WAXAHACHIE, Texas — Demani Richardson, the Indians’ four-star safety reportedly leaning toward committing to Texas, followed in the footsteps of another former team star on Monday after a selection to the Under Armor All-American Game.
Richardson was the second Waxahachie High School athlete in two years to earn that honor after Texas Christian University’s Jalen Reagor two years ago.
“Blessed to say that I’ve received an invite to play in the Under Armour All American game and I’m going to play,” Richardson announced via Twitter on Monday.
He even posted a picture of the Horned Frogs’ rising star in the post. Richardson also received a full-ride scholarship offer from the University of Tennessee on Tuesday.
As a focal piece of the defense, Richardson was the team’s second leading tackler, had three of the Indians’ 15 interceptions and added a quarterback hurry during his junior year. That came despite a change in defensive coordinators from Casey Kjos to Head Coach Jon Kitna.
“I was excited, but I wasn’t really surprised because my coaches kept telling me something like this was coming,” Richardson said. “It still hasn’t hit me. Not yet. It will, though.”
And help from veteran defenders like Caleb High and Jarrett Sterns, who Richardson said put him in the position to be a game-changing playmaker instead of defensive rotational piece. With Richardson playing one part run-stuffing linebacker and one part rangy centerfielder, Waxahachie finished 8-5 overall and 4-3 in District 10-5A and reached the playoffs for the first time since a 2012 University Interscholastic League Class 4A Bi-District Round loss to John Tyler High School in 2012.
Richardson (6) makes a tackle during a playoff matchup with Frisco Lone Star High School in 2017. Sherry Milliken/TexasHSFootball
The UA All-American game has housed some of the biggest collegiate and NFL stars. Atlanta’s Julio Jones, Houston’s Deshaun Watson, Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook, New Orleans’ Manti Te’o,Pittsburg’s JuJu Smith-Shuster, Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond, and the University of Southern California’s Ronald Jones II.
The value of the experience, though, may run deeper than one may see on the surface.
“The UA practices were like real practices. They were more geared toward teaching and learning the plays than being tiring. D-Man’s [Richardson] going to love the environment,” Reagor said about his experience at the 2017 edition at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando and how his former teammate could make his mark on the 2019 installment.
Former Waxahachie Indian Jalen Reagor was named the Big 12 Co-Offensive Freshman of the Year. He played in the 2017 Under Armor All-American Game, too. Charlton Gladden/TexasHSFootball
Reagor flipped commitments from Oklahoma to TCU shortly before the game and earned the Big 12 Conference’s Co-Offensive Freshman of the Year Award after hauling in 28 receptions for 407 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games. He had 169 more on five receptions during the Horned Frogs’ Valero Alamo Bowl victory against Stanford University.
“I’m sure schools know he is a good defender,” Reagor continued. “And he still has time can work on his feet and coverage skills. He has a high football IQ and is just the type of player that can cause turnovers in picks and use big hits to cause fumbles.”
Richardson is reportedly leaning towards committing to the University of Texas over the TCU, Baylor, and Ohio State Universities, the Universities of Georgia and Missouri.
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Marcus Matthews-Marion is the managing editor of TexasHSFootball, covering prep football throughout the Lone Star State and collegiate and professional football throughout the country. Follow him on Twitter, @TheMJMatthews, and read more of his content here.
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