Diamond in the Rough: Daylon Richard

People from the smallest towns have the biggest dreams. They consciously decide what they want, work hard, and go after it. Most importantly, they remain humble and thankful for all opportunities—big or small. West St. Mary’s Daylon Richard is a perfect example of my aforementioned sentiments. Richard is a junior at West St. Mary, located in Baldwin Louisiana, and maintains a 3.4 gpa. Daylon stands 6’0” and weighs 156 pounds. He benches 160 lbs, squats 235 lbs, and dead-lifts 175 lbs. Richard is a versatile player as he holds the positions of wide receiver, corner back, punt return, and kick return on the Wolfpack’s roster. Daylon also plays basketball, baseball, and runs track. Do not allow numbers to deter you from recognizing talent; take a look at his Hudl:

http://www.hudl.com/profile/8224325/daylon-richard

When I asked Daylon why does he play football, his answer was “I play football because it’s helping me to become a responsible young man”. He further explained that he dreams to one day put his family in a better position economically by playing the sport he loves. Richard’s favorite football players are Dez Bryant and Patrick Peterson. I asked Daylon is there anyone he looks up to and he mentioned Jontrey Tillman. Tillman is another Baldwin native who originally signed with the University of Houston but went on to play for McNeese State; he completed 2 seasons with the Cowboys and now mentors Richard along with many other young athletes from his hometown area.

Richard plans to attend a college that not only tailors to his football career but also fits his academic aspirations as well. He wants to attend college to major in chemical engineering. Daylon’s future goals are to receive his doctorate’s degree, be inducted into the hall of fame, and own his own business. Believe me when I say, small town=big dreams.

As far as obstacles Richard has had to overcome, he stated “when I first started playing football, the only problem I had was I wasn’t the strongest. What I did have was natural talent and the mindset of an athlete. I worked hard to become better and better. If you visit my social media pages you can see exactly how hard I’ve worked to get where I am now. I’ve prayed to God for moments like this. I constantly thank him for giving me the ability to play sports because that is what I am passionate about”. That statement gave me the clarity I needed to understand why they call him the “Humble Beast”.

It was a pleasure interviewing Richard. I look forward to seeing what he and the Wolfpack accomplish this season! Good luck and sustain that humble but hungry personality, Daylon!

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