Football | 9/7/2015 1:28:00 PM
Moon Township, Pa. – Sophomore
Ryan Richards Jr. of the
Robert Morris University football team was named Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week as announced by the league Monday.
This announcement marks Richards' first weekly accolade in the NEC's defensive category. However, Richards actually is being honored for the second straight league release as he earned a weekly rookie honor in the final release of 2014.
The sophomore grabbed a pair of interceptions in the season opener against Dayton while adding six tackles, including a half tackle for loss, and a pass breakup. Richards' first pick of the day helped set the Colonial offense up with golden field position, which it promptly took advantage of with a touchdown. His second pick of the second quarter came just six yards from the end zone he was defending and helped halt a Dayton drive. Richards, who returned his two picks a combined 27 yards, added a pass breakup on a deep third down pass, which forced Dayton into a punt.
Richards was part of a Colonial defense that held Dayton to 20 points and one scoring drive longer than 50 yards. RMU held the Flyers to under 300 yards total offense and limited the fifth-leading rusher in FCS from a year ago to just 2.2 yards per carry.
Richards became the 18th distinct Colonial to grab multiple picks in a contest with his effort against the Flyers, and it is also the second straight season opener in which a Colonial achieved that feat.
Richards, who led all RMU true freshmen with 40 tackles in 2014, now owns three interceptions in his career.
Richards is the 24th distinct Colonial to be honored in the NEC's defensive player category. Those 24 honorees have combined for 40 total defensive awards.
Robert Morris will play its road opener this Saturday, Sept. 12, as it faces nationally ranked Youngstown State in head coach Bo Pelini's home opener.
