ERIE, Pa. - Gannon’s
Jon Richardson (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding) has been selected to play in the 2010 Valero Cactus Bowl scheduled for Friday, January 8 at Javelina Stadium on the campus of Texas A&M-Kingsville.
The annual NCAA Division II Senior All-Star game was originally known as the Snow Bowl and played in Fargo, North Dakota from 1994 through 2000. In 2001, the Snow Bowl was renamed the Cactus Bowl and moved to Kingsville, Texas. The players spend the week practicing in front of NFL scouts and coaches. There have been over 100 players signed by NFL teams after playing in the Cactus Bowl.
Richardson is a three-time all-conference selection, being named to the All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division first team as a senior. The senior tailback rushed for 943 yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging 4.8 yards per carry during the 2009 campaign. In addition, he caught 22 passes for 145 yards and averaged 29 yards on two kickoff returns. In all, he produced 104.2 all-purpose yards per game.
The Warren, Ohio native ranked second among PSAC players in points per game (8.7), third in rushing yards per game (85.7) and sixth in all-purpose yards per game. He finished 18th among all NCAA Division II players in scoring and 42nd in rushing.
“This is a very deserving honor for Jon,” said Gannon head coach Jim Kiernan. “Jon had a great collegiate career and has been a tremendously hard worker. It’s great to see him reap the benefits, be recognized as one of the best players in NCAA Division II and have the chance to perform in front of the professional scouts.”
Richardson concluded an unbelievable collegiate career as Gannon’s all-time leader in all-purpose yards (3,891) and points (222). He ranks third all-time at Gannon in rushing yards (2,790), third in 100-yard rushing games (12), fifth in receptions (97), sixth in total offense (2,790) and eighth in receiving yards (716).
There will be seven American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-Americans and three Harlon Hill Trophy finalists playing in the Cactus Bowl. Richardson is one of 12 senior standouts from the PSAC participating in the all-star game.
Gannon has been represented in each of the last two Cactus Bowls. Defensive lineman Chris Murphy recorded three tackles in the 2009 all-star game. “Two Cactus Bowl selections in the last two years show what direction our program is headed,” noted Kiernan. “I believe it shows what type of student-athlete we have at Gannon. It proves that student-athletes can come to a University with high academic standards, get their academic degrees and still pursue their professional athletic dreams.”
Five Golden Knights have been selected to play in the annual all-star game. John Blanks and Mike Palermo were the first two Gannon student-athletes to participate in 1994 while David Levens played in 1995.
Gannon finished the 2009 season with four consecutive victories and a 6-5 record. The Golden Knights recorded their first winning season since 2003 by knocking off 19th-ranked Bloomsburg in the season finale.
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