Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson's improbable rise from first-year starter to first-round draft pick concluded Thursday night when the Indianapolis Colts selected Richardson with the fourth overall pick of the NFL Draft.

Richardson is the highest-drafted Gators quarterback since San Francisco selected Heisman Trophy winner Steve Spurrier third overall 56 years ago. He is the fifth UF quarterback selected in the first round, and first since Tim Tebow in 2010. It marks the second time in the last three drafts that a UF player was selected fourth overall. Atlanta selected tight end Kyle Pitts with the No. 4 overall pick in 2021.

Richardson traveled to the draft eager for his introduction to a national audience — and with a personal goal written on the inside of his suit jacket.

"I want to be a legend" was the phrase he chose.

A product of Gainesville's Eastside High, Richardson signed with the Gators in December 2019 as a mid-year enrollee. He played behind Kyle Trask as a freshman, Emory Jones as a redshirt freshman, and finally took over as UF's starter as a third-year sophomore.

His long road to the NFL ended in happy tears on Thursday night.

"I knew it was going to be emotional for me because I always dreamed of this,'' Richardson said on the NFL Network. "When I got the call, it just hit me. It really hit me deep that I finally made it to this level. Now I've got to keep working to be the best. I'm going to be a dynamic player for the franchise. I'm going to work hard and be a leader."

Richardson's athleticism and arm strength wowed fans and opponents, and after a 6-6 regular season, Richardson opted to skip the Las Vegas Bowl and enter the draft.

In his only season coaching Richardson, Gators head coach Billy Napier saw what NFL scouts saw through the draft process.

"I'm just really proud of Anthony. A product of a lot of hard work. Now, the fun stuff begins,'' Napier said. "I think Anthony is really looking forward to the opportunity to impact an organization, be a great teammate, set an example with his work ethic and approach. I've watched this guy for a year now and it's been fun to watch, but also great to know as a person. The best is truly yet to come here. This guy's best football is in front of him.

"A unique young man and unique story and couldn't be more happy for him and his family."

Richardson made a wise choice as Thursday night proved when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called his name on a stage in Kansas City.

Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard said Richardson has been high on his radar since one of the team's scouts watched Richardson throw at a UF practice and gave Ballard a call.

"You should see the show I'm watching on this practice field right now,'' Ballard said was the scout's message. "He's a pretty unique athlete. We're excited to get Anthony. Now we've got to go play and make it work."

Richardson started 13 games at Florida, 12 of those coming last season. In 24 career games with the Gators, Richardson completed 215 of 393 passes (54.7 percent) for 3,105 yards, 24 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He added 12 rushing scores to go along with 1,116 yards on 161 rushing attempts (6.9 per carry).

As a third-year sophomore in 2022, Richardson passed for 2,549 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while rushing for 654 yards and nine scores. He declared for the NFL Draft following the regular season and began to rise in the draft rankings with an eye-popping performance in late February at the NFL Combine, where Richardson broke quarterback records for the vertical jump and broad jump, and ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at a listed 6-foot-4, 244 pounds.
 

The legend begins. @GVOaant x @Colts pic.twitter.com/NMGoDHEFOS

— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) April 28, 2023

"I think he's got a chance to be a really good player in this league,'' Colts coach Shane Steichen said. "That ball comes out pretty. He can spin it. We've got to build this thing around the quarterback."

Richardson is the ninth UF quarterback selected in the common draft era (since 1967), joining Spurrier (first round, 1967), John Reaves (first round, 1972), Kerwin Bell (seventh round, 1988), Danny Wuerffel (fourth round, 1997), Jesse Palmer (fourth round, 2001), Rex Grossman (first round, 2003), Tim Tebow (first round, 2010) and Kyle Trask (second round, 2021).

Richardson is the first quarterback the Colts have selected in the first round since Andrew Luck with the first overall pick in 2012.

What kind of player are they getting?

"First of all, a loyal teammate," Napier said. "A guy that takes great pride in doing his job for the team. He's going to be a great representative of the organization and community. Really just a unique talent. Arm talent, phenomenal athlete. There's not been many players like Anthony Richardson in the history of this game.

"I'm excited. He's found a group that believed in him and wants to build around him. Anthony is going to be a great Colt."

Draft Notables 

• Maintains Florida's streak of a draft pick in every NFL Draft since 1967
  • The Gators are one of three programs to achieve the mark with Michigan and USC
• Fourth-straight year a Gator has been drafted in the first round
  • Kaiir Elam (2022), Kyle Pitts and Kadarius Toney (2021), CJ Henderson (2020)
• 1st SEC QB drafted No. 4
• 4th QB overall drafted No. 4
  • Last was Phillip Rivers (2004)
• 277th Florida draft pick since 1967
• 55th Gator to be drafted in the first round since 1967

Gators Drafted by Indianapolis Colts

1. Shawn Davis, Round 5 in 2021
2. Quincy Wilson, Round 2, 2017
3. Antonio Morrison, Round 4 in 2016
4. Mike Peterson, Round 2 in 1999
5. Ellis Johnson, Round 1 in 1995
6. Tony McCoy, Round 3 in 1992
7. Michael Brandon, Round 12 in 1992
8. Stacey Simmons, Round 4 in 1990