Richardson takes Clemson unofficial

Columbia (S.C.) offensive tackle Quintin Richardson made an unofficial visit to Clemson on Friday.

It was the 6-foot-5, 265-pounder's second unofficial visit of the spring. He previously visited South Carolina.

"I had a wonderful time," Richardson said. "James Davis was with me most of the time. We walked around and toured the campus."

Richardson arrived on the Clemson campus around 2 p.m. and met with his Tigers recruiters, offensive line coach Brad Scott and running backs coach Burton Burns.

"Both of those guys are great," Richardson said. "Coach Scott is a great, great person and both are real good recruiters. They put in the time with me and my family for me to have a good time."

He toured Clemson's weight training facilities and got a chance to get an up-close look at the school's West Zone Project, an expansion and renovation of the football facilities at Memorial Stadium.

"I actually got to go inside the construction site," Richardson said.

His parents met up with him during the visit.

"They loved Clemson," Richardson said. "Everything is new to my parents. I'm probably the first one in my immediate family that will graduate from a big college, so they are real excited."

Richardson also got the chance to review some game film so he could see how he would fit into the zone blocking scheme employed by Tigers offensive coordinator Rob Spence. He also looked at a highlight tape of Clemson's 8-4 2005 season.

"They showed me how their system was very similar to the system that we run at Spring Valley," he said.

He also got a chance to tour Vickery Hall, Clemson's academic enrichment center for athletes and toward the end of his trip, got the chance to meet with Tigers head coach Tommy Bowden.

"It was a pleasure to talk with him," Richardson said. "Some of what he was saying was music to my ears."

Richardson was asked to compare his trip to Clemson with his recent visit to South Carolina.

"Really it was the same," Richardson said. "Clemson and USC's facilities are about the same. Clemson has a head start because the construction has already started, but USC is planning on building some things. Also, there are some things already at USC that Clemson doesn't have yet.

"The education at both schools is really the same, too. Basically, they are both top-notch programs with a lot to offer."

Richardson will make an unofficial to Maryland on Feb. 18 for the Terps' Junior Day and Tennessee on Feb. 20. He will return to South Carolina for the Gamecocks' Junior Day on Feb. 25 and plans to make unofficial visits to Middle Tennessee State and Kentucky during the month of March

New Blue Raiders head coach Rick Stockstill, who previously was the recruiting coordinator at South Carolina, has been in contact with Richardson.

"I talked to coach Stock today," he said. "I am planning on getting up there some time."

Previously, Richardson had stated that he may make an early decision, but that may not be the case now.

"I was thinking about doing it in March, but now I may hold off until May," he said. "I really want to go into spring practice with everybody even, so I am ready to make some more of these visits.

"I may want to take all five official visits. If that's the case, I may not commit because it's not fair to the school you are committed to if you are taking visits and committed to them. I wouldn't feel right about it. I was talking to (North Carolina signee and Spring Valley quarterback) B.J. Phillips and he told me that I needed to take all of my visits, so that's what I may do."

Richardson has a large frame and very good footwork. He has the potential to be one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the Southeast before all is said and done.