KFBCA Top 11: Tre Richardson

The Kansas Football Coaches Association picked their All-State teams on December 4th and 5th, including the All-Class Top 11. Kansas Pregame is providing capsules for each of the Top 11 selections. Check out Highland Park running back Tre Richardson's capsule below, the sixth of the KFBCA Top 11 capsules for 2022.

Tre Richardson, RB/KR/PR, 5-10, 168, Highland Park

The Highland Park Scots managed to surpass their cumulative win total from 2011-2021 with their 6-3 finish this fall. The Scots undoubtedly benefited from the coaching of Jermaine Monroe, a roster full of players willing to buy in, and a switch from the 6A-dominated Centennial League to the Meadowlark Conference.

However, there’s also no doubt that Tre Richardson, one of the most dynamic all-around athletes in the state, played a massive role in the team’s improved fortunes.

“Tre’s elusiveness on the football field is by far the best I've coached or coached against in my 15 seasons,” Monroe said. “His ability to cut while keeping top speed makes him special.”

Standing at 5-10 and weighing 168 pounds, Richardson utilized his blistering 4.34 40 speed, incredible lateral quickness, and unmatched field vision to expose defenders.

After recording 1,674 all-purpose yards in six games as a junior, the senior playmaker went on to destroy that total with 4,055 all-purpose yards in 2022, including 1,964 yards and 27 on 96 carries (20.5 ypc), 1,079 receiving yards and 15 TDs on 40 receptions, 144 passing yards and three TDs on 6/7 passing, 19 returns for 868 yards and eight touchdowns. Including his passing touchdowns, he scored 53 total TDs on the season.

“I was once the defensive coordinator at Topeka West,” Monroe said. “I coached against Highland Park and Tre during his sophomore year. I remember telling our staff, ‘If I was his head coach, I would move him and use him at multiple positions.’" Well, that's exactly what I did! I feel with his elusiveness and ability to turn a simple bubble screen into an 85-yard TD, he is easily any defensive coordinator's worst nightmare.”

Serving as the cutting edge of an offense that averaged just under 57 points per game, Richardson was indeed a problem for defensive coordinators all season long. Though the Scots were upset in the first round of the 5A playoffs by Emporia, it was not due to lack of scoring by their offense.

Richardson had eight carries for 249 yards and three TDs, seven receptions for 114 yards and two TDs, and also returned a kick for a score, but the Scots lost the game 83-64.

“Incredibly explosive player,” Emporia head coach Keaton Tuttle said. “We knew he was going to get his yards, and even scores, was just trying to slow him down some, which was still a very tall order. He has the ability to create something out of nothing, and is a threat for the big play every time he touches the ball. He has change of direction and quickness that is rarely seen. With that speed and explosion, could be very, very successful at the next level.”

In addition to his preseason selection to the Kansas Pregame cover, after completing his senior season, Richardson took home Meadowlark Conference Offensive Player of the Year, TopSports.news Offensive Player of the Year, Sport in Kansas Special Teams Player of the Year, along with appearances on a multitude of other all-state and all-league teams.

While Richardson made the decision to decommit from New Mexico State he continues to weigh offers from South Dakota State, FHSU, Emporia State, Pitt State, Missouri Southern, Central Missouri, Butler, Hutch and others.

The All-Stater’s performance also holds up in the classroom where he carries a 4.068 GPA, and he’s a star on the basketball court and the track as well, but coach Monroe also really applauded his seniors emergence as a leader.

“Tre is very smart, but also a quiet guy by nature,” Monroe said. “He really stepped up this season, not only on the field, but vocally as one of our captains. He was also incredibly supportive to our younger players and invested in their football success.”