Sheldon Richardson

Team
New York Jets

Position
Defensive Lineman

Date Range
2013-Present

TRANSACTION HISTORY:

  • 13th pick overall in the 2013 NFL Draft by the New York Jets

AWARDS:

  • 2013 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
  • 2012 Second-Team All-SEC

COLLEGE:

2012 SEASON

  • Big-time talent who stepped into a starting role after providing nice contributions in a reserve role in his first year with the program in 2011
  • Richardson lined up at the defensive tackle spot, after resting up during the spring after getting off-season shoulder surgery to repair an old injury which kept him at less than 100 percent during the previous season

2011 SEASON

  • Made his much-anticipated debut with the Tigers, and provided much-needed depth in the trenches as he amassed 37 tackles, including 8.0 TFLs and 2 QB sacks in 13 games (including 2 starts)
  • Closed the year by making 2 stops and a half-sack against North Carolina in the Independence Bowl
  • Recorded a tackle for loss in overtime against Arizona State
  • Finished WIU game with two assisted tackles, both coming for a loss
  • Teamed up with Brayden Burnett to record his first sack as a Tiger early in the first quarter
  • Assisted on three tackles against Oklahoma in Norman
  • Recorded three tackles at Kansas State while also batting down a pass at the line of scrimmage
  • Finished the Iowa State game with four tackles, 1.5 of which were for loss
  • Made his first career start against Oklahoma State and finished with one tackle for a two yard loss
  • Finished the Texas A&M game with eight tackles, including an assisted TFL
  • Was a force in the backfield all game long against Baylor, finishing with five tackles including 1.5 for loss, a half a sack and a quarterback hurry.

JUNIOR COLLEGE / HIGH SCHOOL:

  • One of the most highly-coveted athletes to come out of the state of Missouri in recent years, who returned to his home state after a two-year stop at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif.
  • Was ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 3 junior college prospect in the nation at any position, even after he was redshirted in 2010 due to a wrist injury
  • Was a dominant defensive lineman and tight end at St. Louis’ Gateway Tech High School, where he was ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 4 overall player (any position) in the nation, as well as being the No. 1 defensive tackle prospect in the country by several national outlets
  • Also checked in as the No. 1 overall player (any position) in the state of Missouri, and originally signed with Mizzou as part of the 2009 signing class, before going the junior college route
  • Was named as a 2008 EA Sports First Team All-American after a senior season at Gateway Tech which included 88 tackles and 19 sacks, while adding seven fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles and one interception
  • Scored six defensive touchdowns on the year, as well, while adding 27 receptions for 541 yards and eight touchdowns at the tight end position

PERSONAL:

  • Parents – Michael & Zelda Richardson
  • Chose the Tigers over a slew of nationally-prominent programs, just a few of which included USC, Auburn, Arkansas, and Miami, Fla., among many others.