BOULDER — Paul Richardson, already an amateur expert on knee injuries, remembers his first thought as he laid on the Colorado practice field turf Monday. He had spent the last half of last season hobbling around with a torn MCL. He knew the feeling. This time it was worse.
So was his first thought.
“I hope I didn’t tear my ACL,” he said.
Sound diagnosis, Dr. Richardson. He was right. Thursday he had only a slight limp and a light black wrap around his left knee. It all masked the severity of an ACL injury that will knock the junior receiver from the 2012 season.
Cynics could say it knocks Colorado from the 2012 season, too. In second-year coach Jon Embree’s continued rebuilding plan, Richardson merely represented 85 percent of the returning offensive production.
“I’m pretty bummed,” Richardson said Thursday. “I already told the guys they have to step up. After I have my surgery (Monday) and am on the road to recovery I’ll make sure I’ll stay near and be on top of them.”
Richardson not only was Colorado’s best returning offensive threat, he was having a great spring. He showed the country his massive potential with school records of 11 catches and 284 yards against California. Combined with inconsistency and his MCL he finished with a relatively modest 39 catches for 555 yards and five touchdowns.
This spring, which ends with Saturday’s spring game at 5 p.m. at Folsom Field, Richardson has taken it to another level the 3-9 Buffaloes would like to reach.
“He had an OK year,” Embree said. “What you saw was what he was capable of and this spring he was consistent in what he was capable of. He has turned the corner in every phase of his life.”
Colorado already had to find a new starting quarterback, a new starting tailback and another deep threat to take pressure off Richardson. Sophomore Connor Wood, the transfer from Texas, appears to have the inside track on the quarterback job and now is throwing to receivers with almost as little experience as he has.
“I feel I would’ve brought a lot to the table, especially with us not having a set quarterback position — yet,” Richardson said. “I feel I would’ve given whoever was going to be the new quarterback a good effort both down field and in the quick game. Hopefully, that doesn’t cripple us.”
For the record, Colorado’s next most productive wideout last year was Keenan Canty, who’s back after catching all of 14 passes for 161 yards. This is one reason insiders’ highest hopes right now lie with — and we’re not making this up — a true freshman.
Nelson Spruce, a PrepStar All-American from Westlake High in Westlake Village, Calif., is opening eyes this spring as an early arrival.
“He has a different skill set,” Richardson said. “He’s a good athlete. He works hard. He makes plays. He makes catches in the middle of the field in the outfield, going under coverages, across coverages. He’s just a good all-around athlete. He’ll definitely be one of those guys to step up.”
As Embree alluded, the good news for Richardson is his non-football life will continue upward. By sitting out next year and with two more seasons to play, graduation will be as easy as an out pattern.
He’s on pace to graduate in December 2013 but said he’ll likely spread the workload. Another positive: perspective on injuries.
“Fortunately, I can come back from mine but for those who can’t come back, we need these degrees to fall on because without degrees those people are working in fast food,” he said. “You need degrees on top of degrees nowadays.”
John Henderson: 303-954-1299, or jhenderson@denverpost.com
