Pretty Tight

National Recruiting Editor
Posted Dec 15, 2008


So what's the main reason that Sheldon Richardson is still looking around even though he says he remains committed to Missouri? "Well, Miami said that I could play tight end," Richardson said. "They want me for offense and said I could also help out on defense if I wanted. I'd really like to play tight end in college." Richardson is set to visit Missouri on Dec. 20 and Miami on Jan. 17.

Sheldon Richardson, the 6-foot-4, 270-pound four-star tight end/defensive end from Gateway High School in St. Louis, Mo., had to move his official visit to Missouri from Dec. 13 to Dec. 20 because he needed to retaking his ACT on Saturday instead.

Richardson, ranked as the No. 7 offensive guard in the country by Scout.com, insists he is being recruited primarily as a defensive end/tight end.

He says he's still committed to Missouri but is taking an official visit to Miami on Jan. 17 and already tripped to Minnesota on Nov. 7.

"I'm still committed but I'm still looking around," Richardson said. "It's probably about 80 percent solid right now."

So what's the main reason that Richardson is still looking around? "Well, Miami said that I could play tight end," he said. "They want me for offense and said I could also help out on defense if I wanted. I'd really like to play tight end in college.

"Missouri isn't really talking to me about positions," he said. "They just say that they want me at Mizzou and that we'll figure all that out later, but I have a feeling they mostly want me for defense."

Which position Richardson ultimately plays won't be a deciding factor and he states that Missouri has a lot going for it. "It's close to home," he said. "And I know I'd be able to go in and play early there.

"Plus, I'm already friends with a lot of guys on the team," he said. "I'm cool with most of them and have known some of them for a while. Guys like (freshman wide receiver) Wes Kemp, (freshman defensive back) Robert Steeples, (freshman quarterback) Blaine Gabbert and (sophomore wide receiver) Jeremy Maclin are fun to hang out with and be around. I'm pretty tight with them."

Richardson has in the area of 25 scholarship offers and says he's still debating whether or not to visit Arkansas or Florida in January. "I'm still thinking about those two," he said. "I may try and take a visit before my trip to Miami, but I'm not sure."

Although he is already committed, Richardson says he still plans to make his final announcement during a press conference at his high school on signing day. "Even if I choose a different school I won't announce it until signing day," he said.

Richardson says he wants to major in criminal justice. He reports a 2.4 core GPA and a 17 ACT, which he retook on Dec. 13.



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