books and pass that ACT test Sheldon!
Interesting that he shows up as being a TE on the official list Mizzou put out, and not a TE/DL. Assuming he gets the academics up to par, I guess they’ll give him the look on offense and then see what happens. I really hope he sticks on defense.
Great news for Mizzou! Either offense or defense, or both, would be fine by me. Somebody needs to show him the NFL salary figures for top DL vs. TE. Take Tony Gonzales out of the picture, and I would bet the next two top paid TEs would not make as much as a top DL.
Good for Pinkel. We need the best from in -state talent…to hell with Wingo, and the rest of the traitors.
Real nice, Brian, calling Wingo a “traitor.” He is a bright young man who made the decision that was best for him. Typical mizzou [sic] fan vitriol. Local players are not duty-bound to stay in state and they are not “traitors” for deciding to play for a university that may be a better fit.
I’d love to see him, being used in short yardage situations inside the 5 yard line, lined up as a tight end or even a fullback.
As a Mizzou alum, I am very happy to see Richardson coming to the black and gold–no matter what position he plays! I wish Ronnie Wingo would have chosen MU (we could use him at RB), but I wish him the best of luck in Arkansas. Go Tigers!
Brian
Are the out of state recruits that committed to Mizzou traitors as well?
So what are the odds Sheldon has to go to JUCO before coming to Columbia as a JR?
Great! More free rides for ticket sellers who major in underwater basket weaving while the kids who actually want an education will have to go in debt forever to get one. Great system.