In general, having a highly regarded quarterback with an early first-round grade should result in a successful season and a bowl game appearance. This was not the case for the Florida football team in 2022, despite having future fourth-round pick Anthony Richardson at quarterback. The team finished 6-7 (3-5 in SEC play) and struggled against tough opponents such as Georgia, Kentucky, and LSU.
Richardson spent three seasons at Gainsville, but the dual-threat passer struggled to produce effective passing numbers during his college career. In a rediscovered podcast published by NFL Digest on Twitter, Richardson alleges poor mismanagement and injuries drove him to sour on his collegiate program, to the point that he would not return to Florida football in 2024, regardless of his draft status.
Anthony Richardson: Calls Out Florida Football
Quarterback Anthony Richardson’s career with the Florida football program was dominated by team underperformance. After an 8-4 season as a backup, Richardson split time with fellow quarterback Emory Jones in 2021 before becoming the full-time starter in 2022. Florida failed to match its previous success, finishing 12-14 in the two years Richardson saw significant playing time. In a popular video posted on Tuesday, Richardson criticizes the Gators for mismanaging the quarterback position during his brief three-year tenure.
“I started pulling my hamstrings. I’ve never pulled my hamstrings before. I am like, ‘Bro, what’s going on?’ They messed around and put me out there to start against Georgia. The number one defense in the country, statistically and everywhere. He left the game early due to a concussion. I then injured my knee and had to have surgery at the conclusion of the season.
“So, by my third year, we had a new coaching staff. I told them (Florida), ‘Let’s see how this spring goes; if it ain’t it, I’m out of here.’ They said, ‘Alright, we understand,’ because I was going to have to learn a new offense and was coming off knee surgery. I might not be able to run as well. I adhered to it. Finally, before the end of the year, I knew I would not be returning to Florida. Whether I declared or not, I was not going to be there again.”
Richardson had a minor role in 2022 because to hamstring issues, but he took over for starter Emory Jones in a mid-October road defeat to top-ranked LSU. Richardson started the following week against No. 1 Georgia, finishing 12-of-20 for 82 yards and two interceptions before sustaining a game-ending injury. Richardson did not return until the team’s regular-season finale, which resulted in a season-ending knee injury.
Following multiple injuries and being placed in unfavorable positions, Richardson considered using the transfer portal after the 2021 season. However, prior to the 2023 season, the Florida football program severed ways with head coach Dan Mullen, replacing him with former Louisiana star Billy Napier. Nonetheless, despite Richardson’s decision to stay for one more season, the six-foot-four signal-caller stated that he was prepared to leave the Gators after the 2023 season, regardless of draft status.
Anthony Richardson: Time With Florida Football
Richardson, a four-star prospect in the 2020 class, chose Florida over Penn State, Michigan, UCF, and USF, among other options. Richardson split time with incumbent starter Emory Jones in 2021 after trying only two passes as a true freshman. The Florida native struggled as a passer, throwing six touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 59% of his throws. However, Richardson added 401 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, averaging 7.9 yards per run.
Richardson became the undisputed starter in 2022, throwing for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 12 games. He also carried 654 yards and scored nine touchdowns. Richardson struggled in games against top opponents, recording six passing touchdowns and six interceptions combined against Utah, Kentucky, FSU, Tennessee, and Florida State. The Indianapolis Colts selected Anthony Richardson from Florida football as the fourth pick in the subsequent NFL draft, but his rookie season was cut short due to shoulder surgery.
