Richards says game is ‘always a blessing’

Ramon Richards has always had a nose for the ball — and his final game at Oklahoma State was no different.

His fumble recovery early in the second quarter stopped Virginia Tech on the goal line. Fail to snag the ball, and the Hokies might’ve gone up two scores. Instead, the Cowboys marched down the field and got on the scoreboard themselves.

But Richards, who finished the game with five tackles and two pass breakups, nearly added a few more turnovers to his total. He just missed coming up with a couple of interceptions.

Q: To win your last game at OSU, how does it feel?

A: “Always a blessing. As always, I just thank God for the opportunity. Great game. Virginia Tech had a lot of great competitors over there. They gave us a great game, so much respect to those guys. Just a blessing to be doing this.”

Injuries to your starting cornerbacks meant you moved over there much of the game. What’s the challenge of sliding over there?

“If anything, just the perception is different. The thought process of guarding somebody in the middle of the field versus guarding somebody that’s close to the sideline. But at the end of the day, all I’ve got to do is play football. That’s what I’m here to do.”

You had that huge fumble recovery early in the second quarter. How did you see that play develop?

“First, I saw a tight end wing. I was going to come off the edge regardless. If they passed it, I would’ve got scored on probably. But I came off the edge as hard as I could just trying to get the tackle in the backfield. Then I saw a fumble. Guy tried to block me. I got around him. D-line had great pursuit, great push, and they just opened the lane for me to go pick up the ball.”

Any thought of just falling on it when other guys haven’t corralled it?

“Never, never, never. I’m trying to score. I’m trying to scoop and score.”

That was the first of many times you were around the ball. Did your near interceptions irk you?

“The goal in practice and the goal in games is to make the plays you’re supposed to make. Be where you’re supposed to be, and when the opportunity presents itself, make the best of it. Honestly, I could’ve caught some balls, but I just did my job and tried to get in the right position.”