Anthony Richardson's second career start will include a lot of firsts

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida football team is back in game week mode, and this one is different for redshirt sophomore quarterback Anthony Richardson.

The Gators began practicing Sunday for their 2022 season opener, which will be Richardson’s second start of his college career. And like the first time, he’s facing another top-10 opponent in No. 7 Utah, the defending Pac-12 champions.

Richardson started last season against the national champion Georgia Bulldogs, although he wasn’t the unquestioned QB1 like he is now. In fact, former coach Dan Mullen said he split reps evenly in practice all week between him and Emory Jones before giving the nod to Richardson.

His lack of first-team reps leading up to that matchup was a difficult spot for Richardson to make his starting debut. This time around, he’s taking the reins in front of his home crowd and without having to look over his shoulder. This is his job and his team; however, there will still be a lot of firsts for him Saturday night in The Swamp.

“We’ve got to get game ready, and what does that look like to get us prepared for one game as a starter? I don’t know the whole week that he knew he was going to be the starter (last season),” Florida coach Billy Napier said of Richardson. “So, this is a new experience for him with a new staff, with a new system and there’s a certain level of responsibility that comes with all this and he’s a young man.”

Young and inexperienced. Despite Richardson’s breakout moments in 2021, he only appeared in eight games and played just a couple series against Kentucky and Samford.

Richardson showed flashes early last season before his hamstring injury, then had impressive performances off the bench against LSU and FSU. He also committed three turnovers in the final three minutes of the first half vs. UGA.

Richardson finished the year with 38 pass completions.

“The great quarterbacks at the University of Florida, they compete (that) in one game. So, I think we’ve got work to do there,” Napier said. “I think with Anthony I’ve been very pleased, in particular as of late. I think probably the last four, five, six practices I think I’ve seen him make improvements.

“Couldn’t ask for much more, just in terms of the humility, the consistency. He’s bright. He’s got character. He does all the things that you would want a quarterback to do. The guy is a really an inexperienced player. I mean, I know we all want to put a crown on his head.”

High expectations for Richardson

Several draft analysts have Richardson pegged as a top-10 pick for the 2023 NFL Draft, with ESPN’s Jordan Reid being the latest on Thursday. Napier spoke exclusively with Gators Online about his reaction to those projections as well as Richardson taking on more of a leadership role this year.

Last season, Richardson’s teammates looked at him to provide a spark on offense. He’s no longer a role player — he’s the role model. His teammates now view Richardson as one of the captains in the locker room and follow the example he sets on and off the field.

“I think playing quarterback is a lot about how you influence other people,” Napier said. “So, I think that’s the big challenge with Anthony right now is for him to fully embrace that, ‘I am the standard and match my detail, match my intensity, match my focus, match my approach.’

“And if anybody’s got a question about how things should be done when it comes to the University of Florida and our football program, they should be able to look at the quarterback and say, ‘OK, I’m going to watch him and do it like he does it.’”

All eyes will be on Richardson this week as he prepares for his first career start at home. While Napier challenged him this offseason to improve as a passer and leader, he has championed his ability as a dual-threat quarterback.

Richardson will be a focal point of Florida’s rushing attack under Napier, and he won’t put a leash on him in the first two games with backup Jack Miller III (thumb) sidelined.

“I do think that for us to win, we’re going to play to his strengths,” Napier said of Richardson. “The guy’s a phenomenal athlete. He can make plays with his feet, some of those being designed, some of those being a threat and some of those are unannounced.

“I think the key here is that he makes the right decision. And a lot of that is going to be determined dependent on our situation at that position. But there’s no question we’re going to use Anthony’s legs. It’s got to be a part of who we are and what we do.”