Barbour County player commits to So. Alabama

Barbour County’s Devondrick Richardson enjoyed his past four years as a Jaguar so much he decided to spend his next four years as a Jaguar.

Richardson recently verbally committed to play football for the University of South Alabama in Mobile.

He is the first student-athlete from Barbour County or Clayton High School to commit to play football for a Division I program. South Alabama is currently a member of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA), but will make the move to Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) in 2013.

“I am very happy for this young man,” Barbour County head coach Juan Williams said. “He has shown the scouts his versatility as an athlete and his love for the game. Hopefully he will be the first of many from our program to go on to the next level.”

Richardson, a two-sport standout at Barbour County, chose South Alabama in part because the upstart program offered him a chance to play right away.

“I wanted to be able to come in and contribute right away and not have to sit a year,” Richardson said.

He’ll have that opportunity as a freshman. South Alabama will play its first football season next fall with perhaps as many as nine games.

Richardson, who chose South Alabama over Jacksonville State, is one of 17 verbal commitments for the signing class of 2009 that will join approximately 111 players, including eight with full scholarships, which are already participating in conditioning drills in Mobile.

Richardson is expected to play outside linebacker in the Jaguars’ 3-4 defensive scheme, which will be directed by former Prattville head coach Bill Clark.

“I liked what they told me about the defense,” Richardson said. “I liked the idea of being a part of the first team and helping start something there and getting my name in the (record) books.”
But first, Richardson and his current group of Jaguars have some unfinished business.

The team is off to a 3-2 start and is just one win shy of setting a school record for wins in a season. That’s a fact that’s not lost on Richardson as he and his teammates prepare for a Class 2A, Region 2 showdown with G.W. Long.

“This is a real big game,” he said. “This is a chance for us to make history. Plus, it’s another region game and another step toward our goal.”

That goal is making the playoffs for the first time in school history.

Williams has spent weeks talking to his team about the opportunity they have to make history. This week, he’s kept the focus squarely on G.W. Long.

“I’ve probably talked about it too much,” he said. “I’m not going to bring it up again. We’re just going to focus on our next game and forget about it. When it happens, it happens. … We’ve got enough to worry about with G.W. Long.”

The Rebels recently snapped a 16-game losing streak in a shocking 26-21 upset over then-No. 10 Elba on the Tigers’ home field.

According to Williams, the key for the Jaguars will be containing running back Dewayne Whigham.

“I love their running back,” Williams said. “He runs with a lot of heart. You have to wrap him up because he’s not going down without a fight. He’s a very good player and we’re going to have to find a way to slow him down.”

The Jaguars will also have to contain quarterback Mason Stephens, who has the ability to make plays with his arm and his feet.

“He’s a player too,” Williams said. “He can do a lot of things to hurt you. We’ll have to contain him. We’re going to need our defense to step up again if we’re going to have a chance to win the game.”

Barbour County (3-2, 2-1 Class 2A, Region 2) and G.W. Long (1-4, 1-2 Class 2A, Region 2) will square off tonight at 7 in Skipperville.