Top three emerge for Texas DB

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – As much as football is a team sport, the Texas 7-on-7 State Championship often comes down to what teams have the best players in one-on-one situations. One guy that relishes the challenge of playing in one-on-one coverage is cornerback Andre Richardson of Arlington Bowie.

The 6-foot, 175-pounder was a solid coverman on Friday and despite his efforts he couldn't help his team escape a 1-2 record in pool play.

Still, though, Richardson loved every chance he got to line up and play the receiver in tough press man coverage.

"There is an opportunity that the ball is coming to me every time and I have to make the play," Richardson said. "You know it's going to be a pass, and during the season most likely with teams in our district it's going to be a run.

"I want to proven that I'm the better person. One-on-one is all about who's the better athlete."

And time after time on Friday, he won the battle and looked like one of the top defenders at the tournament. Richardson, however, admits he's not the most perfect player when it comes to the fundamentals. He just has a little something extra that helps him be better than the guy he's covering.

"I honestly don't think I have the footwork to be a corner or the hips to be one," he said.

"I just think I know how to play. I just know that I'm better than the guy across from me, and I play the man and I play the ball. It's all about instinct."

When it comes to recruiting, Richardson has offers from Missouri, Houston, Baylor, Kansas, Tulsa, UTEP, Purdue, Arizona State and Washington State. He said a solid top three has emerged at this point.

"It's comfortable because I haven't had to go out and sell myself to people," he said. "The schools already believe in me. I really haven't found anything with the downside to this process so far.

"I have a couple on the top of my head. It'd be Houston, Washington and Baylor. Tulsa is showing me the most interest, but I just can't see myself going there. I went and visited Baylor, and I liked that. I've wanted to go to Houston since I was a freshman. Washington State just sounds like a cool place, even though it's a long way from home."