2024 Interview with Solon DL/OG/TE/FB Sean Richardson

 

Sean Richardson

Solon High School
 
DL/OG/TE/FB

2025

5’11 200Lbs

With this being your final high school season, have you found yourself doing things differently than you have in the past?

Yes, of course. Being my last season, I have a lot of goals I want to accomplish, not just for myself but for my team. We have a lot to prove after last season, so that alone had to intensify, and me being a senior, it starts with me and the rest of my senior class.

How did your track season go? 

I went really well, developed better mental abilities doing track, and hit a couple nice PRs looking to do some damage in the suburban conference next year.

How long have you been in track and football? 

I’ve been playing football since I was 4, and track, which I started when I was young, took a very long break and started back up my sophomore year at Solon.

What are your goals for the 2024 football season? 

There are so many things I want to do this season, but to sum it up, I want to establish a culture of winning for this team and toughness and grit. We have a lot of young players that could really make this program take flight in the coming years, and me and the seniors want to make sure we can do the best we can, not just while we are here but for the future of Solon.

D-line or tight end, which side of the ball do you feel you are best at? 

I’m a very versatile player. I make great contributions on both sides of the ball, but I would have to say defense is definitely where I make my money.

Which side of the ball is the tougher of the two to prepare for? 

I would definitely have to say offense just because there are so many more alignments and different concepts. On defense, some, if not most of the time, it’s see-ball, get-ball.

What was the highlight of the 2023 season?

My highlight for the 2023 season was blocking the field goal against Mayfield, giving us the win 14-13. It was a great night on a Thursday in front of our fans—not too many feelings like it.

Solon went through a very tough 2023 season. What will the 2024 team have to change to make sure another tough season does not occur?

My guys understand how tough the 2023 season was, but this offseason we didn’t let that define us at all; we used it as motivation. Our guys are hungry—very hungry. All of us are ready to shock the world, and it’s going to get really exciting in Solon really quick. So to answer the question, we just have to keep going above and beyond, like we have. Coaches have been amazing at putting in all this time to get this thing together. The players know their plan, and we are definitely doing everything we can to execute the plan. Whether it's ultimately winning a conference title or winning the first playoff game in a couple years, there’s no doubt in my mind that we will do it.

Who is the toughest teammate to face in practice? 

This is my favorite question. I love going against all my teammates; each one of them has something different to give and for me to learn from, but the toughest, I would have to say, is CJ Burney. His work ethic is scary. He’s a competitor for sure, and just based on his mentality, I feel like he could be the toughest teammate on any team.

Which teammate is most likely to do something funny when things are a little tense? 

Ben Friedman Without a doubt, the definition of a captain now is that he can be serious and settle us down. Don’t get me wrong, but he never has to raise his voice to get things to calm down. He could say a dad joke, and just because of who he is and the type of energy he brings 

As an athlete, what has been your biggest moment?

As an athlete, my biggest moment was receiving my first offer. The offer really reflected all the hard work and dedication I put into this sport and gave me even more motivation to work harder because it’s not going unnoticed, and it cleared some of those unconfident thoughts in my head. I now know the kind of player I am, and I just hope to stay blessed and humble throughout this whole process.

Do you feel that private schools have an advantage over public schools? Explain

There’s always a recruiting factor that private schools have, and most private schools may have better facilities, but at the end of the day, football is football, and I’m a competitor, as I’ve always been. We all bleed the same; if they can do it, we can do it. It’s not like these schools are unbeatable; it’s all about what you make with what you get. So yeah, it may be an advantage, but that shouldn’t matter when you see them on your schedule; it’s you vs. that team and that alone.

What is your go-to snack? 

Nice box of cheeze itz

Have you ever gone to a Cleveland State basketball game? 

No, I haven’t. I'm excited to check one out, though!

Who are your role models?

I would have to say rapper J. Cole and defensive end Myles Garret