GAINESVILLE, Fla. —
Justin Shorter has a pair of quirky details that often surface in stories about him.
First, as a senior at South Brunswick (N.J.) High, the former baseball player ascended the rankings to become the No. 1 receiving prospect in the country according to multiple recruiting services. He was a five-star player who signed with Penn State.
Next, after Shorter transferred to Florida in 2020, his mother moved from New Jersey to Florida to be close to her son. That's not the most interesting part of the story, however.
Paula Shorter plays quarterback for Justin each day, tossing a couple of hundred passes to keep him sharp.
The ritual is one that Shorter was asked about again this week.
"Hurricane day, we were throwing still,'' Shorter said following Wednesday night's practice. "After this, I have to go back and catch some."
Could Paula have thrown as good a pass as the one quarterback
Anthony Richardson did to Shorter on the first offensive play for the Gators on Sunday? Shorter's 75-yard touchdown reception ignited the Gators on their way to a 52-17 win over the Eagles.
"Absolutely,'' he said.
Justin Shorter hauls in a pass in last season's game at Missouri. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
While Shorter clearly has confidence in his mom's arm, the same can be said of Richardson's. The two have connected for 230 yards in the past two games, providing Florida's offense a booster shot heading into Saturday's Southeastern Conference game against Missouri at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Shorter is on pace for his best season, leading the Gators with 314 yards on 14 receptions through five games. His 22.4-yard average per catch ranks second in the SEC and sixth among FBS schools.
No doubt, mom approves. For more on Shorter, here is a Q&A from his press conference this week:
Q. Where did that first play you guys ran come from?
A: We've run that play a few times during the week. It was a call, just like any other play, normal play. Went out there, seen the safety. The safety was low, the corner was in man coverage, so I just took advantage of it. He was playing outside leverage. I seen it, that's why I was smiling, which is a good play.
Q. What do you and Anthony have that is working lately?
A: I would say all the work we put in since last year. We've been throwing multiple times, the same stuff over and over and over and over again. Now it's starting to show on the field. The work is starting to pay off.
Q. What's changed here in the past couple of weeks regarding preparation?
A: I'd say definitely after practice, we've definitely taken more time and really try to focus on details, really doing all the small things after practice, so that way it can show up on the field. That's the after-hour work you do in the dark that is going to come to the light eventually.
Q. Where have you seen Anthony grow the most this season?
A: I would definitely say his confidence and his ability to throw, his arm. He over there right there. [Shorter points to Richardson, who is behind a glass wall watching Shorter speak]. I would definitely say his confidence. I feel like now he can rip the ball, put it there. He's definitely confident with his reads.
Q: First play of the game, are you concerned maybe he will overthrow you?
A: Not at all. I'd say I definitely have full trust in him, in his arm. We've probably made that same throw thousands of times before. I should be able to close my eyes and run it in, just fall in there because we've done it so many times.
Q. What do you remember about that trip home from Missouri after last year's overtime game?
A: Very, very sick feeling. I just do not like losing at all. I've never been like that. I lose, I'll be upset the rest of the night. I really say we have that sick taste in our mouths.
Q. What has the adjusted practice week been like, and how fresh do you feel?
A: I feel pretty good. Really how fresh you feel is based on how you take care of your body. If you put in the extra time in the training room, the cold tub, and stuff, you know you're going to feel good. If you don't, you're not. It was nice having that practice [Tuesday] with no pads on.
Q. How have you enjoyed the GatorMade program?
A: I had my favorite life experience I've ever had. Just changed my whole perspective on life, really how I look at things. I feel like that's definitely a program that's going to help a lot of boys become men in this program, which I feel like a lot of us need.
Q. How did it change your life on the trip to Greece?
A: The first time leaving the country. Really just seeing something else, seeing how other people live, someone else's culture for a change. That really opened my eyes up. I was kind of like, 'Whoa.' They call it wanderlust, where you want to travel the world and do stuff. Now I just want to travel everywhere now after doing that now.
