<p>Two summers ago, John Richardson stood with his mother, Jill, on the home sideline of the Center Grove football field.</p>
<p>Richardson, an offensive lineman with two years of high school remaining, had an important decision to make while observing one of coach Eric Moore’s practices.</p>
<p>“I went up to Ben Davis. I went up to Carmel. I went everywhere,” said Richardson, who prior to that point had been home-schooled most of his life.</p>
<p>“I wanted to go somewhere where I could start fresh, do my best and be part of a team that was good.”</p>
<p>The more Richardson watched, the more becoming a student-athlete at Center Grove made sense.</p>
<p>A starting right tackle for the Trojans as a junior and senior, the 6-foot-5, 305-pound Richardson, the Trojans’ lone representative at next month’s IFCA North/South All-Star Game, is proud of where his judgment guided him that day.</p>
<p>Center Grove advanced to the Class 6A semistate in 2014 and ran the table last season with a 14-0 record and 6A state championship.</p>
<p>Richardson experienced 23 victories and only four losses.</p>
<p>His senior campaign was spent helping a formidable offensive line open running lanes for two 1,000-yard rushers — Titus McCoy and Jackson Hohlt. Center Grove’s offense averaged 308 yards rushing and 379 overall per game.</p>
<p>Richardson has signed to play football for defending NAIA national champion Marian University.</p>
<p>He will apply his attention to detail academically (Richardson had a 3.67 grade-point average at Center Grove) as an exercise science major.</p>
<p>“John took advantage of every opportunity he had to become a great football player,” Moore said. “He did all the work.</p>
<p>“He’s mature. A fun kid to be with. No matter what happens he’s always up and has a chance to become a really good college football player.”</p>
<p>Raised in Martinsville, Richardson’s academic and athletic background is all over the board.</p>
<p>He was home-schooled through the eighth-grade, attended Martinsville High School as a freshman and fulfilled classroom obligations online as a sophomore.</p>
<p>He sought and eventually found a home.</p>
<p>“I’ve grown up in Martinsville, so there are a lot of people there who I really care about,” Richardson said. “It was mainly the football part, but once I got into the school I was like, ‘This is so different.’</p>
<p>“I just started loving school here.”</p>
<p>Richardson, who became a starter on the Trojans’ line after the fourth game of the 2014 season, reports to All-Star camp on July 9 at the University of Indianapolis.</p>
<p>This summer marks the 50th consecutive summer for the North/South Game with the South All-Stars holding a 27-22 series lead.</p>
<p>Since 2000, Center Grove has placed 22 players in the showcase as members of South squads. On only two occasions — 2005 and 2013 — have the Trojans not had a player taking part.</p>
<p>Though he only spent two years at the school, Richardson is proud to be the one carrying on the Trojans’ tradition before starting his college career.</p>
<p>Reminded of the yearly helmet decal exchange that goes on between All-Star players during the six days leading up, Richardson laughs knowing he has yet to load up on red ‘7’s (he wore No. 77 at Center Grove).</p>
<p>“It’s definitely going to be a really nice experience from the whole-week aspect because I honestly didn’t know we were going to be away the whole week,” Richardson said. “I thought we would drive up every day, practice and come home.</p>
<p>“Getting to stay with people and meet new people is pretty cool. The fact this is the 50th (All-Star) game is cool, too.”</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="John Richardson pullout" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>THE RICHARDSON FILE</p>
<p>Name: John Richardson</p>
<p>Age: 19</p>
<p>Born: Indianapolis</p>
<p>Family: Mother, Jill Richardson; sister, Jessica, 16</p>
<p>Favorite TV show: “Psych”</p>
<p>Favorite food: Cheeseburgers</p>
<p>Favorite movie: “Saving Private Ryan”</p>
<p>Favorite athlete: J.J. Watt</p>
<p>Favorite team: Oakland Raiders</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
