Archie Manning on former Florida QB Anthony Richardson: 'He's really a physical specimen'

Archie Manning is a legend in the game of football. During his time running the Manning Passing Academy, he’s seen tons of elite quarterbacks. In fact, he’s even raised a few quarterbacks who turned out pretty good.

During an appearance on SportsCenter, Manning spoke about Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson, one of the most interesting prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft.

“I didn’t know much about Anthony,” Manning said during a Tuesday appearance on SportsCenter. “Florida the year before had played several quarterbacks. So, I didn’t know a whole lot about him but Coach Billy Napier is a good friend of mine and he really wanted him to come to camp, and he showed up, I mean, I told the boys, ‘This is a man, right here.'”

Manning was incredibly impressed with Richardson during the camp. In part, this was because of his physical talent. However, it was also because of his desire to improve.

“Now, he is a physical specimen. Anthony, he came to learn. Now, these quarterbacks come down there to our camp, number one, they’re coaching all our high school quarterbacks,” Manning said. “We have 1,400 quarterbacks and receivers. So, they’re coaching them. But, during the process of the four days, they have about three workouts, three different times they’re on the field. Peyton [Manning] and Eli [Manning] and some other coaches of ours are on the field with them,” Manning explained.

“And he came to soak it all up. He wanted to learn. He wanted to ask questions. They have some meetings, he took notes. But he is — we have a little exhibition where all of our quarterbacks throw to some of our college receivers or some of our camp receivers, of course everyone loves the deep ball. He can sling it. He’s really a physical specimen and a really nice young man.”

McShay on why he thinks the Colts will draft Anthony Richardson

In his latest mock draft, Todd McShay predicted that the Indianapolis Colts will trade up and draft Anthony Richardson third overall. He later explained why he’s expecting this move.

“Well it’s the position, and it’s his unbelievable talent, and what he can be. And if you’re an organization, whether it’s the Colts at three moving up one spot, or Seattle sitting at five, or another team like Tennessee, or Washington at 16, or the Buccaneers at 19. Some team I think is going to trade up for Anthony Richardson at some point and bet on his upside,” McShay said.

“And that upside is 6’4, 244 pounds, running a 4.43. And you can see at the pro day, you can see flashes of it on tape, he flicks wrist rolling left in one of these throws off balance and drives it 60 yards on a line. Every throw is easy for him, he doesn’t have to strain,” McShay explained. “Now we’ve got to get him more comfortable, just 13 career starts in college. But I look at Josh Allen, I think that’s the comp physically, Josh Allen was more experienced coming out of Wyoming. Again 13 starts for Anthony Richardson, but when you’re talking about big, mobile, rifle arm – there’s a lot to work with here. I just hope he finds a place where there’s a Brian Daboll to develop him like Josh Allen had in Buffalo.”