Interview: 3-Star 2020 QB Carl Richardson Talks Boise State Offer and Pinpoint Accuracy
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Some football stats are a product of a given scheme that may hide flaws in one’s game. One statistical measurement that is hard to deny for a quarterback, regardless of the offensive scheme, is completion percentage. True a quarterback can be accurate fitting throws into tight windows but the receiver drops it killing the average. But for those with the high percentage, it shows the ball is on the money. For 2020 Salinas High School gunslinger Carl Richardson, he is rolling along at an unbelievable rate slicing through California defenses with ease.
Richardson has been on the California radar since his freshman season when he threw for 2,056 yards with 18 touchdowns and rushed for 201 yards with four more scores. Jump to his junior year, he covered 3,606 yards with 24 touchdowns laying the ball on the line with a 74 percent completion rate on 269 of 366 passing in 12 games. The 6-4, 205-pound, playmaker is back at it this season connecting on 109 of 140 attempts for 1,446 yards reaching the end zone 15 times against just one interception. The completion rate is up to 78 percent. In addition to his deadly skills with his arm, he has also kept drives going with 274 yards on the ground off 27 totes with three scores helping his Cowboys squad to a 3-1 start. Worth noting that Richardson also excels in the classroom carrying a 4.4 cumulative GPA and scored a 1520 on the SAT.
College teams are finding Richardson with eight offers on the table, and has six more regular season games for scouts to see what he can deliver to their program at the next level. After a receiving an offer from Boise State on Saturday, we sat down for an update conversation.
*Click link for June 2, 2019, RNG interview with Carl Richardson
Interview
Carl, I have to start out putting the spotlight on how accurate you have been this season hitting 78 percent of your passes. Of course, your receivers have to pull it in, but what are you doing on the field to make it happen?
“Coach John-John’s coaching. I have the best offensive coordinator I could ask for. He is getting me in the right positions to make plays. My receivers are making plays helping me out; Cade Smith, JJ Chin, Coby Jimenez, Austin Villanueva – all of those guys are doing an awesome job. I see it as a tribute to what we did in the offseason. My offensive linemen are giving me all day to throw. All of the guys are doing a great job blocking. What we are doing on the field is a tribute to Coach John-John.”
What are some of the routes you are throwing to this season?
“The routes I am throwing depends on the game plan and who we are playing against. In our last game, we did a lot of underneath routes; that is what they were giving us. If they pressed us, we went up over the top. We do mix it up in the passing game for sure.”
Another thing that stands out is your running game. How is that evolving during your senior year?
“That is part of our read-option run scheme. Ryan Granger and Jeff Shaffer are doing a great job with the ball. When they take away the running back, I take off with it and we are throwing on top of that. All of our passing compliments our run game. The offense has been rolling this season. We run a lot of high-tempo sets keeping defenses on their heels.”
How has the mental aspect of the game grown for you?
“The game has slowed down even more. Our coaches do a great job in practice to make it stressful so the games are easy. We run situational drills in practice to prepare for real-game situations like the two-minute drill. Because of what we do in practice we know that we will pull through in games because of the preparation. For me, KTPrep (7v7) has helped. Those are the main things that have improved my mental makeup this season.”
Looking at the four games played, how do you feel your overall game has been elevated from last season?
“My quicker throwing motion has helped. I have a ton more juice on the ball. My chemistry with the receivers has been a ton of fun. If I get the ball in their area, they will come down with it. The game has slowed down for sure. I feel much stronger and faster being a year older.”
Which aspects of your game are you constantly working on in practice?
“Working with my receivers, that is always something you want to work on in practice throughout the season. We have faced a lot of different looks. For example, against Clovis in Week 2 they were doing a one-high one-low defense. We did a great job of handling that.”
The Cowboys are about to get into the heart of Pacific Coast League action. What do you guys have to do to win league this season?
“Our coach has a great phrase, “get a day better every day.” Buying into the program, we are getting a day better and going one day at a time. We are coming off a great win against Palma, a 38-35 win against a rival. I am fired up for this week.”
There are some big games coming up, which ones are you excited to play?
“Like I said, we take it one game at a time. This week we are playing Everett Alvarez, we are fired up for them. We don’t look ahead into the schedule.”
Turn to recruiting, which schools are showing interest?
“Boston College, Nebraska, Washington, Cal and Georgia Tech are all showing interest.”
How many offers are you holding now?
“I have eight. Boise State just offered on Saturday.”
Richardson’s Offer Sheet: Boise State, Columbia, Howard, Idaho, Nevada, San Diego, Washington State, and Yale
That is awesome. How did Boise State offer you?
“Coach (Zak) Hill (OC/QB) reached out about two weeks ago. He said he watched my film and that he was interested. They had a bye week this week, he came down for the game on Friday. He called yesterday afternoon to tell me that he spoke with Coach (Bryan) Harsin (HC) and that they were officially offering me. I am pumped about that one.”
That is cool that you showed out with Coach Hill watching in-person to earn the offer.
“Thank you.”
Have you taken any recent visits?
“Yes. I have been to Stanford twice.”
In general, tell me about the Stanford trips.
“They went really well. I went to the Oregon game, unfortunately they lost. I talked to all the coaches during the visit and spent some time with Coach (Tavita) Pritchard (QB). That was a lot of fun.”
Are there any more visits in the near future?
“I have no official visits confirmed. I am taking unofficial visits to Boise State and Washington State in the near future. Those visits will be for games to both of those schools.”
When you make that final decision on the right program for you, what will the ideal school have that separates them from the rest?
“This is 100 percent a football decision, everything else is extra. I want to win games. I love playing football. I want to play football in college. That will be the main factor, everything else is icing on the cake.”
Carl, it was great catching up with you today. Congratulations on the great start, I hope you keep tearing it up.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: Richardson family; Carl Richardson at Stanford