Richards Returning To Receiver Position
Utah State head coach Brent Guy announced Wednesday that wide receiver Tarell Richards (first name is pronounced Tuh-rell) has been granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA and will return to the Aggies’ squad for the 2007 season.
Richards was part of the 105 players who went through day two of Aggie football practice. The team, once again decked in helmets, practice jerseys and shorts, opened the second of their five-day acclimation period. The Aggies will don pads on Thursday and gradually moving up towards Sunday’s full day of pads. The first two-a-day is Monday, Aug. 13.
A West Valley City, Utah, native, whose sister Taylor is on the USU women’s basketball team, Richards signed with Oregon out of Hunter High School. Richards redshirted the 2002 season with the Ducks before leaving the team for personal reasons mid-season. He transferred to Utah State and sat out the 2003 season due to the NCAA transfer rules, before playing from 2004-06. His 2006 season was cut short with a high ankle injury and limited to only nine games. Richards had 10 catches for 78 yards in the first four games played, before seeing minimal action due to the injury.
“I had been told on two occasions that it wasn’t going to happen and not to count on it (the extra year of eligibility). I was working 50 hours a week at Logan River Academy and just lifting weights all summer,” Richards said. “I hadn’t touched a football since November. It’s a little different and tough to get in shape.”
Richards found out about the extra year of eligibility this past Friday, which was his 23rd birthday, when Coach Guy called him.
“I was under the impression that the decision had already been made and that I wasn’t getting it,” Richards said. “Coach told me to take the rest of the day to think about, since I had just gotten a big promotion at work, but it took me about five seconds to decide. In shape or out of shape, I just wanted to play again and to be a part of the team and around the teammates I’ve been around since I got here. So it wasn’t really a hard decision to make. It’s the best birthday present I’ve ever gotten.”
It wasn’t a difficult decision for Richards, who enters the season with 25 receptions for 216 yards (8.6 ypc) with one TD.
“I love football, I love the competition, I love being around my teammates and going to battle with them,” Richards said. “I figured if I was given that opportunity then somebody upstairs must want me to play another year. So I just made the decision right off the bat.”
Richards says he’s not where he would like to be athletically or quickness wise, so it will take him a few weeks to get back to where he’s comfortable as a receiver.
“I’m totally comfortable with whatever I can do and however much I can contribute to the teams success, I’ll be happy with,” Richards said. “I’m just thankful and feel so blessed that I got another opportunity.”
Richards walked through graduation ceremonies last fall, but has three credits remaining, which he will be taking this fall. He will remain working at his job as development counselor part-time during the season and then full-time after the season is over. His supervisors at Logan River Academy are former USU players Andre Bala (2001-02, 04-05) and Joe Lindsay (2003-04).
“They told me I was stupid if I didn’t take the extra year back,” Richards said.
“It was good for us, but it was unfortunate for Terrell, he didn’t really think he’d get that eligibility back, so he’s only been lifting during the summer and not much running,” USU head coach Brent Guy said. “It will take us a little bit of time to get him back in shape but he is just ecstatic that he will get one more year to play, especially with the type of career he’s had.”
For his career, Richards has made eight career starts while playing in 25 career games.
“He’s battled a lot of injuries, he’s a great person, he’s from in state and we’re very glad to have him back for another senior year,” Guy said. Richards, who has worn number 19 throughout his USU career, is trying to switch jersey numbers to number 11. “I want to get rid of the 19 and go with something I haven’t been injured with for the last four years. If Coach Guy approves it, then that’s what I’m going with,” Richards said.
USU is counting down to the August 30th home-opener of the 2007 season. Utah State opens the season on Thursday, Aug. 30, hosting UNLV in a 6:05 p.m. kick off at Romney Stadium. After road games at Wyoming on Sept. 8 and Oklahoma on Sept. 15, the Aggies return for Homecoming 2007 on Sept. 22, hosting San Jose State. USU then faces in-state rival Utah on Sept. 29 at Salt Lake City, followed by a game at Hawai’i on Oct. 6. The Aggies then have three home dates in a four game span, opening with Nevada on Oct. 20, followed by Louisiana Tech on Oct. 27. After going to Fresno State on Nov. 3, USU’s home finale is on Nov. 10 with Boise State. The regular-season concludes with games on New Mexico State and Idaho on Nov. 17 and 24, respectively.
USU, which was picked eighth entering its third season in the WAC, was 1-11 overall and 1-7 in WAC play last year, finishing tied for eighth after being picked seventh in both of last season’s preseason media and coaches’ polls. USU has 19 starters (11 defense, seven offense and one special teams), among 35 lettermen returning.
The first scrimmage is slated for Thursday, Aug. 16 as part of Aggie Football Family Fun Night, sponsored by Macey’s Foods with free admission. The scrimmage starts at 4:30 p.m., while games and activities for fans get underway on the South Concourse of Romney Stadium at 5 p.m. Following the scrimmage, from 6-7 p.m. fans can get their favorite Aggies’ autographs and play catch with an Aggie on the field. Fans can also pick up their season tickets or purchase tickets at the Romney Stadium Box Office.
Contact the USU Athletics Ticket Office at (435)797-0305 or at 1-888-U-STATE-1 (1-888-878-2831) for ticket information.