On Saturday, Sept. 28, senior Jayden Richards announced his commitment to the Franklin & Marshall football team. With a strong connection to the Franklin & Marshall program, the 5’9” 180 pound running back decided it would be the best fit for him as a player and a student.
“One of my main things I was looking for at a college was, if I could get a good education and still play great football,” Richards told The Fanscotian. “I took a visit to [Franklin & Marshall] and talked to professors and the head coach and it was a good match for me.”
Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Franklin & Marshall College is a private liberal arts school named after founding fathers Benjamin Franklin and John Marshall. The Franklin & Marshall Diplomats compete in the Centennial Conference at the Division III level against the likes of Dickinson, Lebanon Valley and John Hopkins. Richards hopes to etch his names into the record books in collegiate football and make his impact known throughout the country.
“Hopefully, [I will] break the rushing record, it’s pretty high, but I think I can do it,” Richards said.
With the combination of his skills to weave in and out of runners and his overall physicality, Richards has been a major asset to the Scotch Plains-Fanwood football team throughout his junior and senior year. After transferring to SPF from Don Bosco Preparatory School in the beginning of his junior year, Richards was able to participate in some of SPF’s games late in the season.
He immediately made an impact, scoring two rushing touchdowns in a 39-0 win against John F. Kennedy Memorial and providing the Raiders with a new look in their offense. He made the most of his two-game shortened junior season, rushing for 370 yards with five touchdowns. Richards picked up right where he left off at the end of this solid season, already reaching the end zone four times through four games so far this season.
By having around 20 carries per game, Richards has amassed over 100 total rushing yards in three out of the four games this season, including a 191 yard performance with two touchdowns against New Brunswick.
“I will probably miss the people in the student section, they get loud,” Richards said. “I will also miss the coaches.”
Richards’ impact on the Raider squad is always imminent in game, making teams have to prepare for a strong opposing rushing game with him and other strong backs like TJ Rasberry and John Boyle.
Although it is still a long way ahead, Richards has hopes of making it past college football, and making his mark on the game of football even larger.
“[After Franklin & Marshall] hopefully I can go to training camp and see what happens [beyond collegiate football],” Richards said.
