Richardson will serve as a walking, talking model of an in-the-flesh 180.
Those Heisman Trophy odds that surged following Richardson’s performance against Utah will tumble back to planet Earth. And the toothy smile Richardson flashed in the wake of beating Utah was replaced by glumness in Florida’s 26-16 loss to Kentucky at The Swamp.
As Richardson trudged off Florida Field late Saturday night, he seemed much smaller than his 6-foot-4, 232-pound frame. Freshman teammate Christian Williams noticed, patting Richardson on the lower back and offering some encouraging words as the two entered the tunnel toward the locker room.
Richardson struggled mightily in his second career home start, throwing a pair of interceptions that led to points for No. 20-ranked Kentucky, the game-changer a 65-yard pick-six by Wildcats senior cornerback Keidron Smith. The Gators never recovered after Smith’s score gave the Wildcats a 23-16 lead late in the third quarter.
Richardson had little to recover from besides a bruised ego and perhaps a bruised body following a hit in the first quarter that showed him limping around afterward. To his credit, Richardson offered no excuses for his poor play when he took questions from reporters.
Richardson was noticeably distraught in his postgame press conference, his right hand wiggling around in his pants pocket and his feet shuffling behind the podium.
“I feel like I let everybody down,” Richardson said. “In this game and in life, adversity is going to come, and it’s going to go. Everybody expects a lot from me, and I expect a lot from myself, and I didn’t showcase anything that I’m capable of tonight. So, just have to grow from it.”
Richardson’s step back was the worst-case scenario for first-year Gators coach Billy Napier and his team, which is expected to live and die mainly by what Richardson does on Saturdays.
In the season-opening win over then-No. 7 Utah, Richardson was spectacular, rushing for three touchdowns and throwing for a career-high 168 yards. He made plays every time the Gators needed him to.
He looked lost against the Wildcats, who defeated the Gators in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the Jimmy Carter administration. Richardson finished 14 of 35 for 143 yards and two interceptions. He had four yards rushing after 106 against Utah.
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops…
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