Tag: Terry Richardson

2013 Season Countdown: #61 Terry Richardson

Terry Richardson

Name: Terry Richardson
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 162 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: Cornerback
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #13
Last year: I ranked Richardson #73 and said he would redshirt. He played a minimal amount of time as a backup cornerback and on special teams.

Going into the 2012 season, I really thought Richardson was likely to redshirt. After all, Michigan returned two starters, nickel corner Courtney Avery, and some lightly seasoned backups. I’m not sure how much good it does to throw a guy out there who’s 160 lbs. and not lightning with the ball in his hands, but the coaches did it four times anyway . . . and Richardson didn’t factor into the stat sheet at all. In the spring game, he still looked pretty frail and unready to mix it up with the big boys.

Michigan once again returns two starting cornerbacks: 2012 starter Raymon Taylor and 2011 starter Blake Countess, the latter of whom missed virtually all of last season with a torn ACL. And Courtney Avery looks to be competing on the outside rather than returning as the nickel corner, so there’s lots of competition for the cornerback spots. Fellow Cass Tech Technician Delonte Hollowell seemed to be higher on the depth chart than Richardson in the spring, so it will be an uphill battle for playing time. Despite lacking some size, Richardson has some talent as a returner and was pretty good in coverage coming out of high school. He won’t earn a starting job, and he probably won’t be a primary backup, but the coaches burned his redshirt for a reason; I’m assuming he’ll get a little bit of run at the field corner position in garbage time and some special teams coverage duties.

Prediction: Backup cornerback, special teamer

2012 Season Countdown: #73 Terry Richardson

Terry Richardson

Name: Terry Richardson
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 163 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: Cornerback
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #13
Last year: Richardson was in high school.  He made 49 tackles and 7 pass breakups; he also had 24 receptions for 425 yards (17.7 yards per catch) and 2 touchdowns, plus 1 kickoff return touchdown.

Final TTB Rating: 80

Richardson had a terrific junior season as teams threw away from Delonte Hollowell (now a sophomore at Michigan) and into the arms of Richardson, who had 9 interceptions that year.  His production really fell off as a senior, although he still broke up 7 passes and made an impact on offense and special teams.  Richardson nabbed offers from all over the country and flirted with visiting other schools, but eventually stuck to his Michigan commitment.

Heading into his freshman season, Richardson appears to be a little light at only 163 lbs.  Michigan returns both starting cornerbacks in J.T. Floyd and Blake Countess, with slot corner Courtney Avery, spring upstart Terrence Talbott, and backup Raymon Taylor also in the mix.  It seems unlikely that Richardson’s services will be needed this season, and while he could help out returning punts and kicks in the future, the Wolverines have some players to do those things already on the roster, not to mention fellow incoming freshman Dennis Norfleet, who is being brought in specifically to fill those duties.  If everyone stays healthy, Richardson should be able to redshirt this season and fight for playing time in 2013.

Prediction: Redshirt

Terry Richardson Answers Your Questions

Image via the Detroit News

Cass Tech’s Terry Richardson created a fan firestorm last July when he announced he would be taking recruiting visits to other schools.  Although he emphasized that he was firm in his Michigan commitment, Terry wanted to take advantage of his once in a lifetime opportunity to go through the recruiting process and travel the nation.  But when the Michigan coaching staff informed him that “they really didn’t want [him] to do it,” Terry reevaluated his situation, thought to himself, “What do I really want?” and chose to sacrifice his free vacations for the opportunity to wear the winged helmet.  Satisfied with the decision, Terry recently took the time to reflect on his past, look toward his future, and answer several reader questions.

The Cass Teach Pipeline:  “I don’t really say that it’s a pipeline because you do have other players that have gone other places.  What I do say is that Cass Tech and Michigan have a great and proud relationship and the fact that we trust them and they trust in us – that’s why they can come in and get great players because we believe in them and they believe in us . . . . With [2013 Cass Tech commit] Jourdan Lewis, I see greatness.  For six or seven years we all played ball together for the West Side Cubs, and he has raw ability.  He could be a top receiver; he could be a top corner.  He’ll fit in wherever you put him at because he’s an athlete.”

Attending Michigan:  “I love the staff up there.  I love what Coach Hoke and Coach Mattison are trying to do.  And two of my best friends are going there with me. . . . After a while I just thought that it would be best for me to go to Michigan – for my family and for me playing football. . . . Coach Wilcher just told me to go wherever I wanted to go.  He just said go where I feel I’m wanted at, and go where I fit in.  And that’s Michigan.”

Measurables:  “My forty yard dash time is 4.47 hand timed; electronic, it’s 4.51/4.52.  My 200 meter dash electronic is 22.2; hand timed it’s 21.8, and my 100-meter dash is electronic 10.8, and hand timed it’s 10.7. . . . My height is 5’10” and I’m 163 pounds.  For me and ideally for the coaches they want me at 180 pounds, at least.  And at the max, no more than 190 solid, because I don’t want to lose my speed and some of the intangible things that I’ve got. . . . I went from 140 to 160-some in probably about two months, so I’m hoping that I can do that again when it comes to being ready for college.”

Preparation:  “I train pretty much all the time.  I might train for two, three hours; some days like today, I might go for like four hours.  Pretty much I’m just lifting weights and eating.  Just a whole lot of eating, stuff like peanut butter and potatoes.  And just lifting and training hard with James [Ross] and Royce [Jenkins-Stone]; we really try to get it in.  Some of it is at Cass Tech, but I train in Total Sports; it’s in Wixom, MI, so I can go out there and do my football drills, too. . . . We’ve been going there for the past three to four years.”

Role at Michigan:  “Well, to me personally, playing corner is just playing corner – I don’t believe in any field side corner or the boundary corner.  My role is to lock on the best receivers and shut them down.  But pretty much they want me playing like the field corner – and maybe some nickel back, too – but pretty much field corner and punt returns/kick returns.”

Forced choice:  special teams only or redshirt:  “That’s a real good question because I think that might be a high possibility and for me to consider my options.  Well, honestly, if Coach Hoke needs me out there – I’ll do it.  But other than that, if I can have more time and get my body together and learn the system, then by next year I’d be ready to go.  But it all depends on what Coach Hoke would want.”

Making a difference for team 133 and beyond:  “I think it’s my ability to be in a position to make a play.  If you’re in good position, sometimes the quarterbacks won’t make that throw.  With me being in the right position, that’ll help out the linebackers and the D-ends, like Royce and James and Bolden to come up and make a play, too.”

Ask a Question: Terry Richardson

Terry Richardson is the best prospect in Michigan’s 2012 class, according to ESPN.

The 2012 In-State Recruiting Battle

Mario Ojemudia is Michigan’s top prospect, according to the Detroit News

Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio has claimed in recent years that he cares more about in-state recruiting than Michigan, and that might have been true in the years when Rich Rodriguez was the head man at Michigan.  But the arrival of Brady Hoke might have swayed the favor in-state toward Ann Arbor.  Let’s take a look at the top recruits in the state of Michigan, based on the Detroit News’ blue-chip list:

1. Mario Ojemudia – DE – Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 6’3″, 225 lb. end – who also played a lot of defensive tackle – had 104 tackles and 14 sacks.  He considered Michigan State early, but committed to Michigan on May 7, 2011, and stuck with Michigan to the end.

2. Terry Richardson – CB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 5’9″, 160 lb. cornerback made 5 interceptions during his senior season.  He was a little later in committing than his in-state friends James Ross and Royce Jenkins-Stone, but he hopped on board on May 19, 2011.  He entertained taking visits to other schools, but mostly he was considering heading to SEC country rather than East Lansing.  However, Michigan’s coaches told him that if he visited elsewhere, they wouldn’t necessarily reserve a spot for him in the recruiting class.  He did not visit elsewhere and signed with Michigan.

3. James Ross – LB – Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 6’0″, 210 lb. linebacker made 173 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks as a senior.  He had committed to Michigan back on May 2, 2011, and remained committed throughout the process.

4. Royce Jenkins-Stone – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 6’2″, 215 lb. middle linebacker made 115 unassisted tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 2 interceptions as a senior.  He had committed to Michigan on April 16, 2011, and remained committed until National Signing Day.

5. Aaron Burbridge – WR – Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 6’2″, 185 lb. wideout reportedly wanted to commit to Michigan along with teammates Ojemudia and Devin Funchess, but he didn’t have the grades to get into Michigan(that sentiment was confirmed by Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson).  He committed to Michigan State on July 28, 2011, and signed with the Spartans on National Signing Day.

6. Matt Godin – DE – Novi (MI) Catholic Central
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 6’6″, 270 lb. defensive end/tackle made 70 tackles and 9 sacks as a senior.  He committed to Michigan on May 12, 2011, and signed with Michigan.

7. Devin Funchess – TE – Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 6’4″, 215 lb. tight end committed to Michigan on April 22, 2011, and signed with Michigan in February.

8. Danny O’Brien – DT – Flint (MI) Powers Catholic
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 6’2″, 293 lb. defensive tackle considered both in-state schools heavily, but committed to Tennessee on October 6, 2011, and signed with the Volunteers in February.

9. Ron Thompson – TE – Southfield (MI) Southfield
Offered by: Michigan only
The 6’4″, 230 lb. tight end made 57 receptions for 729 yards and 9 touchdowns as a senior.  He was offered by Michigan early in the process but the Wolverines reportedly backed off due to some classroom issues.  He committed to Syracuse on November 7, 2011, and signed with the Orangemen in February.

10. Ben Braden – OT – Rockford (MI) Rockford
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 6’7″, 320 lb. offensive tackle committed to Michigan on March 24, 2011.  He signed with the Wolverines in February.

11. Evan Winston – DE – Muskegon (MI) Muskegon
Offered by: Neither in-state school
The 6’4″, 255 lb. defensive end committed to Missouri on July 23, 2011, and signed with the Tigers in February.

12. Jamal Lyles – LB – Southfield (MI) Lathrup
Offered by: Michigan State only
The 6’3″, 215 lb. linebacker made 135 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 4 interceptions.  He committed to Michigan State on June 23, 2011, and signed with the Spartans in February.

13. Drake Johnson – RB – Ann Arbor (MI) Pioneer
Offered by: Michigan only
The 6’1″, 215 lb. running back ran for 2,805 yards and 38 touchdowns as a senior.  He committed to Michigan on November 10, 2011, almost immediately after receiving an offer, and signed with Michigan in February.

14. Dennis Norfleet – RB – Detroit (MI) King
Offered by: Michigan and Michigan State
The 5’6″, 180 lb. had 2,033 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior.  He was committed to Cincinnati for several months, but he switched his commitment to Michigan on the eve of National Signing Day.

15. Ruben Lile – LB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Offered by: Neither in-state school
Lile committed to Iowa on August 27, 2011, and signed with the Hawkeyes in February.

NOT RANKED:
Riley Bullough – LB – Traverse City (MI) St. Francis
Offered by: Michigan State only
Bullough committed to Michigan State on April 30, 2011.

Kodi Kieler – OT – Gibraltar (MI) Carlson
Offered by: Michigan State only
Kieler committed to Michigan State on August 8, 2011.

SUMMARY
Ten players were offered by both Michigan and Michigan State.  Eight of them picked Michigan, including six of the top seven.  One picked Michigan State (although, as mentioned above, it sounded like Michigan wouldn’t accept his commitment so he went with Plan B).  The other picked Tennessee.

Michigan went after two players who were not offered by MSU.  One picked Michigan.  The other picked Syracuse.

Michigan State went after three players who were not offered by Michigan.  All three picked MSU.

I think it’s fair to say that Michigan kicked Michigan State’s tail when it comes to recruiting in the state.  Brady Hoke 8, Mark Dantonio 1.  I look forward to seeing what 2013 brings.  It’s already 1-0 in Michigan’s favor with Warren (MI) De La Salle quarterback Shane Morris pledging to be a Wolverine.