Miami Hurricanes WR Ahmmon Richards top returning deep threat in ACC

Miami Hurricanes Ahmmon Richards is the best returning deep threat at wide receiver in the ACC according to Pro Football Focus. Richards caught 44.4 percent of the passes thrown his way over 20 yards in 2017.

The criteria that Pro Football Focus used to come up with the percentage of passes Richards caught over 20 yards was that the receiver must have had at least eight catchable deep throws targeted to him. Richards only played in seven of the 13 Miami Hurricanes games in 2017.

The Rising Junior wide receiver and 2016 Freshman All-American is an exceptional talent that requires game planning from opposing defenses. Richards led all Freshmen nationally 2016 in receiving yards and yards per reception. He also broke Michael Irvin’s 31-year-old Miami Freshman receiving yardage record.

In the seven games that Richards did play in 2017, he was extremely productive. Richards had 24 receptions for 439 yards and three touchdowns. Over the course of a full season, his stats would have been similar to what he produced as Freshman. Richards three touchdowns actually equaled his 2017 output.

Richards averaged more receptions per game in 2017 than 2016. His receiving yards were down by almost 10 yards per game. Richards was still a big play receiver when healthy in 2017.

The Rising Junior wide receiver had 18 receptions go for first downs in 2017. Richards had 13 receptions that went for more than 15 yards in 2017 and eight than went for more than 25 yards.

Having Richards healthy for the entire season can only help quarterback Malik Rosier. Rosier struggled in the last two Miami Hurricanes games of the season without Richards. He did have Richards in the Hurricanes loss to Pittsburgh. Miami Head Coach Mark Richt said that the loss to the Panthers was Rosier’s worst game.

Miami is going need Richards this season in order to duplicate or exceed the levels the team reached last season. After the season opener against LSU, Miami can ease Richards into the season the following three weeks.

The games after the Tigers are Savannah State and FIU at home with a trip to Toledo in between. They won’t need Richards as much in those games. Miami opens the ACC Schedule with back to back home games against North Carolina and Florida State.

This season Miami should have a deeper receiving corps. Lawrence Cager is second-year removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL. Darrell Langham gained confidence with some big plays last season. Jeff Thomas and Mike Harley have completed one year of college and should have a better grasp of the playbook and what to expect.

The Hurricanes also bring in an exceptional Freshmen group of wide receivers. Mark Pope received five stars from some recruiting services. Brian Hightower led all Miami receivers in the Spring game. Marquez Ezzard s another four-star receiver. Dee Wiggins is the fourth member of the Freshmen receivers.

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If Richt wants to be safe with Richards if he struggles again with injuries, the Miami coaching staff should be able to. The talent at wide receiver is deep.