Written by
Chip Cirillo
Last week, Antonio Richardson narrowed his choices down to five: Tennessee, Georgia, Auburn, LSU and Miami. He took official visits to Tennessee, Georgia and Auburn.
This morning Richardson signed with the University of Tennessee. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound offensive tackle received 29 Division I offers. Rivals.com ranked him as the state’s top prospect, No. 7 at his position nationally and 74th overall nationally.
Scout.com ranks the senior second in the state behind Memphis Central tight end-lineman Cameron Clear, who committed to Tennessee on Tuesday. Richardson told Scout.com that he made his decision Monday night although he didn’t announce anything publicly until today.
Richardson played for the East in a 13-10 win over the West in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 8 in San Antonio. Former Goodpasture star Patrick Turner and ex-Harpeth standout Matthew Tant are the only other football players from Middle Tennessee to play in the game that annually draws many of the nation’s top prospects.
Richardson’s journey to signing day included stops at three high schools. He started at Mt. Pleasant, where he spent his freshman season in 2007.
Richardson transferred to Ensworth for his sophomore year, but was ineligible due to Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association transfer rules.
Blessed with size and athleticism, he quickly developed into an elite prospect during his junior and senior seasons with Ensworth.
Maurice Fitzgerald, who coached lineman John Henderson at Pearl-Cohn, said Richardson “has the potential to be better than John. … He’s got professional size right now. I think if he stays healthy he’ll probably be a top-10 pick.”
Henderson went on to be a standout with the Tennessee Volunteers, winning the Outland Trophy his junior season, before playing for Jacksonville and Oakland in the NFL from 2002-10.
Richardson, who also played on the defensive line, helped lead Ensworth to a 9-0 regular season in 2009, but archrival Montgomery Bell Academy stunned the Tigers 27-24 in a Division II-AA quarterfinal.
He helped Ensworth get off to a 5-2 start this season, but late in October he transferred to Pearl-Cohn in the hopes of improving his grades enough to make him eligible for college. The Tigers won their last five games without him, winning their first DII-AA title in December.
Chip Cirillo
Last week, Antonio Richardson narrowed his choices down to five: Tennessee, Georgia, Auburn, LSU and Miami. He took official visits to Tennessee, Georgia and Auburn.This morning Richardson signed with the University of Tennessee. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound offensive tackle received 29 Division I offers. Rivals.com ranked him as the state’s top prospect, No. 7 at his position nationally and 74th overall nationally.
Scout.com ranks the senior second in the state behind Memphis Central tight end-lineman Cameron Clear, who committed to Tennessee on Tuesday. Richardson told Scout.com that he made his decision Monday night although he didn’t announce anything publicly until today.
Richardson played for the East in a 13-10 win over the West in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 8 in San Antonio. Former Goodpasture star Patrick Turner and ex-Harpeth standout Matthew Tant are the only other football players from Middle Tennessee to play in the game that annually draws many of the nation’s top prospects.
Richardson’s journey to signing day included stops at three high schools. He started at Mt. Pleasant, where he spent his freshman season in 2007.
Richardson transferred to Ensworth for his sophomore year, but was ineligible due to Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association transfer rules.
Blessed with size and athleticism, he quickly developed into an elite prospect during his junior and senior seasons with Ensworth.
Maurice Fitzgerald, who coached lineman John Henderson at Pearl-Cohn, said Richardson “has the potential to be better than John. … He’s got professional size right now. I think if he stays healthy he’ll probably be a top-10 pick.”
Henderson went on to be a standout with the Tennessee Volunteers, winning the Outland Trophy his junior season, before playing for Jacksonville and Oakland in the NFL from 2002-10.
Richardson, who also played on the defensive line, helped lead Ensworth to a 9-0 regular season in 2009, but archrival Montgomery Bell Academy stunned the Tigers 27-24 in a Division II-AA quarterfinal.
He helped Ensworth get off to a 5-2 start this season, but late in October he transferred to Pearl-Cohn in the hopes of improving his grades enough to make him eligible for college. The Tigers won their last five games without him, winning their first DII-AA title in December.
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