NCCU coach blasts all-star game coaches over NFL prospect QB Davius Richard’s ankle injury
N.C. Central’s Davius Richard had dreams, and realistic hopes, of being the first HBCU quarterback selected in the NFL Draft since 2006.
Those hopes diminished Saturday when Richard suffered a dislocated right ankle while scoring a touchdown in the HBCU Legacy Bowl all-star game in New Orleans.
Seeing his former player hurt caused NCCU coach Trei Oliver to blast the game’s coaching staff in a post on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter.
“I promise he would not have played if I knew that those dumbass coaches were going to run him!,” Oliver wrote. “He should never have left the pocket, you want to run hand it off the those all-American backs. Make it make sense.”
Later, Oliver posted another message apologizing for his language but maintaining his anger the situation.
“I support the Legacy Bowl and the opportunities it creates,” Oliver said. “However, coaches have to do what they can to protect the players.”
Richard’s injury was a sad end to what had been a promising week at the all-star event, which was developed in 2022 to help get players from historically black colleges and universities more exposure to NFL scouts. The 6-2, 225-pound Richard ran an impressive 4.5 time in the 40 yard dash at the NFL HBCU Combine earlier in the week.
On the first drive of the all-star game at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium, Richard led his team inside the opponent’s 5-yard line by completing two passes for 52 yards. On a play from the 4, Richard took a shotgun snap and ran left before cutting up the field on the artificial turf to plunge into the end zone. But that’s when he was tackled as he scored, with his right leg twisting to cause the injury.
His leg was placed into an air cast before he was carted off the field, waving to the cheering crowd as he departed.
His recovery time could be between 4-6 months, which will prevent him from working out before more NFL scouts prior to the April 25-27 draft.
Richard played for Team Gaither at the Legacy Bowl, which was coached by Howard’s Larry Scott and Virginia Union’s Alvin Parker. Oliver said game organizers told the coaching staff not to call running plays for Richard due to injury concerns.
“On Friday, I sat with the offensive staff and asked them not to run him as well,” Oliver said. “For whatever reason, the play was called.”
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s offensive player of the year the last two seasons at NCCU, Richard completed 60.8% of his passes last season for 2,177 yards and 21 touchdowns against four interceptions. As a runner, he scored 18 touchdowns while gaining 630 yards on 117 carries (5.4 yards per carry).
Charles Davis, an NFL.com analyst, called Richard the “clearly the best player in attendance” at the HBCU Combine and all-star game.
“Richard offers good size, strong leadership ability and outstanding production,” Davis wrote in his report on NFL.com. “I thought he got better every day of the week in New Orleans. He has a good arm and he can make plays with his legs.”
While Super Bowl-winning quarterback Doug Williams from Grambling State and former NFL most valuable player Steve McNair of Alcorn State are previous examples, the last HBCU quarterback taken in the NFL Draft was Tavaris Jackson of Alabama State in 2006.
Despite Richard’s injury, Oliver said he maintains confidence his former player can play in the NFL.
“This is a minor setback for Davius,” Oliver said. “He is a warrior and will bounce back.”
This story was originally published February 27, 2024 at 3:22 PM.