Texas A&M Player Profile: Defensive Back, Demani Richardson
Going into the 2022 football season, Aggies Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Texas A&M roster.
Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Jimbo Fisher this season.
Demani Richardson is entering his senior year with the Aggies as the presumed leader of the defense along side 6th year veteran cornerback, Myles Jones. During his 2019 freshman season, Richardson started 11 of 12 games, tallying 71 tackles, an interception, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 3 pass break ups, while making the SEC All-Freshman-Team, taking a leadership position on defense from the start. During his sophomore season which took a statistical hit during the shortened COVID 2020 season, Richardson tallyed 36 tackles, an interception, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2 pass breakups, again helping lead the defensive backfield as one of the best defenses in the country during the season. Richardson’s 2021 junior season was by far his best, garnering 65 tackles with 44 solo tackles, an interception, 4 pass break ups, and 2 sacks on the season, while making a game-changing endzone interception against Alabama, and making 7 tackles in the game.
Preseason Player Profile
Hometown: Waxahachie, Texas
Height: 6-1
Weight: 210 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking
Class in 2019: 4-Star player ranking, 13th ranked player in Texas, 7th ranked safety prospect
Career Stats
Year | G | Tkl | Int | PBU |
2019 | 12 | 71 | 1 | 3 |
2020 | 8 | 36 | 1 | 2 |
2021 | 12 | 65 | 1 | 4 |
PFF Grades
Year | Defense | Coverage | Tackling |
2019 | 59.3 | 67.7 | 83.6 |
2020 | 73.3 | 72.3 | 91.4 |
2021 | 70.4 | 53.0 | 68.5 |
Depth Chart Overview
Demani Richardson (Senior) plays at the Strong Safety position in Jimbo Fisher’s 4-2-5 defensive scheme, led by first year defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin. Richardson plays alongside Free Safety Jardin Gilbert (Sophomore) and the cornerback rotation of Antonio Johnson (Junior), Jaylon Jones (Junior), Tyreek Chappell (Sophomore), and Myles Jones (Grad Transfer). Demani Richardson is already built like an NFL strong safety with a frame that can still add weight. Overall, he displays the vision, speed, tackling ability, and hard hitting nature needed to excel at the position, and is a nightmare matchup in zone coverage with his athleticism in space. Richardson returned for his senior season while forgoing the chance to be drafted in the mid rounds of the 2022 NFL draft, knowing that he will be looked upon to lead a young Aggie defensive group and provide stability on a week to week basis.
Players’ Photo Gallery
Mississippi running back Jerrion Ealy (9) runs past Texas A&M defensive backs Antonio Johnson (27) and Demani Richardson (26) for a first down during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Oxford, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Nov 13, 2021; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Matt Corral (2) runs the ball against Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Demani Richardson (26) during the second quarter at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2021; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Demani Richardson (26) intercepts the ball against Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Keanu Koht (19) in the second quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Tyler Badie (1) runs for a touchdown against Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Demani Richardson (26) during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2021; College Station, Texas, USA; Auburn Tigers tight end John Samuel Shenker (47) is tacked by Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Demani Richardson (26) in the second quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
