Southern Miss cap is a fit for PHS star

Five caps sat on the table during former Patterson High School football standout Dajon Richard’s signing ceremony at the school Thursday afternoon.
But among caps from UT-Martin, Central Arkansas, Southern University, McNeese and Southern Miss, only Southern Miss fit.
Richard returned to the Division 1 ranks as he signed with the Golden Eagles.
“It’s been a long time coming. ... It’s a blessing to be here today,” Richard said after the ceremony.
The PHS graduate originally signed with South Alabama as a high school senior in 2019, but he left South Alabama and attended Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi, where he sat out the 2019 season.
“I want to be on the field. They weren’t playing me like I was supposed to be playing,” said Richard, who described himself as a playmaker.
So he left and created a new path at Hinds Community College where he is set to graduate with an associate’s degree next month.
During the 2020 season, Richard made his mark for Hinds as he led the squad in rushing as a freshman. He carried the ball 72 times for 437 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.
He also had 14 receptions for 80 yards and returned two kickoffs for 44 yards.
Hinds finished the fall with a 3-1 mark.
At Southern Miss, he will join a Golden Eagles’ program that went 3-7 a year ago, including a 2-4 mark in Conference USA play.
He said he will play running back, in the slot and in the return game.
“That’s what I did in high school and at Hinds,” he said.
Ironically, Southern Miss will start the season with a game at South Alabama.
Richard left PHS after a decorated prep career on the gridiron.
He earned first-team All-District 8-3A honors as a senior at running back, he was a first-team selection as a junior at quarterback and he was a first-team pick as a sophomore at the athlete position.
He earned Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 3A honorable mention All-State recognition his junior and senior seasons.
During his senior year, he rushed for 1,783 yards and 22 touchdowns, passed for 131 yards, had 181 yards receiving and two touchdowns and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.
As a junior, Richard completed 24 of 51 passes for 447 yards with five touchdowns, rushed 156 times for 1,143 yards and 10 scores and hauled in 19 passes for 563 yards and six scores.
At Thursday’s signing ceremony, Richard had some help selecting the hat of his chosen school from the table as his 4-year-old cousin, Samuel Blair, reached for the proper hat, giving it to Richard.
Blair has been battling cancer and is about to “ring the bell soon,” Richard said.
“I felt like it was his time, too,” Richard said.
Richard said he met Blair while Richard was in high school and has been playing for him since.
Blair’s mother, Marchele Charles, said her son considers Dajon as a role model.
“He always checks on Samuel,” Charles said. “He comes and sees him when he comes to town, takes time out and spends time with him. He (Samuel) looks forward to that. He was so happy to come here today.”