Speed receiver: Once overlooked, track star emerges as Utes' go-to guy

By now, Derrek Richards should be getting his name spelled right.

It's Derrek with two Rs.

For most of his life, Richards has had his first name spelled wrong, but now that he's thrust himself into the local sports spotlight as the Utah football team's top receiver, people are going to remember his name.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound junior is leading the team with 15 receptions for 189 yards and has scored three touchdowns, which also leads the Utes, who head to San Diego this week to begin Mountain West Conference play.

Initially known for his blazing speed, Richards has already made several spectacular catches, including one late in the first half against Utah State in the corner of the end zone, where he stretched out to snag the ball while keeping his toes barely in the end zone.

"I've always been a sprinter — I was just born fast, I guess," Richards said. "Our coaches have us do a lot of route running and practice in catching the ball. I've definitely seen an improvement in catching the ball."

Richards is another in a long line of walk-on players who has become a mainstay for the Ute football team.

He came out of American Fork High, where he was known more for his track exploits than football. He was second in the state in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes, but had no one knocking at his door to play football.

Nobody, that's right, nobody recruited Richards out of high school. Not even local junior colleges, Snow College and Dixie State, where he sent tapes in hopes of getting a look.

Richards hardly played as a sophomore and junior in high school before finally starting his senior year and scoring 12 touchdowns. He wasn't named to any all-state teams, but longtime American Fork coach Davis Knight contacted Whittingham and urged him to give Richards a look.

"He showed up here and he wasn't very big, about 158 pounds," recalls Whittingham. "But his work ethic was very apparent from Day One. He's a competitive, tough kid — those are the two words that describe him best."

He also had speed, 4.4 40-yard dash speed and was one of the team's fastest players from the day he stepped on campus. Last year, he was No. 1 in the 40, but was surpassed by cornerback Brice McCain, who ran a 4.32 last spring.