The former Florida quarterback tied for the second-highest Gator draft pick of all-time.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson was drafted fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night. The pick tied for the second-highest Gator to be drafted, joining Kyle Pitts in 2021.
Richardson was a three-year member of the Gators and started all 12 regular-season games last year. He played in 24 career games with 13 starts and totaled 3,105 passing yards with 24 passing touchdowns on 215 completions. An All-SEC Freshman Team selection in 2021, he ran for a career 1,116 yards and 12 scores on the ground.
He started off the season opener last season leading the Gators to a victory over No. 7 Utah with a career-high three rushing touchdowns and earned SEC Offensive Player of the Week and Davey O’Brien Award Quarterback of the Week accolades.
Of his 36 career scores, he had seven scores of 70-plus, 14 scores of 40-plus and 16 of 25-plus yards. Richardson ran for three touchdowns of 70-plus, four of 60-plus and five of 45 yards. In the air, he completed four 70-plus-yard, nine 40-yard, 10 30-yard and 11 25-yard TDs.
Draft Notables (At the time Anthony Richardson was drafted)
4th Overall Florida Notes:
* 2nd Florida player to be drafted No. 4
* Other was Kyle Pitts (2021)
* Tied for second-highest Gator draft pick of all-time
* Highest is No. 3 overall with the last being Dante Fowler Jr. in 2015
* 6th Florida player to be drafted in the top-4
* 2nd highest Florida QB drafted
* Highest is Steve Spurrier (1967)
* 1st SEC QB drafted No. 4
* 4th QB drafted No. 4
* Last was Phillip Rivers (2004)
First Round Notes:
* 55th Gator to be drafted in the first round since 1967
* 2nd most in the SEC
* Alabama leads with 56
* Tennessee is in 3rd at 40
* 5th most in the NCAA
* Ohio State leads with 79
* 5th Gator QB to be drafted in the first round
* Tim Tebow (2010), Rex Grossman (2003), John Reaves (1972) and Steve Spurrier (1967)
* Fourth-straight year a Gator has been drafted in the first round
* Kaiir Elam (2022), Kyle Pitts (2021), Kadarius Toney (2021), CJ Henderson (2020)
* Longest streak since Gators had six consecutive years from 2015-18
* 27th Gator to be drafted in the first round since 2000
* T-2nd most in the SEC
* Alabama leads with 44
* T-4th most in the NCAA
* Alabama leads with 44
* 18th in the first round since 2010
* T-2nd most in the SEC
* Alabama leads with 41
* 3rd most in the NCAA
* Alabama leads with 41 and Ohio State in second at 22
* 11th Gator in the first round since 2015
* T-3rd most in the SEC
* Alabama leads with 26
* Tied with LSU
* T-5th most in the NCAA
* Alabama leads with 26
* Tied with LSU
* 5th Gator in the first round since 2020
* 4th most in the SEC
* Alabama leads with 13
* 5th most in the SEC
* Alabama leads with 13
Overall Draft Notes:
* 277th draft pick since 1967
* 8th most in the NCAA
* USC leads with 353
* Leads the SEC
* Alabama in 2nd at 268
* Maintains Florida’s streak of a draft pick in every NFL draft since 1967
* Florida entered tonight one of three schools to achieve that mark with Michigan and Nebraska
* 129th draft pick since 2000
* 3rd most in the SEC
* Alabama leads at 140
* 5th most in the NCAA
* Ohio State leads at 158
* 79th draft pick since 2010
* 5th most in the NCAA
* Alabama leads at 104
* 4th most in the SEC
* Alabama leads at 104
* 9th Florida quarterback to be drafted
* Last since Kyle Trask (2021)
Gators Drafted by Indianapolis Colts
1. Shawn Davis, Round 5 in 2021
2. Quincy Wilson, Round 2, 2017
3. Antonio Morrison, Round 4 in 2016
4. Mike Peterson, Round 2 in 1999
5. Ellis Johnson, Round 1 in 1995
6. Tony McCoy, Round 3 in 1992
7. Michael Brandon, Round 12 in 1992
8. Stacey Simmons, Round 4 in 1990
Quotable – Head Coach Billy Napier. Please attribute each quote to his appearances on ESPN Radio and NFL Radio SiriusXM.
On Anthony Richardson’s greatest trait…
“I think he’s a real loyal guy. He wants to do his job for the team. There’s a certain sense of responsibility that he feels to do his absolute best for his teammates. That is what impressed me. I do think, as a competitor, as a leader, playing quarterback at the University of Florida is a huge deal. There’s a lot that comes with that. There’s a long list of strengths here. I think the guy is a natural thrower and the arm talent, there’s no throw this guy cannot make. You can draw up about anything you want to draw up. Although he is a unique athlete, I think the arm talent, the accuracy, the ability to throw all different types of throws in the pocket, on the move. At some point in his career, he’s going to have to make his living being a passer. I think he’s capable of doing that.” – Gators Head Coach Billy Napier on Fitz and Harry on ESPN Radio (April 26, 2023)
On the perfect situation for Anthony Richardson…
“Continuity in a system will be important. I think it’ll be really important he gets to a place with a head coach, with a coordinator, quarterback coach. Continuity year one, year two, year three. Regardless if he is the starter or not. I think the organization makes a wholesale commitment to build around what he is capable of doing. There are some great scenarios where there are new head coaches that could draft the guy and do just that. Give him the reps, build around what he is capable of doing. There are also scenarios out there where he could sit behind a savvy veteran that’s the consummate pro that could kind of show Anthony what it would be like to operate at a high level with multiple years of experience. I think both of those would be ideal for Anthony, but this will be a journey. There’s going to be a lot of good day and a lot of bad days. There’s going to be growth here, but I think the ceiling. We can’t see the ceiling if that makes sense. It’s exciting to see and I know Anthony is looking forward to the challenge. He’s excited about proving himself. He’s bet on himself and he’s proved to people through the interview process and combine that he is up for the task.” – Gators Head Coach Billy Napier on Fitz and Harry on ESPN Radio (April 26, 2023)
On his conversation with Anthony Richardson as he was considering declaring and whether or not he thinks he is ready for the NFL…
“One of the things I respected about Anthony is he went through a really exhaustive process to gather as much information as he can and make an educated decision. He waited on the advisory committee and he got great information across the board. A lot of different opinions. But, ultimately, 10 out of 32 teams gave him a first-round grade. He had confidence he could move into the first round and if you can get into the first round it’s hard to pass up that opportunity. Anthony is a really bright young man and has good people around him. Ultimately, he bet on himself and I’m excited to see how this thing works out.” – Gators Head Coach Billy Napier on The Blitz on NFL Radio SiriusXM (April 25, 2023)
On Anthony Richardson’s upside and projecting his ceiling in the next level…
“That’s the intrigue. You really dig into the history here. Right here from Gainesville, Florida. Eastside High School. His freshman year of college football was COVID. So completely different environment. 2021 was a little bit of unique year, in terms of the coaching change, and then we had him as a first-year starter. He had only played right around 200 plays prior to this past season and only started one game. First year starter, new offensive system. New staff, not only for him but all of the people around him. You’re talking about a guy who is not a very experienced player. But, this guy maybe the most physically talented football player I’ve ever been around. He showed that in Indianapolis. Generational talent and I think the upside here, because of the character, intelligence and the physical traits. This guy just needs continuity, he needs reps and the sky’s the limit. – Gators Head Coach Billy Napier on The Blitz on NFL Radio SiriusXM (April 25, 2023)
###
