In the age of the NCAA transfer portal, highly touted high school quarterbacks don’t typically ride the pine for long. They either take the reins of the school they initially committed to, or they ship their talents elsewhere and head for greener pastures.
Anthony Richardson is different.
Richardson expects to bat clean-up for presumptive QB1 redshirt junior Emory Jones this season for the Florida Gators, but he’s biding his time and learning from Jones, similar to how Jones learned from now Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kyle Trask.
“Just trust the process,” Richardson said. “Just trust the process … not everything is always going to be sweet for you, just trusting the process and just letting everything work out in your favor. Seeing Emory do that is encouraging.
“Sometimes you have to wait and be patient because you never know what God has in store for you.”
Richardson spoke highly of Jones’ game, praising his strong arm.
“I feel bad for teams because when he's [Emory] done doing his thing, I can come in and do mine. That's why I call it a one-two punch.”
Richardson also gushed about his relationship with Jones, saying he’s been like a big brother to him.
“It’s a lot of pressure, you know, just being a quarterback, just being a college athlete,” he said. “So, sometimes you gotta have that moral support in your background, and I feel like I have to be that guy [for Jones] sometimes.”
Even in a back-up role this season, the Gainesville native still expects to contribute to Florida’s success.
“Whenever Emory needs a break, and they need me to come out there and bring the same intensity that Emory’s bringing,” Richardson said. “Just never let off the gas.”
Despite the QB2 status looming, Richardson continued to grow as a quarterback during fall camp, saying he’s improved a lot at reading defenses. He also credited quarterbacks coach Garrick McGee for helping him with the mental hurdles of the position.
“He’s been a mentor,” Richardson said. “He’s been helping me with that, you know, just moving on to the next play.”
McGee raved about the quarterback’s commitment to the game of football itself.
“He spends a lot of time in the meeting room,” McGee said. “He has a strong commitment to learning the game. Then, the Lord has blessed him with a lot of raw talent. He’s big, he’s fast, he’s a very smart kid and he has a really quick release and he’s accurate with the ball.
“He’s a very good, young football player.”
McGee also complimented Richardson’s strong commitment to UF, which makes sense considering he attended the local Eastside High School. Being from Gainesville, Richardson knows the lore of being a Gator, as does redshirt sophomore and Buchholz product Trent Whittemore. The receiver said Richardson practiced with the team before the 2019 Orange Bowl, and Whittemore could tell he was nervous.
“I think for both of us just settling down and playing football again,” Whittemore said. “It’s not rocket science out there, it’s just the game of football.”
Richardson played just 15 total snaps last season for the Gators. Expect to see him a lot more in clean-up for Jones in 2021 starting Sept. 4 in The Swamp against FAU.
Contact Michael Hull at mhull@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter at @Michael_Hull33.
Michael Hull is a fourth-year journalism sports & media major and a sports writer at The Alligator. He hosts the weekly sports podcast and has worked on staff for five semesters. In the past, Hull has served as the sports editor, the men's and women's golf beat writer, the volleyball beat writer and the football beat writer.
