South Carolina running backs coach Stan Drayton made a stop on Monday at Sumter High School for a visit with RB Franklin Richardson (6-2 220). Though he plays quarterback for the Gamecocks, Richardson is being recruited as a running back. He averaged 163 rushing yards per game last season.
Richardson said he and Drayton spent about 45 minutes talking, and there was not a strong sales pitch from the Gamecock assistant.
“It wasn’t really a recruiting conversation; we were just talking and having a regular conversation,” Richardson said. “I think the relationship is coming good. I’ve seen how he treats his backs, and I really do like that.”
Richardson made two spring visits to see the Gamecocks practice. One was in March, and the last one was on April 9th. Those visits gave him the opportunity to watch Drayton in person work with the guys in his room.
“It’s a good system. I like it, especially the way he coaches his backs,” Richardson said. “He takes time with each back, gets to know each back. He builds relationships with all of his backs.”
This spring, Richardson also visited Duke, East Carolina, and Coastal Carolina. The Chants have a new coaching staff, and he enjoyed getting to learn about them and their style of offense.
“I like it over there. It was pretty nice,” Richardson said. “The coaching staff, they were telling us they put some new facilities in. They have a new offense. They told us they changed it a lot. I think their facilities are pretty nice. I like their weight room.”
Richardson doesn’t have any more spring visits planned, though he might get back to USC for the junior day on May 17th. Otherwise, he plans to take official visits with the four schools he saw this spring. And maybe others as more offers come in. He was recently offered by UConn and Maryland. He does not have a decision timetable.