Senior linebacker Ashton Richardson is going to miss out on any championships or accolades on the gridiron this season; however, Richardson may win one of the nation's most prestigious awards for his performance off the field.
On Tuesday, Oct. 30, Richardson was named a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship.
Following two days of interviews from Nov. 16-17, Richardson will find out if he has been chosen as one of two Rhodes Scholars in this district.
There are 12 finalists in Richardson's district, District VII.
As winner of a Rhodes Scholarship, the recipient has the opportunity to do graduate work at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
Richardson, an animal sciences major, said he was humbled by the nomination.
"When I was first notified that I was a finalist, I was so thankful to God and to all the people who have helped me," Richardson said. "I was overwhelmed with a sense of humility. When you realize how prestigious and competitive the Rhodes Scholarship is, having the chance to try for it is a dream come true. I will give it my all to make Auburn proud and represent all the people on campus who have worked with me and believe in me."
Gene Chizik told Auburn media relations that Richardson "embodies the best and highest ideals of what it means to be a student-athlete."
"During his time at Auburn, he has worked extremely hard on the football field, in the classroom and in the community," Chizik said. "He is a leader on and off the field and is highly respected by his coaches and teammates. Watching Ashton develop over the past several years has been a joy. He represents himself, his family, his teammates and Auburn University in the highest way imaginable and we're very proud of his accomplishments."
Richardson is the fifth Auburn student-athlete to make the finals in the past four years along with swimmers Erica Meissner and Jordan Anderson, former gymnast Krissy Voss and former diver Dan Mazzaferro.
Of the group, only Anderson ended up winning the Rhodes Scholarship in 2009.
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