Richardson returns to help Hogs repel top-ranked Tide

FAYETTEVILLE — Some seniors playing out the string in disappointing seasons like Arkansas’ 1-4 year thus far have been known to parlay so-so significant injuries into season-ending ones.

Kevin Richardson has done the opposite. The sixth-year senior was granted another year of eligibility by the NCAA because injuries totally wiped out one season after he already redshirted.

Richardson is coming off of a shoulder injury which limited him to non-contact work in the spring. The defensive back, of Jacksonville, practiced every practice he could and attended every team meeting and chalkboard session even as his NCAA appeal had not yet been granted.

Misfortune struck again after he was cleared, both physically and by the NCAA, for preseason drills under new Arkansas head coach Chad Morris. He broke his foot in a freakish misstep

moving furniture just days before the August opening of preseason practice.

Richardson acted like a coach, mentoring young defensive backs when he could not practice while following all instructions for his foot to heal. He was back for limited special teams duty in the 34-3 Southeastern Conference loss at Auburn (4-1, 1-1) and played nickel back in Saturday’s 24-17 loss to Texas A&M (3-2, 1-1) in the annual Southwest Classic at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium.

Arkansas a 35-point underdog against No. 1 Alabama (5-0, 2-0) in Saturday’s 11 a.m. game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. The game will be televised on ESPN (Resort Channel 30).

Richardson is set to start at the nickel back position he started at last year as a team captain for former coach Bret Bielema’s Razorbacks.

“I mean, you know God puts you through these kind of struggles,”

Richardson said. “I never doubted why He put me through this.

“I kind of kept the faith that there was a reason he wanted me to be here to kind of reach out, kind of branch out and mentor these younger guys and help them grow in this system, help them with this transition in the coaching staff, and try to be there to help support them, whether it’s academically or to keep them motivated that they can go out there and play. I never really doubted it. It was frustrating at first, but it’s part of the trials and tribulations. It’s part of football.”

Little wonder that Bielema loved the then 5-11, 150-something walk-on as he redshirted in 2013. Bielema watched Richardson quickly develop to play 13 games on special teams in 2014. Richardson, now 180 pounds, was awarded a scholarship and became a starter in the last five games of 2015.

Torn pectoral muscles in the

2016 opener erased that season, but he returned to play all 12 games as a starting captain in

2017. He played through a shoulder injury in his eight-tackle performance in the season finale against Missouri.

Bielema never ceased praising the versatile defensive back. He variously played all six positions in the secondary. Bielema also predicted Richardson would someday be a great coach.

Morris already so loves Richardson that the coach says he still smiles even while reviewing last week’s loss to the Aggies.

“I know it meant a lot to him, too,” Morris said. “He’s gone through so much in his career here and is a great example of what hard work is all about. To be able to have him back out here and his energy level and his passion level for the Hogs and for this football program was great.”

“I didn’t even know they were 35-point favorites,” Richardson said. “We clearly don’t pay attention to that. Were going

to play with confidence regardless what the spread is. We really don’t pay attention to that anyway.”

Richardson said he never feels like an underdog with John “Chief” Chavis now coordinating the defense.

“I’ve only played two games under him, but just to see him

bring the energy,” Richardson said. “You can see it in the defense and how those guys compete regardless what’s going on in the game.

“To see Chief instilling that energy in everybody and keeping us motivated regardless of what’s going on and what everybody talks about on the outside…Chief

makes sure everybody stays focused. I wouldn’t want to be on any defense for any other team in the country than right here with what’s going on.”

The Razorbacks waged a completely closed practice Thursday and will do so again today at Razorback Stadium.