Florida QB Richardson ready for better health, more heroics

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — No extra pregame backflips. No extra resort dances. No extra pointless hits.

Anthony Richardson is now Florida’s unchallenged – and nonetheless unproven — beginning quarterback, a budding star who’s already turn out to be a preferred title discovered close to the highest of a number of 2023 NFL mock drafts.

He’s massive. He’s quick. He’s bought arm expertise. He’s good. He’s polished. He’s a hometown hero who grew up in Gainesville and is raring to take over a coveted job in entrance of longtime mates and beloved relations.

He’s all the things the rebuilding Gators want and all the things opposing defenses concern. He simply wants to remain heathy, one thing he did not do as a backup final season.

“It’s all the time been a fear of mine,” Richardson mentioned a number of days earlier than Florida opens the season in opposition to No. 7 Utah. “It’s not a very good feeling when you’ll be able to’t contribute to the workforce, not being wholesome, as a result of I hate being damage, everyone does.”

The 6-foot-4, 232-pound Richardson flashed in a backup function behind Emory Jones final season, operating wild in opposition to Florida Atlantic and South Florida earlier than a hamstring harm sidelined him two video games.

He bought his lone begin in late October in opposition to Georgia’s generational protection. However he turned the ball over thrice in a two-minute span late within the second quarter after which sustained a concussion after halftime.

He was scheduled to return the next week at South Carolina however tweaked his proper knee dancing within the workforce resort the evening earlier than the sport and was scratched. He was again in motion three weeks later in opposition to Florida State and rallied the Gators to a victory. However he was completed for the season following arthroscopic knee surgical procedure two weeks later.

His season can finest be described as a promising profession begin that by no means actually discovered a rhythm due to repeated setbacks.

Nonetheless, Richardson has drawn comparisons to 2010 Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton. Richardson welcomes the flattery as a result of Newton was his idol rising up.

“Truthfully, it feels nice,” Richardson mentioned. “He’s been my favourite since like fifth, sixth grade. Simply to be in comparison with him, it makes me really feel good. It makes me really feel like I’m doing one thing proper. … They suppose I’m going to be simply pretty much as good as him, so hopefully I can try this and present folks what I can do.”

Richardson completed with simply six landing passes and 5 interceptions final season. He additionally ran for 3 scores.

First-year Florida coach Billy Napier has been fast to mood rising expectations surrounding the centerpiece of his offense.

“I do know all of us need to put a crown on his head,” Napier mentioned. “The man has accomplished 33 passes in his profession. The nice quarterbacks on the College of Florida, they compete 33 in a single sport, so I believe we’ve bought work to do there.”

It begins with protecting Richardson wholesome. He promised to surrender pregame backflips that wowed followers and teammates. He insisted he gained’t be dancing “like that” in the course of the season. And he even discovered how one can slide, one thing he not often did in 2021.

The Gators want him to be good and keep away from taking photographs within the open discipline. In any case, backup quarterback and Ohio State switch Jack Miller is sidelined at the very least the primary two video games of the season following thumb surgical procedure.

Jones transferred to Arizona State within the spring, clearing the way in which for Richardson to take over after a yr during which Florida followers clamored for him weekly. It’s Richardson’s present now — he needed to beg teammates to get sufficient tickets for his family and friends to witness his first begin within the Swamp — and it begins on an enormous stage in opposition to the defending Pac-12 champions.

“Anticipating to see nice issues,” tight finish Dante Zanders mentioned, evaluating Richardson to New York Giants dynamic receiver and 2021 first-round decide Kadarius Toney. “He’s Kadarius Toney on the quarterback place. He’s bought an arm on him. He can do unbelievable throws off his again leg, run, all the things.”

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