By Byron Beers/Staff Writer

Josh Richey burst onto the scene in 2007 as an Arena Football League 2 wide receiver with the Everett Hawks, perhaps by accident but not by lack of talent and determination.

Richey wasn’t even the team’s top receiving option going into the season and the Hawks got off to a slow start by dropping their first four games.

Everett had injuries to its top two receivers, LaMonte Jones and Phil Goodman, which paved the way for the former El Reno standout.

It never was a secret that Richey had the talent to emerge. He has the size (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) and speed — a 4.4-second 40-yard dash.

Richey would more than take advantage of his opportunity, following his first season with two different teams, the Amarillo Dusters and Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings.

He went on to lead the league in receiving yards and touchdowns in his first season with Everett. Richey hauled in 148 catches for 1,958 yards with 44 touchdowns. His reception total was second in the league to Bakari Brown of Albany (158).

When the 16-game schedule was completed, Richey owned every Hawks receiving record and his 2007 output ranks in the top 10 in league history in six different categories.

Richey, also known as “Cha-Chee,” was selected to the AF2 first-team offense and is currently in the running for AF2 Offensive Player of the Year, which is expected to be announced this week. He earned AF2 Offensive Player of the Week twice, and was a seven-time AF2 Offensive Player of the Game.