Texas A&M star defensive back Demani Richardson announces return for final season
Texas A&M is certainly having a Happy New Years as star defensive back Demani Richardson has announced he will return for one final season, taking advantage of an extra year granted due to COVID-19.
Richardson spent the month of December mulling his decision of whether to stay or declare for the 2023 NFL Draft. He ultimately decided one more year in College Station would be the best route.
In his four year career at Texas A&M, Richardson has amassed 245 total tackles, 11 pass deflections, four interceptions, three forced fumbles, and 2.5 sacks. In 2022, Richardson led the team with 73 total tackles with a team lead 48 solo tackles.
Richardson was one of only three Aggies on the defensive side of the ball to play in all 12 games. He led the team in defensive snaps played with 782.
Richardson was formerly a four-star, top-100 prospect in the class of 2019. The On3 consensus ranked him as the No. 9 safety and No. 83 overall prospect in his class. He has more then lived up his expectation, starting 43 games for the Aggies. If he stays healthy this upcoming season, he should easily hit the 50-start mark.
Shoring up the secondary
Over the last month, because of NFL departures from Jaylon Jones and Antonio Johnson, as well as a number of transfers in the secondary, the secondary was becoming extremely thin. However, now it seems the Aggies will have a strength of the team in the secondary.
In recent weeks, along with the return of Richardson, the Aggies have landed former five-star cornerback Tony Grimes (UNC) and 2022 top-100 safety Sam McCall (Florida State) out of the transfer portal. With cornerback Tyreek Chappell returning for his junior season, the back end of the Aggies defense is looking stout.
The defensive line for the Aggies is set up to be one of the strongest in not only the SEC, but the nation. Now, if Texas A&M can add some linebacker depth, the defense should have the ability to shut down any offense it faces.
Richardson’s safety counterpart, Antonio Johnson, is headed to the NFL Draft but a star might be emerging to take his place. That would be Bryce Anderson, who was just a true-freshman this season, but finished fourth in run defense out of all true freshmen safeties in power five.
Richardson, as well as some other young prospects from the prized 2022 recruiting class, are primed to take a step into stardom in the 2023 season.