April 28, 2008 - 06:48 a.m. EST

CLEMSON --- The Kansas City Chiefs selected former Clemson offensive tackle Barry Richardson in the sixth round with the 170th pick in Sunday's NFL Draft.

“The tackle out of Clemson, Barry Richardson, is a big powerful guy. We feel that he is a right tackle," Chiefs President and General Manager Carl Peterson said.

Richardson has been called Clemson's “Gentle Giant,” as he never lets his emotions be shown or affect his performance on the field. The team’s massive drive blocker feels that his actions will speak volumes for his abilities.

A highly intelligent athlete, he graduated from high school after only three years and then took just a little over three years to earn his degree at Clemson. Richardson earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team honors the last two seasons, become the school’s first offensive tackle to repeat those honors Jim Bundren (1996-97).

He was thrust right into the lineup as a freshman, he started 45-of-49 games that he appeared in for the Tigers.

In 2004, he became Clemson’s first first-year freshman to start for the course of a season on the offensive line since 1943. He was also the first first-year freshman offensive lineman to start more than one game in a season since Joe Bostic (1975). As a true freshman at Clemson in 2004, Richardson started the team’s last seven games. He delivered 19 knockdowns, including two that resulted in touchdowns from the left tackle position. He registered 47 knockdowns as a sophomore in 2005.

In 2006, the All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team selection appeared in 684 snaps. He led the Tiger linemen with 75 knockdowns. He also collected an assisted tackle. Richardson again garnered All-ACC first-team accolades as a senior. He had the highest blocking consistency grade in the conference during the regular season (86.67%) while registering 57 knockdowns on 814 plays.

At Wando High School, Richardson excelled on the football field and in the classroom, as he became the first Clemson signee to ever graduate after three years. He started all three seasons for head coach Bob Hayes. The offensive tackle graded 85% for blocking consistency, as he registered 31 knockdown blocks during his final prep season.

Richardson produced 200 knockdown blocks in 49 games at Clemson.