Nu’Keese Richardson might be frustrated.
But apparently not enough to leave Tennessee.
Warning flags went up immediately after the highly touted freshman receiver missed practice on Sunday afternoon amid rumors he wasn’t pleased with his role with the Vols, but coach Lane Kiffin took them down on Tuesday. Richardson might still be sorting through some personal issues, but there are no plans for him to deal with them anywhere than UT heading into Saturday’s game with Memphis (TV: ESPNU, 7 p.m.).
“There is no situation,” Kiffin said. “Nu’Keese was dealing with some issues Sunday, some personal issues. But Nu’Keese was in yesterday and everything is fine.”
Kiffin’s vague explanation of Richardson’s absence over the weekend seemed to indicate things were far less than fine over the weekend.
Richardson hasn’t had nearly as big of an impact as he or the Vols (4-4, 2-3 SEC) might have liked through eight games, but despite only getting one touch against South Carolina last Saturday, there was no discussion of him transferring with Kiffin.
“He’s a little bit frustrated, like a lot of freshmen around the country are, especially when you’re potentially a really great player and you’ve had great success in high school. You come in and things are different in college than high school. Nu’Keese will continue to develop, we’ll continue to work with him and eventually he’ll be a great player.”
That process doesn’t typically happen overnight, but it’s perhaps been more difficult than Richardson anticipated.
He’s been a non-factor in the passing game with just five catches for 48 yards, the Wildcat package installed to take advantage of his speed has only yielded one explosive play and his ability to field punts has been spotty at best.
But even with such great expectations for Richardson, UT also anticipated some rough patches in putting him on the field so quickly. He won’t be the last player to have a hard time with the adjustment either, and though his role has been limited lately, the Vols certainly aren’t giving up on him.
“I think he’s frustrated in general,” Kiffin said. “There are a lot of freshmen around the country that want to come in and do well right away, and Nu’Keese has struggled a little bit. He’s got to continue to develop, work on the little things, be more consistent in practice and eventually be a great player here.
“We have extremely high expectations for all of our players, especially our freshmen as they get here. I think all of our freshmen when they get here are going to freshmen all-Americans and going to be great players for us. He’s made a few plays for us, we haven’t given him a ton of opportunities, but he’s got to be more consistent in practice and do things better. He realizes that, and this will be a big week of practice for him.”
It started one day later for him than the rest of the team, but Richardson is back in the fold after an absence on Sunday that was never completely explained.
Whether or not he was homesick, upset with his performance, worried about his role on the team or anything else, the Vols aren’t sweating the details. Most of them have been there before anyway.
“I mean, me personally, I really don’t know what’s going on,” defensive tackle Dan Williams said. “Just as a player, everybody goes through something when they first come to school. I mean, everybody.
“I’m a fifth-year senior now and I’ve been through a lot, and there are a lot of things guys don’t see that’s off the field, behind the scenes, so I kind of understand. Coach and him will talk about it and they’ll work through it. For the most part, it’s nothing new . . . but I think it’s nothing too big. Coach and Nu’Keese will work it out.”
The Vols also aren’t expecting that relationship to end anytime soon.
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Comments » 123
mcever writes:
That's great news... so what was the "we are dealing with an issue with Richardson"?
Vol86 writes:
I guess the issue is the dumb rumors posted on here.
roobomb writes:
That's a bit of a change from yesterday when everyone was pretty sure he was leaving...
423tiger18 writes:
That's great, Nuke is a good player but I believe he will be a GREAT player for us.
Brillovol writes:
Very good news. I would hate to see one of the ones Kiffin recruited leave, especially with the whole Pahokee fiasco. If we went through all that mud-slinging just to see the player leave, it would be a black eye.
NeylandWest writes:
Of course there's no issue. When your options are La Tech, Howard, Tn State or FIU, you suddenly get over your homesickness.
tennesseebee writes:
Great! Maybe teague's REAL issue will provide an opportunity for Keese. I hope, though, that Marcelous gets his issue resolved. Get well soon #10, we need you.
jakethevolguy writes:
Just what I was thinking, Brillo. I'm glad everything is good with Nuke. Now, how about the other receiver from Phokee that visited this weekend? Any word on him being a VOL? GBO Beat Mempus!!
michealgibson21#260794 writes:
Patience is a virtue.
NeylandWest writes:
Marsalous Teage and Marsalous Johnson are 2 different people. #10 isn't the one that had thumb surgery - he's our loyal freshman WR. Johnson is a DB that we really need to get healed up, soon!
NeylandWest writes:
And before the spelling bee police bust me, I realize I spelled Teague incorrectly.
chad_t31 writes:
Nu'Keese's breakout game could very well be this Saturday. Confidence builder would be huge at this point.
berryballer writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
volqueen24#447506 writes:
No there was an issue with NuKeese, you could tell by his facebook status postings. Evidently it is resolved and there is no longer and issue.
GoVols2009 writes:
It said marcelous Johnson, not Teaque.
Bloodrunzorange writes:
Good news! Nuke...take one to the HOUSE against Tiger High! Go Vols and Go CLK!
topgun writes:
Just watched the news conference on CSS. CLK said they talked and that Nu'Keese was frustrated with his production and playing time. CLK said there never was any mention of leaving the team. Also, CLK said he talked with Nu'Keese about better production in practice, etc. and that, as a freshman, he needs to be patient--his time was coming and he will be a great player for the VOLS, etc., etc. Make a lot of money at the next level...& so on.
GOVOLS!! VOLS win out!!
joshvols writes:
what issue is teague having?
NeylandWest writes:
I heard that Urban is still texting him and hasn't stopped since that fateful day last February
HallowedHill writes:
Nu'Keese - your time will come. Keep hitting the weights and check out some film on Percy Harvin -CLK won't lead you astray.
FearTheVols1252 writes:
No kidding! If he can make Crompton actually look like an SEC QB... just imagine the possibilities!!!
Volunatic writes:
Your coworkers have been complaining. Stay away from the unroasted almonds next time.
Volunatic writes:
I don't doubt that some highly-rated QBs are taking notice of that as well.
finn writes:
Keep with it, Nuke. You've got the potential to really make an impact with UT.
VolunteerLifer writes:
I hope Marsalous is back soon. We really need him. He appeared to be an important player in the SC win last saturday.
As far as Nukeese, he just has to realize that he is not a very good player at this level yet. He looks terrible trying to field punts, and he hasn't learned the art of being a good receiver yet. (Besides, is it just me, or does he appear to not be as fast as advertised?) So he shouldn't be complaining about his role. He needs to dedicate himself to doing the things the coaches tell him to do so he can improve. His time will come if he just works hard and sticks with it.
MoralVictory writes:
I hear the're holding "Free Nu'Keese" rallies in Pahokee and Coach Kiffin has been trained in Scientology kidnap and brainwash tactics.
halloffamebowler writes:
After the Lane Kiffin press conference today,the commentators were talking about how Richardson was a star in high school while playing against 1 or 2 division 1 prospects.Now that he is playing college ball,he is faceing 11 division 1 players.He is no longer the star he is use to being and he has issues with that.He thinks he should be playing most every snap.They also talked about him not being a good practice player and referenced him not showing up for practice Sunday.Practice time equates into game time or non game time.In other words,Richardson came here thinking he would be the best reciever without working for that right and is now crying about playing time.He can and likely will be a solid player if and when he gets his head on straight and proves to this staff that he truly is the man.I hope and believe he will respond positively in the future.There is a world of difference from one level to the next. The sooner he accepts that,the better he will be.Reason such as these are why I do not put too much stock in the stars a recruit has when he inks a lol.I had some of the same problems when I quit bowling for fun and started bowling for a liveing.A whole different world.Come on Richardson,this is one Vol fan wishing you the very best.
MoralVictory writes:
I just called 911 and asked for a wrecker strong enough to "lift the bus off Nu'keese" dropped on him by the loyal UT fans who thought he was AWOL or leaving.
keepitreal4vols writes:
I hear crickets. Comedy is a tough gig.
MoralVictory writes:
Nu'keese? competition? Listen the young man played in FLORIDA where there really is competition at ALL levels. Your analysis is wrong.
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
Opportunities don't fall into your lap, and then just miraculously work themselves out. He's gotta find his chance, and (to borrow from a husky former coach) work like heck to make the most of it.
jet writes:
I think the problem is with Marcelous Johnson, not Teague.
The1 writes:
Two words of advice to consider Nu'Keese: Patience and Persistence.
jet writes:
This news kind of like coitus interruptus for you Flawdah and Obama ducks????
arlvol writes:
And dont forget everyones favorite joke school, Tiger High!
Mr_Brownstone writes:
urban is still texting Nu'Keese; true dat
lastlap writes:
Lil Crying Jimmy just reported Richardson was wearing a black jersey against usce. The weather man was late and wrong again. As usual. Go figure.
Voluvr writes:
Home sick.
jet writes:
Why are your throwing a temper tantrum??? Your posts are irrelevant and juvenile.
sadvol writes:
You're disregard for proper spelling leaves me no choice but to suspend you for three games. I have consulted with Corch Meyer, the SEC office and Slime... they concur.
Mr_Brownstone writes:
top two lines heard at u of felons; don't gouge me bro. don't taze me bro.
Gator_Hater (Inactive) writes:
He'll be fine. The vets like Hardesty and Reveiz probably took him aside and explained he needs to be patient and good things will come. Personally I think with an off-season or two he'll add another 10-15 pounds, lock down route running, and be able to beat the press. When that happens, look out!
GR82BaTennesseeVOL writes:
Of course, QB prospects still face a potentially difficult decision: how could they resist the urge to go to Notre Dame where Charlie Weiss can make a highly-touted, supposedly All-World QB look like a sub-par C-USA or Sun Belt QB for 3 years...?
GR82BaTennesseeVOL writes:
Thank you for your valuable contribution to this thread.
Now we all know what Nu'keese's REAL issue was.
SEAL_9821 writes:
No. Anyone who has watched the kid run his routes and field punts up to this point can see he has not been very productive. He's not running routes precise like a great reciever should nor does he run hard with the ball. Too much dancing and not enough north and south running. However, he is young and it takes time to develop into an all SEC caliber player like he can be. I would tell him this if he was reading this message...Nuke you gotta give it time. Your size is not the best right now and your not as fast as you can be on the field. Get hungry and use this a motivational tool this offseason and prove to us why we wanted you so bad.
golfballs03 writes:
Let Nu'Keese kick the extra point attempts
FWBVol writes:
A lot of us Tennessee fans live in Florida and know all about the competition level in the different classifications.
I have been at a high school football game in Florida all but one or two Friday nights for the last nine years. And some weeks I've seen games on Thursday and Friday.
I grew up in Northwest Florida and played high school ball here when the Gators were still trying to find an identity in the SEC. I doubt if you can tell me too much about the talent level in the different classifications in Florida.
I agree that there is competition in every classification in the state, but the overall talent pool isn't as deep in some of the smaller classifications such as Class 2B that Pahokee plays in.
A lot of kids playing 5A and 6A ball in Florida, and other states, have a tough time adjusting to the SEC, ACC, Big 12 etc. But the kids from the big schools have faced a higher level of competition throughout their high school careers.
I have no doubt Richardson will be a great player, but no matter how you slice it Class 2B in Florida isn't the University of Tennessee or the SEC and this is probably the first time Richardson hasn't been the best player on the field.
luvorange writes:
Nuke, glad you not leaving like the rumors suggested. People around like ya and want you to succeed. Give it time, keep workin... startin with Tiger High.
mtnsvol44 writes:
Is this similar to a newly hired, egotistical, pompus a@@ed, employee wanting to be president of a company the first year?
mcever writes:
Holy hell... you're STILL here? I've never seen a troll with such a lack of life, congrats on the achievement, but do me a favor and get laid or something, I mean... I don't have the time to go on the Gator's website and constantly read their every article and comment every one negatively, I mean, whats the point? But hey, waste your time, it'll make it that much harder for you to eat the crow for the next few years.
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