The list of Johnson County’s top receivers this football season consists of players who have been perfecting their craft for years.
Or, in the case of Cory Richards, weeks.
Richards, a Franklin senior who last played organized football in sixth grade, chose to end his five-year gridiron hiatus, learned an entirely new position and is piling up big numbers for the Grizzly Cubs’ pass-oriented offense.
Better known for his basketball abilities — the 6-foot-3 All-County pick averaged a team-high 14.9 points a game last season — Richards is proving to be something special on the gridiron.
Entering tonight’s Mid-State Conference home game against Martinsville, he’s made 33 receptions for 402 yards and three touchdowns.
“From the very get-go, we had him pegged as a potential receiver. Having watched Cory play basketball, it was just his athleticism,” Franklin coach Chris Coll said. “Having him in weights class, we knew he was fast. I really anticipated him helping us.”
Richards did. Immediately.
His debut effort of four catches came in a lopsided loss to Columbus North. Richards followed with 12 grabs for 204 yards (both school records) and a pair of scores as Franklin rebounded with a 56-14 trouncing of Shelbyville in Week 2.
He and junior receiver Peyton Ruble (16 receptions, 322 yards) form one the county’s best receiving combinations.
Richards was a quarterback when playing the sport in middle school. A sense of curiosity mixed with good old-fashioned pressure from some of his closest friends brought him back.
“Mainly it’s because it’s my senior year. If I look back on this year a year later and am like, ‘I should have done this,’ I wouldn’t have the chance to,” Richards said. “That was a big part.
“There was a lot of influence, too, from my friends who play football and some of the coaches. Clayton (Coll) was a big factor, and also Drew (Byerly), who I play basketball with. Those are the two main ones.”
With Byerly, a junior, locked in at QB, Richards knew he would have to contribute elsewhere to gain valuable playing time.
Given his frame (6-foot-3, 175 pounds) and the combination of leaping ability, coordination and quickness he’s demonstrated on the hardwood the past three basketball seasons, catching the football made the most sense.
“I thought I could be a good wide receiver,” he said. “I’m partially surprised (at the statistics), but it does help having Drew’s arm. I just go out here to help my team and help us win.”
Some basketball coaches might frown upon one of his best players picking up a high injury-risk sport like football. However, Grizzly Cubs coach Brad Dickey supports the decision.
The coach, after all, has experience in this area.
In 2013, Dickey was the boys basketball coach at Tipton. He went through three weeks of practice with only four varsity players; the rest were part of the Blue Devils’ football team that advanced all the way to the Class 2A state championship game.
“Cory came to me and told me. I told him to talk to the football coaches and try it out,” Dickey said. “He’s having a lot of fun, and so are we watching him play.”
Richards has been a welcome addition to an offense that averages 402.5 yards per game.
“Cory’s not just a basketball player that runs out there and jumps and grabs the ball,” coach Coll said. “He can do that because of his athleticism and because of his length, but he really is a good route runner.
“He’s just a good receiver.”
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TONIGHT’S GAMES
North Central at Center Grove, 7 p.m.
Martinsville at Franklin, 7 p.m.
Plainfield at Greenwood, 7 p.m.
Perry Meridian at Whiteland, 7 p.m.
Indian Creek at Triton Central, 7 p.m.
South Decatur at Edinburgh, 7 p.m.
Scecina at Roncalli, 7 p.m.
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