For many coaches, hard work and work ethic can be a great use for determining who they may put on the field or in the lineup. For junior wide receiver Tyler Richmond, this comes naturally.

“His growth has definitely been something mesmerizing to watch,” Waynesburg head coach Dr. Cornelius Coleman said. “The cool part, not just from his head coach, but someone who is a Savant of the game, who just loves it, who wants to see it and understand it and learn each and every day.”

Richmond’s working attitude has led to constant progression season after season. He has accumulated a season-high 35 with two games still left to play. He has also reached his career high in receiving yardage at 529 and tied his most touchdowns three. He currently stands at 443 yards and two touchdowns on the season. 

“The main things I do during the offseason are to make sure I’m eating well and staying hydrated. I also make sure to run a lot as well as lift weights to maintain speed and strength,” Richmond said. “I hit the field about three times a week to run routes and work on my footwork to put myself in the best position for the next season.”

Richmond was a multi-sport star during his time at Carmichaels High School where he made a lasting impact on not just the football field but also the baseball field.

“When Covid hid everybody kind of leveled off,” Richmond’s high school baseball coach Richard Krause said. “Except for him, it was almost like he used that break to become a smoother baseball player, he was stronger in a lot of ways.”

Richmond used that improvement to help the Mighty Mikes get to the WPIAL semifinals in 2021 and the WPIAL quarterfinals in 2022.

Richmond believes that being a multi-sport athlete helped him tremendously in his growth.

“I think being a multisport athlete is huge when it comes to playing a sport in college,” Richmond said. “Playing many different sports helped me gain different skills that other athletes may not have.”

Richmond still plays baseball during the summer on the local Carmichaels Copperheads’ baseball team. 

Krause believes that Richmond should still compete at baseball at Waynesburg.

“I’ve been encouraging him and so has his buddies that he needs to play baseball here,” Krause said. “I think he’s going to play in the spring.”

In the meantime, Richmond is focused on doing whatever it takes to help Waynesburg football win. This includes a standout effort against the Grove City Wolverines where he had 10 receptions for 142 yards in the lost 24-14 loss on Oct 11. 

“The main goals that I have for the rest of the season is mainly to really come together as a team these last three weeks and show people what we are truly capable of,” Richmond said. “I truly believe we are a better team than we have been showing on the field as of late and I think we can take it up a notch.”

Waynesburg finishes off their season at home when they face Saint Vincent College.

Richmond, of course, also balances his academic work with these different seasons of his life. He is working hard to receive his bachelor’s degree in marketing.

“Balancing sports and academics are not as easy as you may think it is. I usually have time set aside each day after practice to do my homework and study the things that I need to,” Richmond said. I usually try to work ahead and have everything for the week done by Thursday, so I don’t have to worry about anything during the weekend and after games.”

Richmond credits Carmichaels for helping prepare him for harder college level classes along with balancing his emotions and finding the balance between academics and sports.

Richmond continues to work at his craft daily and his coaches have high hopes for his end of this season and his senior season.

“I see him still have the want to drive, the notoriety to still come in and work hard each and every day because he knows that he still has a long way to go,” Coleman said. “He can be one of those spectacular Player of the Year type of athletes in this conference.”

Richmond has the talent and more importantly the work ethic to meet his goals for this season and his upcoming senior year. 

“The goal heading into my senior year is to work hard,” Richmond said. Make sure that I put the best product out there as I can to help my team win.”