Former Florida Football Star Has Harsh Words for Program; ‘I Already Knew I Wasn’t Going to be at Florida Again’

Generally, housing a highly regarded quarterback with an early first-round grade should lead to a successful season and a spot in a prestigious bowl game. However, this wasn’t the case for the Florida football team in 2022, despite having future fourth-overall pick Anthony Richardson as their quarterback. The team finished with a 6-7 record (3-5 in SEC play) and struggled against strong opponents like Georgia, Kentucky, and LSU.

Richardson’s tenure in Gainsville lasted three seasons, with the dual-threat passer struggling to post efficient passing numbers at any point during his college career. In a resurfaced podcast shared by NFL Digest via Twitter, Richardson claims poor mismanagement and injuries caused him to sour on his college program, so much so that he would not return to Florida football for 2024 regardless of his draft status.

Anthony Richardson: Calls Out Florida Football

Quarterback Anthony Richardson’s time with the Florida football program was overshadowed mainly by team underperformance. After an 8-4 season as a backup, Richardson split time with fellow passer Emory Jones in 2021 before taking on the full-time starter role in 2022. Florida failed to replicate the same success from years prior, going 12-14 in the two years Richardson saw ample playing time. On Tuesday, in a trending video, Richardson calls out the Gators for mismanagement of the quarterback position during his short three-year stay.

“I started pulling my hammies. Never pulled my hammies before. I’m like, ‘Bro, what’s going on?’ They messed around and threw me out there to start against Georgia. The number one defense in the country, statistically, everywhere. Left that game early with a concussion. I then messed my knee up and had to have surgery at the end of the season.”

“So, in my third year, we got a new coaching staff. I told them (Florida), I said, ‘Let’s see how this spring goes, but if it ain’t it, I’m out of here.’ They were like, ‘Alright, we understand,’ because I was going to have to learn a new offense, and I’m coming off of knee surgery. I might not be able to run the same. I stuck with it. Finally, at the end of that year, I already knew I wasn’t going to be at Florida again. Whether I did declare or not, I wasn’t going to be there again.”

Richardson played a secondary role in 2022 while dealing with hamstring injuries but took over for starter Emory Jones in a mid-October loss against top-ranked LSU on the road. Richardson started the following week against top-ranked Georgia, going 12-of-20 for 82 yards and two picks before suffering a game-ending concussion. Richardson did not return until the team’s regular-season finale, eventually leading to a season-ending knee injury.

Multiple injuries and being put in non-advantageous spots led to Richardson eyeing the transfer portal following the 2021 season. However, the Florida football program parted ways with head coach Dan Mullen heading into the 2023 campaign, turning to former Louisiana frontman Billy Napier. Nevertheless, despite Richardson ultimately staying for one more season, the six-foot-four signal-caller states he was ready to part from the Gators following the 2023 season regardless of draft status.

Anthony Richardson: Time With Florida Football

A four-star recruit in the class of 2020, Richardson committed to the Florida football program over Penn State, Michigan, UCF, and USF, among others. After only attempting two passes during his true freshman season, Richardson split time with incumbent starter Emory Jones in 2021. The Florida native largely struggled as a passer, throwing for six touchdowns against five picks while completing 59% of his passes. However, Richardson added 401 yards and three touchdowns on 7.9 yards per carry on the ground.

Richardson became the unquestioned starter in 2022, throwing for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns, and nine picks in 12 games. He also rushed for 654 yards and nine touchdowns. Richardson labored in games against top opponents, registering six passing touchdowns and six picks combined against Utah, Kentucky, FSU, Tennessee, and Florida State. The Indianapolis Colts selected Florida football’s Anthony Richardson as the fourth pick of the subsequent NFL draft, but his rookie season was cut short after he underwent shoulder surgery.

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