National Signing Day 2011: RB Clifton Richardson Signs with Virginia

6'1" / 195 lbs / 4.4 [ESPN] [Rivals]

Rankings:
- ESPN:  4* / 80 Rating / #24 ATH / #142 Overall
- Rivals: 4* / 5.8 Rating / #20 RB / #238 Overall / #6 State
- Scout: 3* / #47 WR
- _247: 4* / 96 Rating

Other Offers:East Carolina, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, North Carolina State, Old Dominion, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, West Virginia

Notes:  One of Virginia's top recruits, Richardson has shown excellent speed and running ability and, according to ESPN, has "excellent anticipation and judges where blocks are coming from in order to make the right cut." He runs low to the ground and drops the shoulder, and is generally tough to tackle if you're on the other side. Virginia will be sorely needing some help at the running back position this fall, and Richardson is just the guy who can step in there right off the bat and contribute some big time minutes, big time plays. He's been compared to Vic Hall by his coach, who says that Richardson has more potential, which may very well be true, considering Richardson has played at quarterback, tailback, fullback, wide receiver, free safety and punt and kick returner. His senioar season, he put up over 1,000 all-purpose yards. The year before he had over 1,300 all-purpose yards. Also, he goes by "Doodie."

Quotables:

""I'm going to try to come in and play as a true freshman, and by my sophomore year I want us to win the ACC championship. The coaches definitely want me to play as a true freshman. They're just telling me to come in with the right mentality and ready to play hard."