Anthony Richardson — our ultra-talented, sizzling hot or perplexedly cold redshirt sophomore — is the highest drafted Gators quarterback since Steve Spurrier 56 years ago. His departure leaves us wondering what might have been if he’d stuck around another season or two.

by Pat Dooley (BSJ ’76)

I was watching the NFL Draft in late April and my mind kept going back to one play. It might be a different one for you. Anthony Richardson gave us plenty.

The play I recalled came against South Florida in 2021. Richardson had thrown a 75-yard touchdown to Jacob Copeland earlier, and now was putting the game on ice with an 80-yard fourth quarter jaunt.

And he wasn’t even the starter.

As Richardson got to the 10-yard line with no USF defender close, I turned to my daughter and said, “Well, Emory Jones, this way to the transfer portal.” That was mean, and it would be another season before Jones transferred in the wake of Richardson’s generational talent.

There was also this: Near the goal line, Richardson pulled a hamstring. Injuries were one of the things that hindered his progression as a quarterback.

Yet, he was the fourth pick in this year’s NFL Draft.

That’s what Gator fans must deal with. The fourth pick never played significant minutes for a winning team. The Gators were good Richardson’s freshman season, but that was Kyle Trask’s team. The next two — the first as Jones’ backup — the Gators finished 6-7 both times.

So, was it the biggest waste of talent in the history of the Gators program? Or was it just a series of issues that kept Richardson from fulfilling his potential?

Either way, the Gators faithful didn’t know how to feel when Richardson’s name was called in the draft. Thrilled because a kid from Gainesville and UF was the fourth pick? Or bitter because we had the fourth pick on our team and still mired in mediocrity?

Those are the two edges of reactions we’ll hear from the Gator Nation until the NFL season starts. The rest of us are somewhere between.

That’s the bizarre thing. You can’t have a great football team without a great quarterback. The Gators had one, but we lost 17 of our last 29 games.

Doesn’t add up.

And yet, it does.

It was a combination of things that made A.R. the ultimate good light/bad light quarterback.
When good, he was on a different level. When bad, we were wishing backup Jack Miller’s thumb would get healthy.

It’s not Richardson’s fault … but he’s not blameless.

Some guys have the “It Factor” — they’ll find a way to win no matter the obstacles. It almost seemed like Richardson turned his on or off. When it was on, he ran over LSU defenders. When off, well, do I even have to bring up the Kentucky game?

It’s not like he was a bad kid when he was at UF, a me guy, a sullen loner. He was one of the best guys on campus.

Trouble is it’s never easy to live up to the Heisman statues in front of the Swamp. But it’s more than that. Richardson had people in his ear. He’s not an experienced quarterback. His first head coach didn’t believe in him. His second couldn’t milk the talent out of him every game. Injuries curtailed his consistency.

I’m not making excuses. Just trying to explain how a once-in-a-generation player could leave such a complicated legacy — like throwing for as many interceptions as TDs in seven home games or passing up opportunities to run, then sprinting for long touchdowns.

Coach Billy Napier said it best: “This guy just needs continuity. He needs reps, and the sky’s the limit.”

Richardson only had 13 career starts at UF, and two of those were against Georgia, the national champs each of those years. That’s the conundrum that is Anthony Richardson, one the Indianapolis Colts believe will end up working out. He easily has the most upside of any quarterback to ever come out of UF. His first contract will be around $37 million.

The work ethic is there. The talent is there. Everyone hopes the Colts solve the puzzle.

If they do, watch out.

Sportswriter Pat Dooley (BSJ ’76) covered the Gators for The Gainesville Sun for 33 years until his retirement in 2020. He still shares his love for Gator sports through his podcast, “Another Dooley Noted,” and WRUF radio program, “Dooley’s Back 9.” His Gator Nation News column does not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Florida.