Anthony Richardson addresses backlash to answer on transfer question

After a somewhat cryptic comment on his position at Florida, quarterback Anthony Richardson has issued a clarification on the situation. 

I am a Florida Gator, through and through. Sorry if my response wasn’t clear enough, but I’m not worried about anything but maximizing my opportunity now! Don’t count us out… #GVO #GatorGang 🐊 pic.twitter.com/zE5BeKCaTK

— Anthony Richardson † (@GVOaant) October 17, 2021

It appears, at least publicly and for the moment, Richardson is staying home in his native Gainesville. 

The controversy started following a 49-42 loss at the hands of LSU in Death Valley. After the game, Richardson was asked about his future with Florida.

“I can’t really speak on that,” Richardson said. “Time is the only thing that tells. Right now I’m a Gator.”

He did not get the start Saturday, but he nearly saved the game for head coach Dan Mullen’s team.

Richardson was 10-for-19 with 167 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air, seven carries for 37 yards and a touchdown on the ground and two of Florida’s four interceptions on the day. 

He entered the game after quarterback Emory Jones threw a pick-six to start the second half and immediately led an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. He converted for two points on a run after a 5-yard rushing touchdown. Florida scored touchdowns on its next three possessions as well, but Richardson threw a pick on the Gators’ final offensive drive.

Mullen going to ‘evaluate a lot of things’ during bye week

The fourth-year head coach has two weeks to determine who is the best quarterback moving forward before the Gators face No. 1 Georgia in Jacksonville on Oct. 30. 

Following the game, which was Florida’s third SEC loss this season, Mullen spoke about the possibilities at quarterback.

“We are going to look at that, obviously, going into the bye week. We are going to evaluate a lot of things,” Mullen said. “Thought I saw some good things from both quarterbacks today, saw some mistakes from both quarterbacks today. We’ll evaluate that and how that’s going to play out moving forward. I can jump up and down on the table about some really good things we did and jump up and down on the table about some terrible mistakes we made. We’ll evaluate that part of it.”

Florida and Georgia both have bye weeks next week, so when they meet in Jacksonville in two weeks, Florida will have a chance to topple the nation’s No. 1 team. Florida has struggled against the better defenses they have played in Alabama and Kentucky, and Georgia boasts the country’s best defenders.

The Gators were victorious in last year’s contest, but Georgia leads the series 52-44-2 all-time. The Bulldogs have won six of the last 10 meetings.