Nu’Keese Richardson, booted from the Tennessee football program following an arrest for attempted armed robbery last November, has found a landing spot for his immense football talent, the Knoxville News Sentinel is reporting.
According to the News Sentinel, Richardson will play his college ball at Hampton University in Virginia.
Richardson pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery on Jan. 11, and received pretrial diversion and three years probation in the plea agreement. Less than two weeks later, the receiver was on the Hampton campus and blending into his new small school surroundings.
“I was watching (Richardson) walk from weight lifting and it was as if he was just another student,” said Hampton head coach Donovan Rose. “No one was running up to him, trying to get his autograph or talk to him. It’s amazing how few recognize him on campus.
“Hampton is a personable and close-knit campus. He can come in and talk to the head coach at any time, get extra help from teachers and he isn’t dealing with classes that have hundreds of students. (Players coming from big schools) do better at Hampton.”
Rose said he had no issues with the personal and legal baggage Richardson brings with him -- perhaps because Rose says the freshman is “almost like Percy Harvin” -- and said he’s received nothing but positive feedback from people about Richardson.
“I received nothing but good remarks about (Richardson’s) character,” Rose said. “He’s a ‘yes sir, no sir’ kind of guy. He was just a good kid at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
As Hampton is a Div. 1-AA school, Richardson will be able to play immediately and will have three years of eligibility remaining.