Anthony Richardson‘s recent comments about his time at the University of Florida have shed light on the internal struggles he faced while he was still a Gator. The former Florida quarterback, now with the Indianapolis Colts, hinted that he had made up his mind to leave Florida even before declaring for the NFL Draft.
In a candid podcast appearance, Richardson stated, “I already knew I wasn’t going to be at Florida again. Whether I did declare or not, I wasn’t going to be there again.” This decision stemmed from a series of disappointments and challenges he faced during his college career.
The mismanagement of Richardson’s health became even more apparent when he was thrust into challenging situations despite not being fully fit. He recalled, “They messed around and threw me out there to start against Georgia. The number one defense in the country, statistically, everywhere. Left that game early with a concussion.”
The structural issues within the program were evident in Florida’s performance during Richardson’s final year. Despite his individual talents, the team struggled to a 6-7 record (3-5 in SEC play), with losses to Kentucky and Vanderbilt underscoring the struggles of the team in 2022.
Richardson’s suggestion that he was going to leave Florida regardless of his draft status is a harsh truth about the program’s current state. It suggests that the problems he experienced were systemic and not easily fixable in the short term.
It should be noted that since leaving Florida, Richardson went on to be a top five pick in the 2023 NFL Draft with Billy Napier present at the draft. He has also been spotted still supporting Florida at other events, including the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in March when the Gators were in Indianapolis.
In retrospect, Richardson’s comments also bring credence to the perception that Florida’s strength and conditioning program was lacking during his time with the Gators, especially under Mark Hocke.
Now, with Florida bringing in Tyler Miles to take over the strength and conditioning program and the improvements already seen with the team, hope is on the horizon for the Florida Gators moving forward.
