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Victory Lap: Behind the scenes of Anthony Richardson's Pro Day

On3 imageby:Zach Abolverdi•03/30/23•

ZachAbolverdi

Anthony-Richardson-Florida-Gators
Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson. (Maddie Washburn/UAA Photo)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In 2017, Michael Jordan famously said “the ceiling is the roof” during a UNC-Duke basketball game. Don’t tell that to Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson.

The roof of Florida’s indoor practice facility will be the only ceiling that the 20-year-old hits any time soon. He threw for all 32 NFL teams Thursday at UF’s annual Pro Day.

Richardson didn’t need to work out after putting on a show at the NFL Combine, but he’s not one to rest on his laurels. Plus, he wanted to outdo another top QB prospect.

“I have a big arm, so I tried to showcase that, but I hit the roof,” Richardson said. “I haven’t done that before, I’ve seen Will Levis do it so I decided to one-up him, put a hole through the thing.”

His moonball that crashed into the 60-foot ceiling was one of the only hiccups from another strong throwing session for the projected first-round pick. He competed 55 of 62 passes and wrapped up his workout on a 74-yard bomb.

Richardson then finished it off with a cartwheel and back flip as he sprinted down the field to celebrate with his receivers, as Justin Shorter, Jordan Pouncey, Xzavier Henderson and Caleb Douglas caught passes from him.

“Honestly, I don’t know the furthest I’ve thrown it. I did tell one team I think I could possibly do 80,” Richardson said. “I delivered the ball pretty well today. Some of them weren’t as great as I wanted to be, but I feel like I threw the ball pretty well.” 

More than 80 NFL staff members attended Florida’s Pro Day, including three head coaches in Seattle’s Pete Carroll, Jacksonville’s Doug Pederson and Carolina’s Frank Reich, whose team traded up for the No. 1 pick in the draft.

The Panters also brought quarterback coach Josh McCown and senior assistant Jim Caldwell, a former NFL head coach, while Seahawks quarterback coach Greg Olson joined Carroll in Gainesville. What is Richardson’s pitch to teams to be their top pick?

“I’m a workhouse. I’m going to work to be the greatest,” Richardson said. “Everybody doesn’t want to be great, everybody doesn’t want to work, so I definitely take pride in that. I always want to grow.

“When I was younger, I heard about Tom Brady. People were saying he’s the greatest QB ever, but I heard that he works and wants to get better day by day, so I just kind of take that into myself.”

Not even 21 years old, Richardson’s best football is ahead of him. He started only one season at Florida and played in just 24 career games, throwing for 3,105 yards, 24 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while adding 1,116 yards on the ground with 12 rushing scores.

The 6-foot-4, 246-pound Richardson hasn’t even scratched the surface of his potential.

“I don’t know what my ceiling is. I’m just going to work. I’m just going to try to get better day by day,” Richardson said. “If I had a 10-year career in the NFL, I’ll just be 30, 31 years old. Just to put that into perspective and just thinking about how God has blessed me with this ability, and how much I’m willing to work just to be one of the best QBs in the world.”

He’s certainly one of the best quarterbacks in the 2023 draft class, along with Kentucky’s Levis, Ohio State’s CJ Stroud and Alabama’s Bryce Young. Despite an inconsistent 2022 season as a first-year starter, Richardson recognized that several NFL teams needed a signal caller.

He elected to turn pro early and prove himself during the draft process, and that decision will pay off for Richardson on the night of April 27th.

“Anthony kind of bet on himself to some degree. He knew what teams needed quarterbacks. He went through an exhaustive process and made a decision which is going to prove to be a smart decision,” Florida coach Billy Napier said. “Anthony, he’s a humble kid. He’s a smart kid. Just a really inexperienced player, was a first-year starter in a new system and everybody around him was in a new system and teaching a new system. So, we all know what this guy’s capable of. It’s just a matter of repetition. He’s going to provide the work ethic and the attitude. And he’s going to have a phenomenal career.

“He’s really motivated to prove himself. You know, ’20 COVID, ’21 minimal role, ’22 first-year starter in a new system. And just destroyed the National Football League Combine. Like, generational physical traits. So, somebody’s gonna get a guy that’s gonna be a lot of fun to coach.”

Richardson said he’s been in regular communication with Colts, Panthers and Seahawks, and he had dinner on Wednesday night with Carolina. Richardson isn’t sure which team will select him, but he’s soaking up the process and enjoying every moment.

“I don’t know where I’ll end up. I don’t know what fit would be the best one for me. I won’t know until the day does come and I’m there. So just getting information, that’s the best thing I can do right now,” Richardson said.

“Honestly, this process has been better than I thought it was gonna be. I thought it was going to be a lot more stressful. I didn’t think it’s going to be as fun. But I’ve been having fun since the day I made my decision. I’m just thankful.”

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