Former Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson bet on himself and cashed in big Thursday night during the NFL draft.
Indianapolis selected No. 4, validating decision to leave after as a redshirt sophomore with just 13 career starts. He was a third quarterback taken, behind No. 1 Bryce Young of Alabama and Ohio State’s CJ Stroud at No. 2.
The Colts’ decision ended speculation Richardson’s stock had dipped in recent days and will earn him $36,874,031, including a $23,817,477 signing bonus.
Wearing a gray suit and white turtleneck, Richardson was among 17 players invited to attend the draft in Kansas City, Mo. After NFL commissioner Roger Goodall called his name, Richardson hugged family members including his mother, LaShawnda Cleare, and made his way to the stage, stopping first to put on a Colts hat.
“I always dreamed of this,” Richardson told NFL Network. “When I got the call it made me realize I finally made it to his level.”
Gators coach Billy Napier joined his former quarterback at the draft, calling him a “generational talent” during an ESPN interview prior to the event.
“I’m just really proud of Anthony. A product of a lot of hard work,” Napier said following Richardson’s selection. “Now, the fun stuff begins. The best is truly yet to come here. This guy’s best football is in front of him.”
Richardson is the fifth Florida quarterback taken during the first round and first since Gators legend Tim Tebow, the No. 25 pick in 2010 by Denver. Richardson was drafted higher than any UF quarterback since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger and the highest ever other than Steve Spurrier, whom San Francisco picked No. 3 in 1967.
John Reaves (No. 14, 1972), Kerwin Bell (No. 180, 1988), Danny Wuerffel (No. 99, 1997), Jesse Palmer (No. 125, 2001), Rex Grossman (No. 22, 2003) and Kyle Trask (No. 64, 2021) are other UF quarterbacks drafted.
The 6-foot-4, 244-pound Richardson possesses the size, arm strength and running ability to become the best of all. He also could become one of the many busts at arguably the toughest position in professional sports, a reason observers wondered if he might ended up drafted later in the first round.
The former Gainesville high school star closed his career with a 9-of-27 passing effort during a 45-38 loss Nov. 25 at rival Florida State, magnifying the inaccuracy and poor decision-making NFL teams had to weigh against his transcendent athletic ability.
Richardson’s performance March at the NFL Scouting Combine included a quarterback-record 40.5-inch vertical leap and a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, fourth fastest at his position since 2000.
“Really just a unique talent,” Napier said Thursday night. “There’s not been many players like Anthony Richardson in the history of this game.”
But his considerable skill set translated to sporadic success during his one season as a full-time starter.
Richardson passed for 2,549 yards and 17 touchdown and rushed for 654 yards and 9 scores. His 53.8% completion accuracy was the lowest by a Florida player since Treon Harris in 2015. The Gators finished 6-7, with Richardson sitting out the bowl game to prepare for the draft.
Richardson did, however, record 16 runs of at least 10 yards, including touchdown runs of 45 and 81 yards. He completed 46 throws of 20 yards or longer, including touchdown strikes of 52 and 43 yards at Florida State.
Another sign of inconsistency: he totaled more than 270 yards in seven games, but fewer than 150 in three games, including a loss to Kentucky and 31-28 win against USF — winners of one game in 2022. Against Kentucky, Richardson had 2 interceptions leading to 14 points a week after he scored 3 touchdowns during a season-opening upset of Utah.
The game confirmed to many Richardson had just begun his final season in Gainesville.
“He’s going to get his,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said, referring to Richardson’s future NFL riches.
Richardson, who turns 21 on May 22, now has to earn his keep. He joins a roster featuring veterans Nick Foles, who quarterback the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in 2017, and Gardner Minshew, a former starter in Jacksonville.
Richardson entered Thursday among 10 Gators hoping to be drafted during the next three days.
A team still could select All-American guard O’Cyrus Torrence during the first round. The draft resumes at 7 p.m. Friday with the second and third rounds, where defensive tackle Gervon Dexter is expected to land. The rest of the Gators, including linebacker Ventrell Miller, a fan favorite, and veteran receiver Justin Shorter, hope to hear their names called beginning at noon Saturday during Rounds 4-7 or otherwise rely on the free-agent route.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Edgar Thompson at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @osgators.
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