C.J. Stroud, Will Levis, and sure Anthony Richardson placed on a present Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium

Thursday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium was what many described a sterilized surroundings. Whereas linebackers and defensive linemen have been working their method by way of the drills and testing, the smattering of followers and assembled media barely made any noise over the hours of exercises.

Saturday was a a lot totally different story.

The mixture of star energy in quarterbacks C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, and Will Levis throwing, mixed with it being a weekend afternoon, made for a a lot totally different surroundings. The decrease ring of the southeastern nook of Lucas Oil Stadium was stuffed with followers, and the anticipation was within the air for what we’d see from Stroud, Richardson, Levis, and the remainder of these figuring out:

Finally, these followers would have cause to cheer.

The primary spotlight of the session got here nearly two hours into the afternoon. The primary group of quarterback and broad receivers have been engaged on routes versus air, and after a lot of slants and pace outs, it was time for some deeper routes down the sector. When the receivers turned to dig routes, you bought a greater sense of velocity, timing, and placement.

That’s when Levis made a couple of throws that you might hear hit their goal, even over the din of the group.

As that was occurring, the second spotlight was going down. Richardson was partaking within the vertical leap.

And making some Mix historical past:

One other spotlight reel second got here from Richardson throughout his broad soar, which offered but extra Mix historical past:

A second file for quarterbacks on the Mix.

Frankly, we must always have anticipated it:

When it was time for the deep balls on the finish of the primary session, that actually received the group energized. When Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett uncorked his three go routes, the group in the long run zone to full voice.

However the star of that section was once more Levis, whose third deep ball carried from the ten-yard line to the other 30, carrying over 60 yards within the air, and Levis made the throw with ease.

Then it was time for the second group of quarterbacks to run and throw. Which meant it was time for Richardson so as to add his 40-yard sprint to a rising — and spectacular — Mix resume.

And he did, placing down an unofficial 4.44, which might stand because the third-fastest QB time in historical past. That efficiency introduced the group, largely Colts followers, to their ft.

It could be clear who Indianapolis followers need Chris Ballard to draft this spring.

It may additionally be clear who they need Richardson throwing to, and that’s Purdue broad receiver Charlie Jones. The previous Boilermaker posted two 4.44 40-yard dashes of his personal, and every run introduced the group to their ft:

Then it was time for routes versus air, and the Richardson present continued, with Stroud becoming a member of him because the costar. Each quarterbacks have been assured and easy, and whereas Stroud was the extra polished and rhythmic of the 2, the speed edge went to Richardson. That confirmed up particularly on the dig routes, when Richardson’s throws got here on extra of a line, and you might hear them hit their goal.

When it was time for the vertical routes, Richardson once more placed on a present, matching what Levis did within the first session. The Florida QB dropped three-straight throws of 60+ yards within the air with ease, with all three settling safely within the arms of the receiver.

Stroud’s first throw got here up barely brief, however the crowd in the long run zone — which had been behind him all through the session — picked up their voice, and his subsequent two throws have been made with a lot better placement.

Nonetheless, even the Huge Ten crowd couldn’t sway the fan vote inside Lucas Oil Stadium:

(I would want a brand new telephone, however that’s a dialogue for one more time).

It was that sort of afternoon. Expectations have been excessive for Richardson, and he not solely met them, he surpassed them. He was explosive all through testing, and threw the ball not simply with velocity, however with straightforward velocity. There was no wasted motion in his movement, and it was easy for him.

Nonetheless, Stroud had a strong day as effectively, and put collectively a throwing session that caught the attention of NFL Community analyst Daniel Jeremiah excessive above Lucas Oil Stadium:

The truth that Stroud had this type of throwing session shouldn’t be a shock. As he described himself earlier this week, accuracy and ball placement is his energy. Stroud known as himself a ball-placement specialist, and Saturday was the proper venue for that capability:

Now the massive query concerning Richardson.

The place does he go within the draft? Does this week, and Saturday’s efficiency, transfer him not simply up the board, however to the highest?

Somebody simply would possibly.