NATCHEZ — As Jackson State’s No. 83 made it to the end zone after an 87-yard reception late in the first half against Alcorn State to give the Tigers a 31-0 lead the excitement of the moment took over, and he hurled the ball deep into the stadium seats at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium.

A 15-yard penalty was the immediate result, but the touchdown, and the celebration, actually served as the culmination of a brilliant junior season for Jackson State wide receiver, and Natchez native, Rico Richardson.

“I want to say (the touchdown) in the Alcorn game (was the highlight of the season),” Richardson said. “Being in front of the home crowd where everybody knows me and going 87-yards, and then I threw the ball in the stands. That was the biggest play for me.”

Richardson’s 37 catches for 896 yards and 11 touchdowns earned him Second Team All-SWAC honors this season.

“I thought I had great success this season,” he said. “I worked hard this summer. I did a lot of running and just did a lot of work. I guess all the hard work paid off.”

Along with hard work in the weight room, Richardson also spent extra time after practices working with First-Team All-SWAC quarterback Casey Therriault, he said.

“Therriault is a great quarterback,” Richardson said. “He found guys when they were open and always made big plays.”

The Tigers’ record-breaking offense led them to a 9-2 record this season.

Richardson graduated from Natchez High in 2009. As a member of the Bulldog football team he set records as a wide receiver and was named to the All-Region, All-Metro and All-State teams. He also won a state championship in the triple jump while at Natchez High.

He started his collegiate football career at Jackson State in the fall of 2009, and his production has increased each season for the Tigers.

“I think I’m having a great career,” he said. “Every year since my freshman year I have progressed farther and farther and worked harder and harder.”

Richardson said he still comes back to Natchez when he can, and he often reminisces about his high school glory days.

“I miss those days (at Natchez),” he said. “I wish I could do it all over again. I loved playing with my fellow teammates. I’d do anything to go back to those days and play.”

Richardson said one moment of his high school career that sticks out is when the Bulldogs made it to the playoffs and defeated Petal in the first round his senior season.

“That was the best game of my life. I enjoyed that year,” he said.

Richardson said he continues to keep in touch with current Natchez players.

“I come home every chance I get, like on bye weeks, to try to see Natchez High play,” he said. “I see (the players) all the time and call them to tell them to keep their heads in the books.”

Richardson said he is studying education at Jackson State and wants to become a teacher and a coach after he graduates in May of 2013.

Until then he hopes to continue to improve as a wide out for the Tigers.

“I expect to be the No. 1 receiver and want to go out with this last year and break records,” he said. “I want to get over 1,000 yards.”

Richardson said the two players that made First-Team All-SWAC this season are seniors, and he expects to be preseason First-Team before the 2012 season. He said if that were the case he would use those high expectations to fuel his season.

“It’s going to kind of motivate me. They expect a lot, so I want to show them what I can do.”