LB Max Richardson Declares for 2021 NFL Draft
Welp. Boston College is about to have a serious linebacker problem.
Max Richardson announced Tuesday night that he’s declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft, making it official via Instagram. This comes after fellow linebacker Isaiah McDuffie declared earlier this month, which means BC just lost both its starting linebackers in the span of two weeks. Cool. Cool cool cool.
If you’ve watched any Boston College football over the past few years, you know Richardson. The dude was everywhere. Five seasons on the Heights, 315 career tackles, and basically the heart of a defense that went from absolute dumpster fire to… actually functional under Jeff Hafley. That’s not nothing.
“My journey at Boston College has been an incredible experience,” Richardson said in his post. “Boston College will forever be a home to me.”
Here’s the thing about Richardson that I think scouts are going to like: the kid is smart. Double-majored in history and political science. Started for multiple defensive coordinators and never looked lost out there. In an era where NFL defenses are getting more and more complicated, that adaptability matters.
His 2019 season was legitimately elite—108 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, Second Team All-ACC. He probably should’ve declared after that year, honestly. But he came back citing “unfinished business” after missing BC’s bowl game with a hamstring injury. That’s the kind of leadership stuff teams notice.
This season he finished second on the team with 99 tackles, led the Eagles with 8 TFLs, and added a career-high 3.5 sacks. The numbers dipped a little from 2019 but he was also dealing with a completely new coaching staff and defensive system. The fact that BC’s defense improved significantly under Hafley while Richardson was quarterbacking the whole thing says a lot.
Now the honest NFL projection: Richardson is probably looking at being a special teams ace who develops into a rotational linebacker. At 6’0″ and 223 pounds, he doesn’t have the size to be a traditional thumper in the middle. His 40 time (reportedly in the 4.8 range) isn’t going to blow anyone away.
But his instincts are real. His motor never stops. And again—the dude is SMART. Teams like the Patriots, Ravens, and Colts that prize football IQ over raw athleticism could absolutely find a spot for him.
The bigger story here is what this means for BC. With both Richardson and McDuffie gone, defensive coordinator Tem Lukabu is going to have to figure out an entirely new linebacking corps. Redshirt sophomore Nick DeNucci got some playing time this year, but replacing 200+ tackles worth of production isn’t something you just do.
As for Richardson, I hope he gets his shot. Five years of putting his body on the line for BC, leading the team through racial justice protests and a COVID nightmare of a season—the man deserves to hear his name called on draft weekend.
Even if it’s in the later rounds, he’s gonna be somebody’s favorite undrafted free agent if it comes to that. Mark it down.
Good luck Max. Go get paid.
