Anthony Richardson college stats offer an important look at the quarterback’s development at Florida and help explain why his combination of arm talent and rushing ability made him one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. Richardson spent three seasons with the Gators, appearing in 24 games and making 13 starts before entering the NFL.
His Florida career was relatively brief compared with many starting quarterbacks, but his final season gave NFL evaluators a much larger sample of his abilities.
A Three-Year Florida Career
Richardson arrived at Florida as a highly regarded quarterback prospect and initially worked behind other players in the Gators’ quarterback rotation.
He saw limited action as a freshman in 2020. His passing opportunities were minimal, but his athleticism was immediately evident when he carried the ball.
The following season brought a considerably larger role. Richardson appeared in eight games and completed 38 of 64 attempts for 529 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions.
His running production was more prominent. He carried the ball 51 times for 401 yards and three touchdowns, showing why his mobility would become such an important part of his evaluation.
The 2022 Season Changed His Profile
Richardson’s final season at Florida became the defining chapter of his college career.
He started all 12 games he played in during the 2022 season and finished with 2,549 passing yards. He completed 176 of 327 attempts, producing 17 touchdown passes against nine interceptions.
His completion percentage was 53.8%, while he averaged 7.8 yards per attempt.
Those passing numbers were accompanied by another major contribution. Richardson rushed 103 times for 654 yards and nine touchdowns.
The result was a quarterback who produced 3,203 combined passing and rushing yards during the season.
His ability to create offense in multiple ways became one of the strongest arguments in his favor as NFL teams evaluated the quarterback class.
A Quarterback Who Created With His Legs
Richardson’s rushing ability separated him from many traditional pocket passers.
He finished his Florida career with 1,116 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns on 161 attempts. Much of that production came during his final two seasons.
In 2021, he averaged 7.9 yards per rushing attempt. In 2022, he added 654 yards on the ground while becoming Florida’s primary quarterback.
His rushing statistics were not simply a byproduct of broken plays. Florida could use his athletic ability as part of its offensive design, forcing opposing defenses to account for another running threat whenever Richardson was on the field.
That dimension increased the pressure on defenders and helped compensate for areas of his passing game that were still developing.
Career Passing Numbers at Florida
Richardson completed 215 of 393 career passes for 3,105 yards.
He finished with 24 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions, along with a 54.7% career completion rate.
His numbers show the impact of the opportunity he received in 2022. Before that season, he had only 67 total passing attempts across his first two years.
The final season supplied most of his career passing production and gave professional scouts their clearest view of what he could do as a full-time starter.
That distinction is important when examining his college résumé. Richardson was not a four-year starter who accumulated thousands of attempts. Instead, he entered the NFL after a comparatively small number of college starts while possessing physical tools that teams believed could translate to the professional level.
A Standout Passing Performance
One of Richardson’s most memorable statistical performances came against Vanderbilt during the 2022 season.
He completed 25 of 42 passes for 400 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
The 400-yard passing performance highlighted the upside that had attracted attention around the quarterback. It also demonstrated that his college profile was not limited to designed runs and improvisation.
Richardson could generate substantial production through the air when his passing game was working efficiently.
Why the Numbers Were Only Part of the Evaluation
Richardson’s college statistics contained both impressive production and obvious areas for development.
His athletic ability was exceptional for a quarterback of his size. He could accelerate into open space, extend plays outside the pocket and generate explosive gains as a runner.
At the same time, his completion percentage showed that accuracy and consistency remained areas of concern.
The limited number of starts also meant that NFL teams had fewer college performances to evaluate than they would have had with a quarterback who had been a starter for multiple seasons.
Those factors created a distinctive draft profile. Richardson was viewed less as a finished product and more as a quarterback with considerable physical upside.
Florida Career Totals
By the end of his college career, Richardson had accumulated a combination of passing and rushing production that reflected his dual-threat style.
His final Florida totals included:
- 24 games played
- 13 starts
- 3,105 passing yards
- 215 completions
- 393 passing attempts
- 24 passing touchdowns
- 15 interceptions
- 1,116 rushing yards
- 161 rushing attempts
- 12 rushing touchdowns
Together, his passing and rushing yardage totaled 4,221 yards.
He was also responsible for 36 touchdowns through the air and on the ground.
The 2023 NFL Draft Decision
Richardson declared for the NFL draft following the 2022 season.
His physical tools, rushing production and potential attracted substantial attention from NFL teams. The Indianapolis Colts ultimately selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
That selection reflected a belief that his athletic traits could develop into a successful professional quarterback.
His college statistics were therefore viewed in context. The numbers did not resemble the résumé of a highly experienced college passer, but they showed enough production, especially in 2022, to support the argument that he could become a dynamic NFL starter.
What His Florida Numbers Reveal
The most revealing part of Richardson’s college career was the contrast between his first two seasons and his final year.
He entered 2022 with limited starting experience. By the end of that season, he had demonstrated that he could manage a full college schedule while producing more than 3,200 combined passing and rushing yards.
His 17 passing touchdowns and nine rushing touchdowns also showed how heavily Florida’s offense could rely on him near the scoring area.
The combination of passing potential, rushing production and physical ability ultimately became the foundation of his NFL prospect profile.
The Bottom Line
Richardson’s time at Florida lasted only three seasons, but the 2022 campaign gave him the opportunity to establish himself as a major NFL prospect.
His career ended with 3,105 passing yards, 24 touchdown passes, 15 interceptions, 1,116 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.
The statistics also explain why his evaluation went beyond conventional passing numbers. Richardson’s ability to produce on the ground was a central part of his value, while his arm strength and physical traits offered the possibility of further development.
For anyone evaluating his path from Florida to the NFL, the numbers provide a clear picture: Richardson entered professional football with limited starting experience but significant dual-threat production and a ceiling that convinced Indianapolis to make him a top-four selection.