Nu'Keese Article

Interesting article on Nu'Keese and his decision to leave US for them

He's going to be called "New cleats" Richardson after Wright separates his body from his shoes

-The Dirtness

Nu’Keese Richardson talks about choosing Tennessee over Florida

by Ben Volin

Palm Beach Post file photo

Nu’Keese Richardson looked at the Florida depth chart, and he didn’t like what he saw.

Brandon James, Riley Cooper, Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey, Deonte Thompson, David Nelson and Carl Moore, were going to get the opportunities to play in 2008. T.J. Lawrence, Frankie Hammond and Omarius Hines would be fighting for spots. And fellow recruit Andre Debose was already being hyped as the next Percy Harvin, a guy who could come into Gainesville and start from Day One.

Thompson’s story, especially, made Richardson take notice. Thompson, Richardson’s friend from their days growing up in Belle Glade and Pahokee, came to Florida as a highly-touted five-star recruit, but hasn’t become a starter until his third season.

“He’s a 4.2 guy with a 6-foot-2 frame, and they benched him,” Richardson said. “I’m just looking at my size (5-9), I’m a 4.3 guy, and I was just doing a lot of thinking.”

And then Lane Kiffin entered the picture. While Florida coaches told Richardson they want him, Kiffin told Richardson the Tennessee Volunteers need him.

And that’s one of the main reasons why Richardson switched his commitment from Florida to Tennessee on national signing day.

“I wanted to come in, hopefully get long runs, get a starting position and get ready to play,” Richardson said.

Richardson and his roommate, Marsalis Teague, have a big game this week – against the Gators, in The Swamp. Teague also switched his commitment from Florida to Tennessee on signing day.
“We just talk about it and laugh about it,” Richardson said. “This is one of the games we’ve been ready for.”

Richardson had no idea his commitment would be such big news – and didn’t expect to be thrust in the spotlight when Kiffin used Richardson’s recruitment to accuse Meyer of cheating.

Welcome to the SEC, kid.

Richardson said his Facebook account has received a constant stream of hate mail from Florida fans for the past seven months. Some of his friends back in Pahokee still give him guff for switching to Tennessee. Suffice to say, Richardson knows there is a giant bull’s-eye on his chest this weekend. But he’s ready for it.

“It’s nothing I can’t handle,” he said. “That’s what I live for. I like being the underdog.”