Graduate linebacker Lawrence Richardson has spent his last four years with Morgan as one of the team’s most dominant defensive players, although he didn’t begin playing football until high school.
Around the same time, the Philadelphia native took the next step in his faith, becoming a junior deacon at just age 17, a decision that continues to guide him.
Richardson did not take football seriously until he got to high school. Before that, the only reason he played was because he did not want his summer taken away.
“When I got to high school, my mindset shifted,” Richardson said. “Senior year is when I thought I could play Division I football.”
Christianity, however, has been a lifelong commitment for Richardson.
He was raised in church, attending every Sunday school and service. His father is a deacon and his grandfather is the minister. Around the age of 16, Richardson’s father began taking him to deacon Sunday school to help him follow in his footsteps.
The pastor at Richardson’s church proclaimed him as a junior deacon when he was called up in front of the church at 17.
“Now, I am 22 so now I am a deacon,” Richardson said. “Graduating into the adulthood of the deacon ministry.”
In between services, Richardson excels on the field.
He was a Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection and won the Phil Steele Preseason All-MEAC First Team. Additionally, he has 38 tackles, two tackles for losses and an 11-yard sack this season.
In this season’s game against the Norfolk State Spartans, Richardson had two solo tackles and six assisted tackles.
“[I had] to bring everyone up and knowing it’s my last year and knowing this is my last chance to get a ring and the celebration bowl,” Richardson said as he described his mentality during that game, wherein the Bears scored 22 points in the fourth quarter. “So that was the goal–to bring everyone else up and then once everybody is all together, as you can see, we are unstoppable,.
Unfortunately for Richardson, he is only a deacon in Pennsylvania, as he does not have a church that he goes to in Maryland.
“It’s really just a back home type of thing,” he said. “I feel like I need to do better than that.”
However, he never leaves his faith behind. Richardson implements his faith on the football field, often leading the team in prayer and encourages his teammates to lean on their respective faiths..
“Anytime you need help, just talk to him,” Richardson said. “Before the game, just have a little conversation.”
When the Bears were losing to the Spartans, Richardson said that he definitely needed God’s help then.
“As a captain, before the game starts, coach Wilson gets the captains together and I usually lead the prayer in that standard,” Richardson said. “There are times between dinner, breakfast and lunch at the hotel where he picks on me to pray for the food and it is a blessing.”
Richardson is unable to attend church on Sunday during the season because the team practices on Sunday, and instead watches service via live stream and reads the daily bread. He hopes to one day have a church in Maryland to call home.
“It’ll be good not to have to travel like an hour and thirty minutes to two hours to get back home just to go to church,” he said.
As the football season and his senior year come to a close, Richardson cherishes what time he has left with his teammates, and continues to be guided by his faith as the Bears long to reach the playoffs and Celebration Bowl.
