One of the top HBCU quarterbacks in recent memory is ready to start the next chapter of his football life, even if the previous one ended far too soon.
Davius Richard, the 2023 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year for North Carolina Central, has returned to Durham to serve as the Eagles’ quarterback coach, following the end of his playing career.
Richard, who led the Eagles to the Celebration Bowl championship in 2022, suffered a horrific ankle injury in the HBCU Bowl in January of 2024. Current NC Central coach Trei Oliver criticized coaches involved in calling the play that led to injury.
Richard later signed a contract with the United Football League’s Houston Roughnecks. The stint on the team was brief as he was released and then officially retired from active competition.
Prayers for Davius Richard. Injured on his touchdown run. @HBCULegacyBowl @hbculegends pic.twitter.com/OpVfOYcDUa
— HBCU LEGENDS (@hbculegends) February 24, 2024
“Obviously, it forced me to medically retire due to the damage, but I look at it on the bright side. I feel God, and I try not to question God as much as possible,” Richard told CBS17’s Todd Gibson last week. “I just trust his plan and his plan led me back to [N.C. Central], and at the end of the day, it may have been tragic, but it turned into something new.”
“He’s somebody that can manage the quarterback room and Coach Leone (offensive coordinator Matt Leone) can be a walk-around coordinator,” Eagles head coach Trei Oliver said. “He’s been there, he’s done it and the guys respect him, so it’s good to have young guys on the staff who can run around and bring some energy.”
“I’ll transition with the same mentality I had as a player by keeping my head down, working and putting in countless hours behind the scenes and bringing that same mentality as a coach,” Richard said. “So as far as being the best quarterback in the nation, I’m going to try to be the best quarterback coach in the nation.”
