WR Ahmmon Richards ready to lead Miami Hurricanes by example

Ahmmon Richards is ready to take on an even bigger leadership role for the Miami Hurricanes than he had last season. Richards was a Freshman All-American in 2016 but missed six games with various injuries last season.

Richards was the Miami Hurricanes player representative along with safety Jaquan Johnson with Head Coach Mark Richt at the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte earlier this week.

Richards spoke about coming back from the injuries of last season, his responsibility as a leader on the team and what he has to do when Miami quarterback Malik Rosier scrambles.

Richards is hoping for a bounce-back season after he was the best Freshman wide receiver in the country in 2016. He led the nation’s Freshmen in receiving yards and receiving yards per reception two years ago.

Richards is on the watch list for the Maxwell and Biletnikoff Awards. He has also been named to many preseason All-ACC teams.

Richards has unfinished business after suffering through the 2017 season with a hamstring injury early and knee injury late in the season. He often led by example last season even in limited playing time. Who will forget the vicious block that Richards has in the Florida State game?

Richards missed the first two and last two games of 2017. He still missed two of the seven Miami Hurricanes games in between. Richards was up first in Charlotte. He was asked how he was able to deal with the adversity of last season, being a mentor to the younger players and how to adapt when quarterback Rosier is scrambling.

For any player to have to miss time on the field with their teammates is difficult. Richards broke Michael Irvin’s 31-year old Miami Freshmen receiving yardage record in 2016. Big things were expected last season after he was a True Freshman All-American two seasons ago.

Richards was asked about going through the adversity of his injuries and coming back from them in the upcoming season.

"“Going through that, it was very tough. I mean, I’ve never been hurt for a long period of time like that, and it taught me a lot about myself, just not to take a lot of things for granted, whether it’s little things like stretching, hydrating, just little things that matter at this level, and I’m appreciative of that now.”"

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Miami is bringing in an extremely talented recruiting class this fall. The two best units are at wide receiver and defensive back. Richards discussed his role in being a mentor to the newest Miami Hurricanes.

"“I have to be more of a vocal leader. I have to lead these guys, especially the young guys in the receiving corps. We have a lot of young guys that have to learn the system.I think they’re mature. I don’t really see them just as freshmen. They’re mature. They’re guys that can play day one, and I know they’re going to contribute and help this team win games.I’m not really a vocal guy, but flashes of it pops up here and there. That’s how I know it’s within.It’s just something that I’m going to have to do. It’s tough. It’s not as easy as it may seem, but it’s something that I’m going to have to do in order to help the team in the long run.”"

Rosier was arguably the best running quarterback in Miami Hurricanes history last season. He ran for 437 yards and extended countless other plays because of his mobility. Richards was asked what he needs to do with Rosier is scrambling.

"“Yeah, like you said, just get open. When he gets out, we go through a scramble drill in practice every week, and it’s going to help us during games when the pocket may break down and he scrambles out, but that doesn’t mean the play is over.He can still create a big play like the Wisconsin game where he broke out and threw a touchdown pass to Lawrence Cager. That’s just an example of what can happen."

It was clear that Richards and Johnson both have a lot of respect for each other. Before he left the podium in Charlotte Richards was asked to comment on Johnson and his leadership skills.

Johnson was named the Miami Hurricanes MVP at the team’s award banquet last December in between the ACC Championship game and the Orange Bowl.

"“Jaquan Johnson…he’s the alpha dog of the defense. He’s a leader. He’s one of the leaders on the team. He just attacks everything like a dog. His mentality is just different than everybody else’s.Like he says, he endures pain, whether that’s physical pain, mental pain, whether that’s lifting weights, he embraces that. And that’s just what separates him, and that’s what makes him the player he is, and as you saw last season, what he accomplished.”"

If Richards can even get back to his 2016 form it will make the entire team better. Rosier has faced a lot of criticism in the offseason

Next: Has Miami Hurricanes turnover chain gotten into opponents heads?

Let’s not forget in the losses to Clemson and Wisconsin Rosier was without the players who began 2017 as his three best offensive players. Miami was missing their best wide receiver and the players who began 2017 as the starting tight end and running back.