Big Sheldon Talks Mizzou

Whatever happened to Sheldon Richardson, that national recruit who didn’t make the cut on a college entrance exam and so has been a no-show for Mizzou this season?

This from Visaliatimesdelta.com and the Tulare (Calif.) Advance-Register. Thanks to the heads up from Doug Kelly, who worked for the Chiefs back in the good ol’ days.

Sheldon Richardson using College of Sequoias as stepping stone to University of Missouri

By Mark A. Peinado
Visaliatimesdelta.com
Tulare Advance-Register
The goal is the same, but the path has changed.
Sheldon Richardson was one of the most heralded recruits to come out of the state of Missouri. He was the No. 1-rated defensive lineman according to www.rivals.com, a national high-school football recruiting Web site. Rivals.com also had the incoming freshman as the fourth overall prospect in its top 100 list. He was coveted by all of the big schools across the country: Miami, Fla., Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Minnesota and Southern California.
The soft-spoken defensive lineman was having none of it. He had his mind made up on where he was going to college the choice might have surprised many around the nation ' but for Richardson it was a no-brainer.
"It was hometown love," Richardson said. "People in Missouri were happy. People in Miami were shocked. But I want my school, my home state to be recognized and highlighted like a Florida or USC does. That's just how I feel. I love Missouri just like people love California."
And when you're one of the most highly sought-after recruits, it's also about being level-headed and grounded.
"I do have to admit that I do feel special," Richardson said. "You can't let it go to your head, you have to stay humble. Business is as business does. I have to take care of my business on the field and in the books."

While Richardson's grades were fine and there was no problem in him getting into the University of Missouri, the issue for the 6-foot-4 1/2, 293-pounder became the Scholastic Aptitude Test. He just wasn't able to pass it throwing his impending college career into a quandary.
What was the big man to do?
Enter the College of Sequoias football program and head coach Curtis Allen.
Allen, in his five years at COS, has forged a good relationship with the Tigers. During that time, three of his players: Quron Barge, Jason Townsend, Andy Maples ' have signed scholarships to attend the Columbia, Mo., school.
So when notified through a couple of Missouri's recruiting coordinators of Richardson's situation, Allen was more than willing to bring in the big man for a couple of seasons.
"It's about time they sent me somebody," a joking Allen said. "He's a big-time player but also a good kid that works hard and comes from a good family. He's a very humble kid. Sheldon is just a true talent."

One that hopes to improve his academics so that he can return to the Big XII school and contribute to coach Gary Pinkel's team in the spring of 2011. That would leave him with three years of eligibility.
"He'll be there two years and then we'll see him in the NFL," Allen said. "He's an unbelievable athlete."
Road back to Columbia
At first, the plan for Richardson was to redshirt his freshman season then finish up his schooling over the next three semesters spring, summer and fall as well play for COS in 2010.
But once Richardson enrolled for summer school at COS, the blueprint changed for the fourth-rated defensive lineman in the country.
Richardson will forego reshirting his freshman year which is just fine with him. And once COS's 2009 season is completed, Richardson will shift his focus to just his studies for the next year.
"He's just here to play ball, work hard and give us 100 percent," Allen said.
The only thing that doesn't change is his target date for transferring. Richardson plans on enrolling at Missouri in spring 2011 with his associates degree in hand so he gets up to speed for spring ball and be ready to play in the fall for the Tigers.
"I'm a little disappointed at myself for not taking my grades serious, but you got to learn from your mistakes," Richardson said. "People back in Missouri, they are waiting for me. They said, `get my grades up and come back home.' I just have to keep my focus."
Of course, one of the questions every one wants answered: Why Missouri? It's only been in the last few years that the Tigers have emerged as a power in the Big 12's North Division. Missouri has reached the Big 12 title game the last two seasons losing to Oklahoma both times.
Still, prior to this latest renaissance of Tigers football, they were hardly a top 25 team let alone a contender for Big 12 titles.

That never deterred Richardson from choosing the school closest to where he went to school, Gateway Institute of Technology in St. Louis. His intention all along was to be a Missouri Tiger, and while that objective has hit a slight detour, there's still no reservation in his mind where he's headed when he leaves COS in the fall of 2010.
"How I feel about my school is how someone feels about Miami, Fla.," Richardson said. "Or how a guy feels about Florida or USC, that's how I feel about Missouri. I have a mock-up of a Mizzou jersey, No. 34. I look at it every morning before I come to school. It's going to feel real good in about a year and a half. But I have to get there first."
Welcome to Visalia
When told that his college destination was now the College of Sequoias in Visalia, Ca., Richardson wanted the truth.
What's this place like? Where is it exactly located? How are the people there? And most importantly, will I be able to take care of my academic business with as little distractions as possible?
Allen was up front with him on all his questions. Visalia was a town located in a mainly agricultural community in Central California. The school is located in an area that is not a metropolis but is also not a town of just a few thousand. It's right there in the middle with some things to do but enough to where trouble might find you.
And the verdict so far?
"It's been an easy adjustment. It hasn't been as difficult as I thought it would be," Richardson said. "I wasn't disappointed. I don't want any distractions. It is a dry heat here. We have our hot days (in Missouri) with humidity but other than that, there's not too much different.
"I'm a hometown cat. As far as me being at home versus out here, I'd rather be at home."
Most people, let alone athletes, who visit California have a sight-seeing agenda: Disneyland, Magic Mountain, Sea World, the beaches, Yosemite National Park, San Francisco, the capital in Sacramento, San Diego, numerous sports venues plus dozens of other things that California has to offer.

But for Richardson, he's not even about that.
"Winter break I'm going home where it's cool," Richardson said. "If I do go sight-seeing, it will probably be spring break."
His focus is on his grades. He wants to excel on the football field in 2009 then shift his attention to school and get his degree.
"The main reason I didn't redshirt is because I just wanted to get my year out of the way so then I can focus on my grades," Richardson said. "I'll practice and go to the games with the team so I can stay in football shape and be football ready when I go to spring ball in Mizzou."
While he has only been here a couple of months, one thing Richardson does miss is the home-cooked food he received while living his parents.
"My mom cooked a lot when I was home and she fed me," Richardson said. "I'm cooking now so it don't taste the same but still tastes good. There's a lot more McDonalds."
Some of his specialties: Lasagna, chicken breasts, roman noodles, cereal and he said he's pretty good at whipping up a deli sandwich.
Let's play some football
COS officially began practice on Friday. The Giants season opener is Saturday, Sept. 5 against Feather River College at Giant Chevrolet-Cadillac Mineral King Bowl.
Richardson can't wait. The defensive lineman patterns himself after a number of NFL players: Jevon Kearse, John Henderson, Dwight Freeney, Warren Sapp and Reggie White.
But he mainly tries to model his style after his older brother, Sean, who plays in the Canadian Football League. Richardson looks at his films and tries to emulate them when he's on the field.
The major adjustment for Richardson has been more weight lifting than running in high school he can bench press 355 pounds as opposed to 305 pounds when he graduated. And coaches are teaching more technique.
"There's just more technique, that's my main adjustment," Richardson said. "I just feel that I have a lot of defensive line, defensive end moves that I can use that will work in this conference. The o-lines have never seen moves like mine before."

Richardson didn't specify what kind of numbers i.e. sacks, tackles, caused fumbles, fumble recoveries he expects to finish with but he and Allen do look for him to make an impact.

"Sheldon can play it all: Tight end, defensive end, defensive tackle or full back. He can do it all," Allen said. "He's a phenomenal athlete. He was an all-state basketball player. He'll add to our line. He'll be hard to stop. He has phenomenal quickness, has great hands, feet and quickness. It should be a good year for us."
That's because Allen plans on using Richardson not only along the defensive line but in goalline packages as well at either tight end or full back.
Richardson is fine with that, whatever helps the team win, he said.
"I want to win a national championship and hopefully get a three-point something on my (grade point average)," Richardson said. "I'm passionate about football and willing to die for my teammates.
"There's school, football and going to Mizzou. My dad told me don't come home if you're not going to Mizzou. So I don't have an option."