New England Takes Richards

Jordan Richards • New England Patriots

CHICAGO – Jordan Richards was selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. Richards was the final pick of the second round and 64th overall.

Richards, who becomes the 10th Stanford player drafted by New England, joins former Cardinal standouts Cameron Fleming and Tyler Gaffney on the Patriot roster.

It's the fourth straight season at least one Stanford player has been drafted in the second round, following Trent Murphy (2014), Zach Ertz (2013) and Coby Fleener/Jonathan Martin (2012).

The hard-hitting strong safety and public policy major from Folsom, California, was a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award winner and claimed the Pop Warner National College Football Award.

A team captain, Richards started all 13 games in 2014 and ranked third in tackles with 79 (53 solo). He shared the team lead with three interceptions, had eight pass breakups, forced three fumbles and had 2.5 tackles for loss.

Richards registered 13 tackles against Oregon, 10 tackles (1.0 for loss) and forced a fumble against USC, had eight tackles against Arizona State and Cal, and seven tackles against Notre Dame and Washington State.

An All-Pac-12 first team recipient, Richards was a Phil Steele fourth team All-America choice, an SI.com All-America honorable mention, Capital One Academic All-District and Pac-12 All-Academic first team pick. He was a Campbell Trophy finalist, Lott IMPACT Trophy semifinalist, and was selected to the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Award watch lists.

As a junior, Richards played in 14 games and collected 69 tackles (40 solo), 4.0 tackles for loss, three interceptions and three pass breakups. He had 10 tackles and two interceptions against UCLA, eight tackles against Utah, returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown against Washington State, and had five tackles against Michigan State in the Rose Bowl.

Richards was selected to the 2013 Capital One Academic All-American second team, the Pac-12 All-Academic first team, was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention, and named to the Jim Thorpe watch list.

As a sophomore, Richards played in 14 games and tallied 68 tackles (46 solo), 7.0 tackles for loss, defended a team-high 15 passes and intercepted three passes. He produced a season-high 11 tackles against UCLA in the Pac-12 Championship Game, 10 tackles (seven solo) against Arizona, four tackles, one interception and four pass breakups in a home win against USC, and had seven tackles and two tackles for loss against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.

SI.com named Richards to its 2012 Midseason All-America second team. He was also chosen All-Pac-12 honorable mention, Pac-12 All-Academic first team, and received Stanford’s Outstanding Sophomore Award.

Richard played in all 13 games with three starts as a freshman and finished with 31 tackles (14 solo) and one pass breakup. He made a season-high nine tackles against Washington and had eight tackles in his first career start against USC.