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Oklahoma State Football

Dominic Richardson Is Set for Primary Role in 2022

April 6, 2022
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STILLWATER – With Oklahoma State’s bell cow running back last season, Jaylen Warren, headed towards a professional career, the running back room is going to have a bit of a different look in 2022, both on and off the field.

On the field starts with the loss of production.

The 2021-22 season was an exciting one for the Pokes because of a breakout performance by Warren, as he posted 1,216 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Off the field is the loss of leadership from Warren.

Now, both on and off the field responsibilities fall to junior Dominic Richardson, who’s been solid during his limited time on the field since arriving in Stillwater prior to the 2020 season.

In his two seasons, he’s rushed for 596 yards and seven touchdowns, including a monster game against Baylor in 2020 where he posted 169 yards and three touchdowns. In fact, his performance against the Bears is second only to Thurman Thomas as a true freshman, as Thomas posted 206 yards against K-State in 1984.

“He understands the type of back he is,” Gundy said. “He’s a power back, and he’s going to run through arm tackles and drop his pads and protect the football and grind. He’s gonna grind yards out. And he’s done well out here this spring. He’ll have his hands full in the first game. He’s got to get ready to go.”

A part of getting ready to go on the field is becoming a leader off it as well. With Warren and LD Brown gone, as well as Dez Jackson to the transfer portal, Richardson is now the oldest in the room. Despite it being a bit of a change, Richardson has had some great leaders to learn from the past few seasons.

"It's different, for sure,” Richardson said. “Being the leader of the group, it's a big difference but I just try to be like Chuba, LD, Jaylen, I learned from them. I learned a lot from them actually and just being that leader and just showing [younger players] what's right and wrong. To be that leader to them, that means a lot to me."

Behind Richardson is Jaden Nixon, Zach Middleton and freshmen Ollie Gordon and CJ Brown.

"Just working hard every day at practice,” Richardson said of being a mentor. “And after practice, going home and getting homework out of the way, taking the time to watch film and study my plays and just do extra work so I know I'm on top of my game so I can teach them and not tell them the wrong answer. Just that extra time and extra work, you've just got to make time for it."

Certainly, the maturity, both physically and mentally is really going to help Dom out this upcoming season. But as Gundy said, there’s still a lot to get ready before game one against Central Michigan on Sept. 1. We’ll see if Richardson is able to put it all together.

 

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Dominic Richardson Is Set for Primary Role in 2022

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