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College football is changing and changing fast. Oklahoma and Texas are moving to the SEC. UCF is headed to the Big XII. The playoff may be expanding sooner than later. Players are now able to make money off the name, image and likeness. The Alliance wil......I'm not sure on that one, but you get the picture.
But perhaps the biggest change in college football is free agency. Yes, free agency in college football. Not like pro sports where a player's contract expires and he is able to pick where he wants to play and choose among the contracts offered. Free agency in college football will not include 10 year $400M deals but it does offer an open market where teams can throw a lot at you, including money- in some form.
A few months ago, the NCAA changed its rules regarding transferring in college football and gave all players a one time free transfer where they are immediately eligible, After that ruling, conference who tried to prevent transferring within the conference had no choice but to change their policy. So now, a player can go from one school to another and not sit out once during the college career.
And with that, Florida's Anthony Richardson may be the biggest free agent for the 2022 season. So far, Richardson has thrown 11 passes and rushed the ball 11 times. But he might be the most electric player in the game. Despite the small sample size, Dan Mullen knows the deal. First, Mullen is trying to win games and will play Emory Jones, Anthony Richardson and anyone else on the team that can help him do that. But Mullen also knows what looms ahead. With Emory Jones getting better each week, how does Mullen use Richardson in the weeks ahead?
What if Florida finishes the season and Emory Jones gets better and better and it's clear he has a handle of Florida's offense? Jones is not headed to the NFL after this season and there is no reason to think he would not be back and an entrenched starter in 2022? Where does that leave Richardson? Even if Mullen continues to mix in the 6-4 240 pound Richardson, would he be willing to sit behind Jones for another season? I know Richardson is from Gainesville and everyone talks about his love for the Gators and dreamed of being a Gator and how he and Emory get along so well. But why would he want to NOT play when he could start anywhere in 2022?
In fact, if you don't think there are programs now thinking about Richardson's availability, you are out of touch.There are likely teams in the SEC already wondering what he would like playing for them. And with the new NIL era we are in, can you just imagine what will be presented to Richardson and the potential deals he could get as a starter versus a role backing up Emory Jones?
Richardson might be a future NFL star and the only way to showcase your stardom is to play...all the time, not sporadically. What does Dan Mullen do after this season? Can he convince Richardson to stick around and remain loyal to the program and add to the package he currently offers to Richardson? Does he think about an open competition between the two quarterbacks?
Welcome to free agency in college football. It's all around you now. Alabama, Florida, UCF and everyone has used the transfer portal to add to their team and the system is only getting started. Coaches use a variety of methods to reach players to know about their interest- during the season. By the time a player formally enters the transfer portal they likely know where they are going or the group of teams seriously interested in you.
People often wondered why coaches keep recruiting quarterbacks with 3-4 already on the roster. It's because two of those QBs are likely leaving once they realize they won't get to play but the old rules forced players to sit out a season if they left. Now in the free agency world of college football, a player can simply bounce to a new school and not sit out. So picking the place you can play immediately is a lot easier now in college football.
Anthony Richardson's love of his hometown and hometown team may be tested at the end of this season. He may choose to stay where he is and Dan Mullen may sell him on why it's best to stay. But he will have options and he will have lots of things thrown at him about why it's best he leaves.
He might be the biggest free agent in college football in a few months. The question is will enter that world or choose to remain a Gator.
Final thought: Florida's first season of college football was in 1911. The Gators went 5-0-1 that season. Among the wins that season was a 27-0 victory over Stetson.