Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson announced Monday he will be entering the 2023 NFL Draft in a statement posted on Twitter. The redshirt sophomore signal caller said he won’t participate in the Gators’ bowl game.
“My time at the University of Florida has been filled with great experiences on and off the field,” said Richardson in the statement. “Running out of the tunnel with my brothers in front of 90,000 fans is an experience I will never forget”
The former Eastside High School standout had his first full season as a starter during the 2022 campaign and led Florida to a 6-6 record. He threw for 2,549 yards and 17 touchdowns, but he completed just under 54% of his passes. Richardson also made plays with his legs, running for 650 yards and nine touchdowns.
UF’s quarterback ended his college career with a frustrating performance against Florida State in a loss. Richardson completed just nine of 27 passes, but threw for three touchdowns and gave the Gators a chance to tie the game in the fourth quarter.
Richardson is expected by some experts to be a first round pick in the draft. He was projected to be drafted sixth overall in a recent mock draft by Draft Wire and 13th overall by CBS Sports’s Chris Trapasso.
If he were to be drafted in the first round, Richardson would be the first Florida quarterback selected in the first round since Tim Tebow in 2010. He would also be just the second Gators’ signal caller drafted since Tebow, joining 2020 Heisman finalist Kyle Trask.
Heading into next season, several players for the starting quarterback role. Redshirt freshman Ohio State transfer Jack Miller III was supposed to be the backup to Richardson this season, but a preseason hand injury saw him fall down the depth chart.
High four-star recruit Jaden Rashada is currently committed to Florida and will certainly play into the competition, as will freshman Max Brown, who redshirted this season after signing as a three-star recruit last season.
The Gators will play the Oregon State Beavers in the Las Vegas Bowl Dec. 17. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ABC.
Contact Topher Adams at tadams@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @Topher_Adams.
Topher Adams is a fourth-year communications major and in his fourth semester with the Alligator. He previously covered football, baseball and women's basketball. He also enjoys professional lacrosse and Major League Soccer.
