Sheldon Richardson, Michael Sam's college roommate, thinks Sam can play in NFL

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – Even though his former college teammate and roommate has been cut by two NFL teams in a three-month span, New York Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson nevertheless believes that Michael Sam has a future in the league.

Richardson called Sam a teammate for one year at Missouri and the two players were also housemates in an off-campus house in 2012. Sam was a seventh-round pick of the St. Louis Rams and was cut in August after a relatively productive preseason. The Dallas Cowboys signed Sam to their practice squad but released him early this week. Sam is trying to be the first openly gay player to appear in an NFL regular-season game.

Richardson, last year's Defensive Rookie of the Year, thinks Sam can play in the NFL.

“I see it, he definitely can play in this league,” Richardson told Yahoo Sports. “He needs to find a team, find his niche.”

He hasn't talked to Sam since he was initially cut by the Rams (“He's talking to a lot more people higher than me. He's meeting the President to talk to him," Richardson said), but from what he saw in college, Richardson called Sam a player with a “high motor, plays to the whistle. When a play needed to be made, he for some reason always seemed to be making a play.”

When asked, he even thinks that Sam could potentially him the Jets defense. He would give Sam an endorsement if Jets general manager John Idzik ever asked.

“It's a 3-4 defense, a multiple-defense but I think he could. I've never seen him as a linebacker so I'm not sure there,” Richardson said.

“Most definitely I would recommend him. He's a great person, a great athlete. He plays like a Jet. So most definitely.”

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Kristian R. Dyer writes for Metro New York and is a contributor to Yahoo! Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KristianRDyer