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PalmettoSports.com | South Carolina Recruiting | Phil Kornblut | GoUpstate.com

It's down to a final three schools with WR Nu'Keese Richardson (5-10 170) of Pahokee, FL as he prepares to announce his decision at a 3:00 PM news conference Friday. "Georgia, South Carolina and Florida are my final three," Richardson said Wednesday night. "I haven't made my decision yet. It's going to be a last minute thing. There's no leader. Everyone is equal right now. I'm just trying to focus on the game (spring game Thursday night). I'm ver focused on the game. And I'm trying to heal up a little bit. I've got a hamstring pull." Richardson talked to his Florida recruiter last night and will talk with USC recruiter Robert Gillespie and his Georgia recruiter tonight. "We're talking about the camps and my decision," he said. "They are giving me their stats like what they have on the depth chart. I've always been a quarterback type of guy, so it's going to be about the quarterback at the school and the depth chart."

Spring is prime time for area high school football stars to catch college recruiters' attention

College coaches annually fish Palm Beach County, and the hot spot tends to be Muck City - Pahokee and Belle Glade. This year, Pahokee quarterback/wide receiver Nu'Keese Richardson, a senior-to-be, is the 170-pound marlin they want to hook.

"If you want to know who's after him, you might as well list them all," a prominent BCS assistant coach said. "He's a big-time talent, and he's being recruited by everybody."

Richardson was Pahokee's No. 3 receiver last season, behind Martavious Odoms and Antavious Wilson, who signed with Michigan and Buffalo, respectively. In a limited role, Richardson caught 26 passes for 452 yards and six touchdowns, and his numbers caught college coaches' attention.

Richardson is only 5-feet-101/2, 170 pounds, but he benches 205 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds. According to Thompson and Richardson, there are three schools with a legitimate shot at signing him: South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. USC and Michigan are no longer in contention.

Richardson plans to announce his choice Friday. Last week he said "don't be surprised" if he signs with South Carolina, which he called the front-runner, but there is growing sentiment in Pahokee that he will pick the Gators. Richardson is keeping his choice a secret from even his closest friends.

"I'm pretty sure I know, but I want to do all my research," said Richardson, who nixed his favorite team, Miami, after looking at a receiver-heavy depth chart. "When I choose, I'm not going to be de-committing."

But what's the rush? Richardson said he is on track to graduate a semester early and intends to enroll in college in January. Last year, teammate Janoris Jenkins took the same path, clearing him for Florida's spring practices this season.

Richardson likely will play receiver or defensive back at the next level, but at present, he is the best quarterback on Pahokee's roster. His running ability exceeds his throwing skills, meaning a sharp turn from pocket passer Anthony Sheppard, who went 28-0 the past two seasons for the Blue Devils.

Instead, Richardson will resemble running quarterbacks like Alphonso Smith and Anquan Boldin. Neither stayed at quarterback after leaving Pahokee - Smith plays cornerback for Wake Forest and Boldin played receiver for FSU before becoming a Pro Bowl receiver for the Arizona Cardinals.

"That's old-school Pahokee - we had smaller, quicker quarterbacks and their second read was run," Thompson said. "To put Nu'Keese in line with Anquan right now is a little premature ... but he's got that physical ability to be a game-changer."