Interview: 2022 Ohio QB Thomas Richardson III Has All the Elite D-I Skills
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
When watching film on Thomas Richardson III, it is hard to not be impressed – even when nitpicking small details to his game. The 6-3, 207-pound, gunslinger has as smooth of a stroke as there is with an effortless motion spreading the ball around the field on a rope. The Gilmour Academy standout fills out his arsenal in the pocket with strong footwork, willingness to stay in the pocket to deliver the ball, and can avoid pressure using his legs pushing the chains downfield. In a seven-game 2020 season against Ohio competition, Richardson passed for an estimated 700 yards with nine touchdowns and rushed for 600 yards with nine more scores going up on the board while adding six two-point conversions.
With a 3.6 cumulative GPA and college programs throughout the region discovering him, Richardson headed over to the RNG Lab for a deep first-look.
Interview
Thomas, there are so many things I want to ask you about regarding your skills today. Let’s start with that smooth over the top release. It looks effortless. How have you worked to develop your throwing motion delivering dimes on a rope like that?
I started playing football at five years old. I have always had a big and strong arm. There has never been a problem with velocity for me. With my big arm, I have had to work on my touch and when to fit it into different spots. Football in youth is different than varsity ball at Gilmour. I was changing my velocity to add touch with my arm path and the flick of my wrist. I worked on my arc, everything, all the variables to keep improving.
Every summer, my dad and I work on my game. I’d call up my friends to run routes and rep through different arm angles, releases, and different steps. Footwork is very important for a quarterback. With proper footwork, a quarterback does not have to rely on his arm as much.
The RPO offense is engineered perfectly for you. Not only can you sling it with the best of them but you got some wheels. How did the running part of your game take off this season?
It really came from me and my running back Santino Harper. His uncanny speed and elusiveness set it all off for me to switch it up on defenses. I look at Lamar Jackson with the Ravens. He is a great quarterback but he’s also fast and can make holes for himself or extend plays with his legs.
Last season I was switching from a pro-style to using my legs more in an RPO offense. I know I have the speed to extend plays in the pocket and keep them going outside the pocket. When I was talking to my coach over the preseason, I sold him on doing the RPO and allowing me to help the offense with my running ability. With my running abilities, I did not think of it as much as a younger quarterback but this season it was a great tool for me.
In the Lancers’ offense, what is the philosophy of the attack? How are you guys moving the ball downfield?
It all starts with our running game. Santino and I get it going, and that opens up the passing attack. We are not a big sized team. We don’t have huge offensive linemen; we have smaller linemen. But we pride ourselves as being quick, striking fast, and not being a slow-paced team. Everything is quick in our offense, even the reads. The receivers were running shorter routes this season so I could get the ball to the playmakers as fast as possible We are a fast strike offense.
How did your overall passing game improve during the 2020 season?
I’d say that after reping through everything once we got going, it all improved. Because of COVID, it made it harder to get in the flow of the offense. Earlier in the year, there were some questions about the season. We didn’t know if we were going to play. But we stayed in shape and kept going at it. We were in shape and ready. It was easier for me and the coaches once we got going. That was one less thing to have to do when we got into pads.
For me personally, my arm path and arm angles, and throwing it in different widows and spots improved. Over the course of the year that go better. I was on the move a lot this year, running or extending the play. I had to throw in awkward places making off-platform throws.
Which aspects to the mental part gained with the seven-game experience?
Reading defenses. From my sophomore to junior year, I wasn’t breaking down defenses during pre- and post-snap reads as much. Sometimes I wouldn’t know what to do. Being a first-year starter, it was difficult for me in 2019. I spent a lot of time in the offseason testing myself on coverages and how to read defenses. I watched a lot of NFL film and different 30 for 30 shows to see how they did it. Then I applied that to my own game. This season I’d always take time to analyze the defense before, during, and after the snap reading over the defense again to see what is open.
There might be some traits to your game that get overlooked with your big arm and foot-speed. One of them that I have noticed is your willingness to stay in the pocket to get the ball out taking a hit. What are some other traits that deserve recognition?
I’d say my most underrated is my football IQ. At this point, I have been playing quarterback for 11 years. I have learned a lot, more than what someone who started playing quarterback in eighth or ninth grade. I am a veteran of the game picking up on things faster and seeing what others might not see. With my experience, I make reads and evade defenders to make plays faster than others.
The team wrapped the season back in October. Since then, what have you been working on and further developing?
I took one week off and then got back to two-a-days lifting and doing footwork. One thing that is major for me this offseason, I got with my QB coach to work on fundamentals. He’s trying to recode me from the ground up. My foot would come up at times on my throws making it a little more inaccurate. I am working on staying on the ground with a more fluid arm path which will save my shoulder.
Let’s close talking about recruiting. After the season you turned in, which programs are showing interest?
Harvard is one of the main ones that are in contact with me all the time. I talk to them every couple of days. Hopefully once the 2021 recruiting class is over, hopefully I will get an offer. Cincinnati, Akron, Bowling Green, Brown and Kentucky are all showing interest too. Hopefully I will be one of the first ones to get an offer after the 2021 class finishes up.
When possible, which programs would you like to go visit in 2021?
I’d love to visit Bowling Green. I went to an Akron game, but I want to walk the campus and get a full tour of everything. Harvard is another one I’d love to visit since they are one of the top schools recruiting me right now.
Thomas, I enjoyed mixing it up with you today. Thanks for your time and good luck with your offseason workouts until we talk again.
Yes, sir. Thank you.
Photo credit: Richardson family; Thomas Richardson III in action