No doubt, each year the wide receiver position in the state is stacked with sleepers who go well into their senior year under the radar, but king among those receivers has to be Arabia Mountain’s Alex Richard.
The 6’2″ 195 lbs. senior has been a standout in 2023 for the 7-1 team in 5A. Richard provides a redzone threat that teams have struggled to stop considering his great athleticism and physicality.
“Senior year is going absolutely great for me and my team it’s been the best year of football I’ve had since little league,” Richard said.
He then talked about his goals for the remainder of the season.
“The biggest goal I have for the rest of the season is to perfect my craft get better every week and bring home the region championship.”
All roads are leading to a Region Championship matchup against Tucker on 11/3. Both teams are undefeated with one more matchup ahead tonight before their paths cross.
Arabia Mountain’s surge into the upper echelon of teams in 5A might have surprised some pundits, but this has been a process in the making with their relatively new staff under head coach Julian Washington. The progression across the board is apparent.
“I’d say the biggest part of my game that I improved would be my speed and my ability to showcase my blocking and route running and just slowing the game down,” he said.
Richard’s release upfield stands out immediately. He effortlessly explodes and within a short few strides, he already has an advantage. His ability to play the football up top though is by far his greatest skill and you routinely see Richard high-point over the defender.
His catch last week as he toe-tapped the endzone earned him one of the top plays of the week and really showcased his great hand-eye coordination. Richard clearly relishes the opportunity to high-point a pass over a defensive back.
“My mindset on the field is to “WIN THE REP” as my coach would say and to not let it be my fault that the play didn’t work,” he said.
On the recruiting front, Richard is encouraged about the progress being made after a slow start. With a 3.5 GPA, a great frame, and an impressive catch radius to react to the football, it’s hard to imagine D1 programs ignoring the obvious upside of Richard.
The senior made a point to say that he wanted to thank everyone in the community who voted for him for play of the week. No doubt, a humble athlete who seems to crave the opportunity to excel, and we think in due time his recruitment will catch up to the talent that we see on the field.
For now, we wait, and watch Arabia Mountain continue to shock the rest of 5A. We are sure recruiting news will soon follow, so be sure to follow @RecruitGeorgia on Twitter/X to hear the latest on Richard and everything else Georgia high school football.
An amazing young man!!! Keep watching !!! Great article. Very well deserved