Trent Richardson is keeping his professional football dreams alive.
As a native of Pensacola, Fla., he arrived at the University of Alabama in 2009 as a five-star recruit. In three seasons, Richardson was a dominant performer and a fan favorite. He made the All-SEC Freshman team in 2009 and was a two-time first-team All-SEC selection in 2010 and 2011. During the 2011 season, Richardson was at his finest for the Crimson Tide. He set the school’s single-season rushing record with 1,679 yards and 21 touchdowns on 283 carries.
Richardson was a Heisman finalist that year and took home SEC Offensive Player of the Year, Doak Walker Award, and Unanimous All-American honors.
He helped the Tide achieve two BCS National Championships (2009, 2011) and one Southeastern Conference title in the 2009 season. Richardson finished his career at eighth all-time in school history for rushing yards (3,130) and sixth for rushing touchdowns (35).
Despite getting selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Richardson’s rookie season with the Cleveland Browns was his best year in pro football. He was on three different teams — Indianapolis Colts, Oakland Raiders, and Baltimore Ravens — in the next four years and played with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League from 2017 to 2018.
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After being the most productive player in the short-lived American Alliance Football League (AAF), Richardson has been out of football for a year. According to the Caudillos Pro Football Chihuahua, a Mexican professional football team, Richardson has signed to play for its organization. The news was made official last season as he is excited to show he can still play again.
Sí le quedó 😤💪🏾👏🏼🏈🤠
Grandes Cosas vendrán para nuestra ciudad. Trent Richardson en Chihuahua #YoSoyDelMeroChihuahua #FAM2021 pic.twitter.com/sWfK8x2fcT— Caudillos Pro Football Chihuahua (@caudillospfcuu) February 11, 2021
Caudillos le da una grata bienvenida a Trent Richardson a nuestra FAMilia de Caudillos Chihuahua. 🤠🏈🎉#TodosSomosCaudillos #YoSoydelMeroChihuahua #FAM2021 #TR3 #WelcometoChihuahua #ElEstadoGrande @ Chihuahua, Chihuahua pic.twitter.com/rW3JJLT85d
— Caudillos Pro Football Chihuahua (@caudillospfcuu) February 12, 2021
At 30 years old, Richardson hopes this move will launch him into bigger success.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith
