Richard Makes Position Known

When the season started, USC cornerback Kris Richard was a virtual unknown. Hawaii went right at him on the first play of the first game.

Richard might still be learning his craft, but he is hardly unknown anymore. With four interceptions in four games, he leads the Pacific 10 Conference and is tied for third in the nation.

Tennessee’s Deon Grant has six interceptions in four games and Alabama Birmingham’s Rodregis Brooks has five in four.

The Trojans’ other starting cornerback, Antuan Simmons, was second-team all-conference as a sophomore. Richard stepped in as a new starter after the departure of Daylon McCutcheon, and although he has had some interference calls, Richard definitely has had opportunities to make plays.

“I believe a lot of teams have respect for Antuan, and that’s because he’s a veteran and he’s made plays,” Richard said. “He’s shown people he can play. Right now, that’s what I’m in the process of doing.”

A redshirt sophomore, he has come a long way from the time a painful hamstring injury threatened to derail his career.

“I would be in excruciating pain. It was very difficult to deal with,” said Richard, a former track star who underwent hamstring surgery after his freshman year. “For a while, I didn’t think I’d be able to play football again, maybe.”