NC State lands commitment from Norfolk State LB AJ Richardson
NC State pursued multiple linebackers in the transfer portal this cycle and it was able to bolster that position group with its latest commitment. Norfolk State linebacker AJ Richardson picked the Pack _ with two years of eligibility remaining.
Richardson, a 6-foot-1, 245-pound dynamic defender, also held offers from East Carolina, Marshall, UMass and Western Kentucky among others after he hit the transfer portal on Dec. 4 He visited NC State earlier this week after he also took a trip to ECU.
The Kings Mountain, N.C., native had a standout season with the Spartans. He logged a career-best 100 total tackles (most in the MEAC), including 9.5 for a loss, with three sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery en route to being named First Team All-MEAC.
Richardson’s best performance of the season came with an 18-tackle effort against Towson on Oct. 12, which included 5.5 tackles for a loss and a pair of sacks. He set career bests in all three categories in the 28-23 loss to the Tigers as he had five more stops for a loss than anyone else on his squad.
Richardson earned a 79.9 defense grade from Pro Football Focus this fall, including an above-average 83.8 mark against the run. He missed a total of 10 tackles across 703 total snaps played, while Richardson logged nine total quarterback pressures.
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Before Richardson had a standout sophomore campaign, he was among the best freshmen at the FCS level. He posted 69 total tackles, the second most on the team, with 11 for a loss to go with a pair of sacks, two breakups and three fumble recoveries. Richardson was an FCS Freshman All-American and garnered All-MEAC Second Team honors during the 2023 campaign.
Richardson will provide depth to NC State’s linebacker room, which is led by rising redshirt senior Caden Fordham going into the 2025 season. Richardson could push for a starting spot in fall camp, while he could also be featured as a rotational linebacker if he doesn’t unseat one of the Wolfpack’s top three in the middle of the defens.
He is the fourth commitment of the 2024 transfer cycle, joining Utah State tackle Teague Andersen, North Carolina A&T offensive lineman Brock Stukes and Elon tight end Cody Hardy.
