LOS ANGELES -- Colorado wide receiver Paul Richardson Jr. may not receive the attention due to him on a national scale, but USC interim head coach Ed Orgeron says he's certainly got plenty of looks inside his team's film room this week.
After missing the entire 2012 season, Richardson Jr. has returned in 2013 with a bang. His 1,201 yards this season are the most in a single season in Colorado history.
During a week in which the college football world has been focused on the Trojans' upset of Stanford and Orgeron being recognized as a semifinalist for the Maxwell Club Coach of the Year, the USC interim head coach can't stop talking about Richardson Jr.
Orgeron's point has hit home in the USC secondary.
"He's the best receiver I've seen on film this year," cornerback Josh Shaw said.
As a senior at Serra High in 2010, Richardson Jr. teamed up with current Buffalo Bills wide receiver Robert Woods and USC wide receiver George Farmer to form what at the time was the best wide receiver trio in the nation.
To safety Dion Bailey, Richardson Jr.'s success is far from a surprise. He and Richardson Jr. are childhood friends going back to their days as teammates on the Carson Colts' Pop Warner squad.
"He's going to be up for this game (and) ready to go," Bailey said.
As will Bailey.
"I haven't got to play against him yet so it's going to be exciting," Bailey said.
The former Pop Warner teammates have never faced each other in a game. Bailey did not play the last time the Trojans visited Colorado in 2011. Last season when the Buffaloes visited the Coliseum, Richardson Jr. watched from the sideline.
While the responsibility of slowing down Richardson Jr. will largely be on Shaw, the Buffaloes' redshirt junior wide receiver is very much aware of the versatility the Trojans bring defensively.
"They have guys that play all over the place," Richardson Jr. said. "SC has a very athletic defense that is very physical. I am looking forward to that."
