101 Days of BC Football: Ameer Richardson, #43

There are plenty of faces in Boston College’s defensive backfield, but just because they’re there doesn’t mean they’ve all got collegiate experience. Some had their positions changed, while others simply haven’t appeared in a game yet. The latter is the case for defensive back Ameer Richardson, a 5-foot-11 redshirt freshman from New Jersey.

In high school, Richardson was a two-position player like his teammate Josh Keyes: defensive back and running back. Like Keyes, Richardson was highly touted as a rusher, setting school records for carries, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns at Collingswood High School.

He was no slouch on the defensive side of the football, either, making dozens of tackles as a safety earlier in his high school career and netting three interceptions. Richardson’s 1,577-yard season as a running back came in his senior season of 2010, but he is now listed as a defenseman once again.

Richardson was a two-star recruit coming into BC, but how he excelled at Collingswood High — not only in football, but also in baseball in track — demonstrated that he’s a capable athlete. One would imagine that we will see him take to the field for Boston College this season playing safety, but he probably won’t see nearly the number of snaps of some of the others unless there are injuries or other personnel issues. And hey, if the Eagles ever need an oh-my-God emergency running back, Richardson can do that too.