Anthony Richardson, the Florida Gators’ starting quarterback for the 2022 season, officially declared for the upcoming NFL draft last week. According to ESPN, Richardson is viewed as the “wild card” of the 2023 quarterback class.
Richardson has been talked about as a high-upside pick because of his incredible athleticism. But he’s not just an athletic freak with no tools. He had many moments this season where his ball placement was praised by social media and analysts alike. His pocket presence has looked NFL-ready and the dual-threat nature of his playstyle fits well with where NFL offenses are headed.
What he struggled with was consistency. As good as he looked at times, he also looked very poor in stretches of the season. He seemed to not have control of his arm power in short and intermediate-range throws and he would often lose his confidence and not be able to find it within the game. Not to mention his noted hamstring and ankle injuries.
Here is what ESPN’s Jordan Reid said about Richardson:
Florida’s Anthony Richardson struggled in his only season as a full-time starter, but the potential is off the charts. At 6-4 and 232 pounds, he has a powerful arm to complement his ability as a runner, but he’s still very raw and inconsistent. Richardson — who recently declared for the draft — completed just 53.8% of his throws this season, while posting 26 total touchdowns (17 passing, nine rushing) and nine interceptions.
He’ll be the ultimate project prospect. But while he is still developing a lot of the key ingredients it takes to be successful at the next level, there’s no questioning his traits and upside. His accuracy, decision-making and consistency have to get better, and a good landing spot is vital for long-term success.
Unfortunately for the Gators, Richardson will be unavailable for the upcoming bowl game. In fact, the Gators will finish their season with a depleted roster after over a dozen players have entered the transfer portal. Other top players like [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] and [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] have also declared for the NFL draft and will not be playing against the Oregon State Beavers in the Las Vegas Bowl. That game will be played on Dec. 17 starting at 2:30 p.m. EST and broadcast on ESPN.
[mm-video type=video id=01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg/01gdg3yhc6d6jb3c59xg-c640babe687004c896ec7a3af514c1b9.jpg]
[lawrence-related id=97560,97492,97486,97481,97475]
[listicle id=97276]
[listicle id=97254]
[listicle id=97242]
Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!