Former ACU football standouts Aston Whiteside and Daryl Richardson will prolong their collegiate football career on Saturday as both will play in the Players All-Star Classic at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark.
The two ACU products will be playing for the South team in Saturday’s game, which will start at 3 p.m.
The rosters will be divided into a North-South format and be composed of a multitude of skilled college football players from all levels of college football who are considered to be top prospects in the upcoming 2012 National Football League Draft next month. Players on this year’s roster hail from big time college programs such as UCLA, Penn State, Arizona State, Oklahoma, and Oregon. In last year’s game, more than 60 players who participated are currently on an NFL roster.
“Anytime our student-athletes have an opportunity like this, it is a great testament to all of the hard work they have put in to earning the recognition,” ACU Director of Athletics Jared Mosley said. “Things like this are great for our athletic program and school because this is exposure we don’t normally get at our school.”
Whiteside was named a first team All-American defensive end by the American Football Coaches’ Association and a second team all-American by Daktronics.
Additionally, he was named first team Associated Press Little all-America, first team d2football.com all-America and honorable mention all-America by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette. Whiteside was a first team Super Region IV selection and the Region Defensive Player of the Year by Daktronics recipient. In his senior campaign, he was first team all-Lone Star Conference and LSC Defensive Lineman of the Year. He is projected as a potential linebacker, fullback or tight end among NFL circles.
“Aston is one of the premier players we’ve had come out of our football program,” Mosley said. “He was always making plays and around the ball. I think he has a bright future ahead of him.”
Whiteside finished his career with 31.5 sacks, second on ACU’s all-time list and finished with 57.5 tackles for loss in his collegiate career.
Richardson finished his career with 38 touchdowns, which is good for second in ACU history behind legend Wilbert Montgomery. The running back has also accounted for 228 points in his XX career, ranking him fourth in ACU’s record books.
Richardson was a second team all-LSC South Division selection in 2009, honorable mention in 2010, and a second team selection in 2011.
In three seasons, he had 453 carries and 2,303 yards on the ground.
“Having Daryl in the backfield was always a great, reassuring feeling,” ACU junior quarterback Mitchell Gale said. “His great talent and ability to carry the ball made our offense that much better and harder to stop. “
