The ACU football team has had a steady stream of talented football players making their way to the NFL for nearly a decade, but none of them have been like Daryl Richardson.
Richardson is a second-year pro that has been named the starting running back for St. Louis, which is impressive for a number of reasons.
First, the Rams had a Hall of Fame caliber running back carrying the load when Richardson got there.
Stephen Jackson was an elite running back in the NFL, but because of the former ACU football player, the Rams decided to let Jackson move on.
Not to mention, the Rams never intended Richardson to carry the bulk of the load for them.
Richardson was drafted in the seventh round.
Typically, players taken in the last round are developmental projects, not potential starters in their second year.
If that is not enough, the Rams drafted another running back in the same draft, five rounds earlier.
Isaiah Pead was supposed to be the running back of the future in St. Louis.
To think that a player from a Div. II school would overtake such a highly thought about prospect would be a rare assumption at best.
However, Richardson’s explosiveness and overall ability made it impossible for Jeff Fisher and the rest of the Rams’ coaching staff to keep him off the field.
Of course, Richardson dominated the sport at ACU.
He was a true game breaker in every sense of the word.
Every time number 20 got the ball, he had a chance to go for six points.
But to be able to have similar ability in the NFL is a completely different thing and it even caught NFL scouts by surprise.
Of course, the Wildcats have put several players into the NFL over the years.
Danieal Manning, who is entering his eighth season in the National Football League, has earned a Pro Bowl bid and has also played in the Super Bowl.
Clyde Gates is also in the NFL. Although Gates has shown flashes of brilliance, the lack of quarterbacking talent for the Jets will undoubtedly slow him down for the time being.
Bernard Scott has also been a productive back in the League for a few years, but has never had the opportunity to be the featured back in Cincinnati.
Johnny Knox may have been the first explosive offensive playmaker to come out of ACU in this century.
Knox even had some returning duty despite playing with Devin Hester, which reveals the talent that Knox possesses.
In respect, his explosiveness and touchdown scoring ability does makes him the most like Richardson.
However, Knox was never the number one option for his team the way that Richardson will be for the Rams in 2013.
ACU has had more than their fair share of Pro Bowlers considering their past Div. II status, but Richardson is completely different.
It will be the first time that an ACU football player will be a viable fantasy football option.
The first time that ACU will have a player that could lead their team in total yards and touchdowns.
The Wildcats have several players that are currently in the NFL who are all excellent players that will help their teams win games.
But as the 2013 football season starts and former members of the ACU football team are making plays every Sunday, it will be Richardson that is having his way with opposing defenses and changing games the most.
