The recruiting of Gateway Tech prodigy Sheldon Richardson ended on Wednesday, but the mystery about his future continued.

Richardson kept a longstanding commitment and signed a letter of intent with Missouri. Richardson also considered an offer to play tight end at Miami but decided to stay with Missouri after an emotional family meeting Tuesday night.

"I love being a hometown hero more so than just being another guy at a school," said Richardson, who immediately tugged on a Missouri cap after making his intentions known during a ceremony in the Gateway gymnasium.

If Richardson realizes his grand plan, he will become more than a hometown hero.

Richardson said Missouri considers him primarily a defensive end, but the school listed him as a tight end. Richardson wants to attempt the rare feat of playing both positions, as he did at Gateway.

Two-way players in college are not uncommon, but they are usually defensive back-receiver types such as Charles Woodson, the 1997 Heisman Trophy winner.

The two-way lineman has been increasingly rare since free substitution was instituted in 1964 and usually plays only in specialty situations. Alabama last season used Terrence Cody, a 365-pound nose tackle, at fullback on short-yardage plays.

In recent seasons, the closest thing to a two-way player on the lines at the top level of college football was Brian Urlacher at New Mexico in 1998-99. On defense, Urlacher played "Lobo," a combination of linebacker and strong safety. He also appeared at tight end, catching six touchdown passes.

"If I have to be the first player to do it, then I'll be the first player," Richardson said. "It's going to be hard. It's going to be brutal. But I'm the kind of guy who sticks it out."

Richardson said he raised the subject of being a two-way player with Missouri assistant coach Cornell Ford, point man in the recruiting process. According to Richardson, Ford said all positions are in play "except quarterback and safety," and practice performance will determine his role.

Body size will be a factor, too.

Richardson and his father both acknowledged that he could grow too big to be a tight end. At Gateway, Richardson's weight rose to as high as 292 pounds, but he is around 275 pounds now. Richardson wants to report for preseason practice at 265 pounds so that tight end will be a realistic possibility.

"Nothing will be given to him," said Michael Richardson, the father. "He may start eating again and play a position he's in shape to play."

Sheldon Richardson jokingly suggested that Missouri offensive and defensive coaches could fight to have him on their side of the ball. He also admitted that Missouri may have left open the possibility of being a two-way player as part of the sweet talking that marks recruiting.

"It's all fun and games," Richardson said. "Wherever I play, I'm going to be out there 100 percent. I'm not a recruit anymore. I'm signed. No special treatment."

This could all be a moot point. Richardson still must meet the standards set by the NCAA Initial Eligibility Center.

It uses a sliding scale that takes into account standardized test scores and grade-point averages. For example, a high school student with a 3.0 average in core courses would require a 52 on the ACT test (combined total of the four sub-sections) or a 620 on the SAT verbal and math, but a student with a 2.5 average would require a 68 ACT or an 820 on the SAT.

Richardson said he must improve his ACT test score by two points to gain initial eligibility. Richardson is scheduled to take the test again next week and vowed to "keep doing it all summer" until he reaches the magic number.

"I'm very confident about this," Richardson said.

This capped what Richardson called "a long, long road" that started when he made an oral, nonbinding commitment to Missouri before his junior season at Gateway. Numerous schools tried to sway Richardson, forcing Ford to spend much of his time boosting Missouri.

"Coach Ford recruited us so long that I thought he was part of the family," Michael Richardson said. "I thought he lived in St. Louis."

When the decision had been made, Sheldon Richardson felt as if "a refrigerator" had been lifted from his shoulder. Richardson awoke Wednesday morning after what he called his best night of sleep in more than two years and was at peace with his choice.

Now, all Sheldon Richardson must do is get a better test score and settle on a position. It's not over yet for him.