Mullen on 2 QBs: 'We're Pretty Lucky'

Gators receiver Jacob Copeland after one of his two touchdown receptions from quarterback Anthony Richardson on Saturday. (Photo: UAA Communications)

Mullen on 2 QBs: 'We're Pretty Lucky'

Saturday, September 11, 2021 | Football, Scott Carter

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

TAMPA — The Gators didn't run with the USF Bulls on Saturday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium, they ran over, around and through them in a 42-20 win.

Now, on to what everyone with a trace of Orange & Blue blood coursing through his or her veins is talking about: Anthony Richardson, Florida's dynamic redshirt freshman quarterback.

In a tradition that seems to be the case nearly every season, the backup quarterback is the most popular player on the team. Remember when Emory Jones was that guy. Seemed like every time Jones came into a game, whether it was for a change-of-pace option behind Feleipe Franks or Kyle Trask the past three seasons, fans clamored for Jones to play more. The trend slackened a season ago when Trask put up historic numbers as Florida's starter, but with Trask on UF's sideline Saturday as a spectator, Jones made his second career start.

Some fans considered that one too many. Gators coach Dan Mullen has a different view.

"I mean, we're pretty lucky,'' he said after his 100th career win Saturday. "We have two quarterbacks that are pretty talented, can make plays happen out there on the field."

Anthony Richardson stiffarm — Gators quarterback **Anthony Richardson** prepares to stiff arm USF's Matthew Hill on Saturday. (Photo: **Hannah White**/UAA Communications)

Jones and Richardson combined to lead the Gators on five consecutive touchdown drives in the first half, providing UF a 35-3 halftime cushion that was never in jeopardy in the second half. After Dameon Pierce put the Gators on the board with a 7-yard touchdown run, Jones delivered a perfect 35-yard touchdown pass to Xzavier Henderson and raced 33 yards for a score later in the half. Meanwhile, Richardson threw 75- and 41-yard scoring passes to receiver Jacob Copeland in the first half and the rout was on.

As the Gators turn their attention to next week's matchup against No. 1-ranked Alabama at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, they do so with questions about Richardson's right hamstring and who will be the starting quarterback.

First, Mullen reiterated after Saturday's 666-yard outburst against the Bulls – the Gators' largest offensive output in 13 seasons and the fifth-best in program history – that Jones remains the starter. Don't expect him to change his mind after sleeping on it.

And really, does it matter who starts?

Here's the deal: both Jones and Richardson (if healthy) will play on Saturday against Alabama. Mullen knows that. Nick Saban knows that. Uncle Roscoe in Mobile knows that. Jones and Richardson know that.

That has been the plan all along, but Richardson's knack of making big plays has drastically altered the conversation outside the locker room. If his opening act is any indication of what is to come, Richardson has a chance to be a great one.

Asked what goes through his mind when Richardson makes those spine-tingling plays that have quickly become his trademark, Jones sounded like any other fan.

'"Just pfft. I'm doing the same thing y'all doing, just trying to see what exciting thing he's going to do," Jones said. "Really. I'm just – when he's in, I get every play and get the mental rep of it. I mean, I just go out there and watch him do his thing."

The last play on Richardson's highlight reel Saturday, his 80-yard touchdown run with 10:29 left in the game, sent him to the sideline for the rest of the afternoon. Richardson took the snap, broke free off the right side, ran over a USF defender, and then showed eye-popping speed for a player 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds, outrunning a group of Bulls to the end zone. However, at the tail end of his scamper, Richardson pulled up with what Mullen described as a tweak to his hamstring.

One of the last Gators to exit the locker room, Richardson moved toward the team buses gingerly, the same way he walked off field a half hour earlier. Based on Mullen's tone and the nature of hamstring injuries, Richardson likely has a week of treatment and consistent benchmark tests to determine his progress.

As for his headline-grabbing play in the first two games, the 19-year-old Richardson is taking it all in stride.

"Of course, it's fun because it's helping the team,'' he said. "I just try to come in and electrify the offense, try to get us rolling or keep us rolling. That's really what I try to do when I come in. That's just Coach Mullen calling plays and using the skill-set Emory and I have to make the offense go."

Richardson has aced the eye test so far.

He rushed four times for 115 yards Saturday and was 3-for-3 for 152 yards and two touchdowns passing. In two games, he has rushed for 275 yards and passed for 192. His 75-yard scoring strike to Copeland Saturday, combined with his 73-yard touchdown run against Florida Atlantic in the season opener, made Richardson the first Gators quarterback to have a 70-yard touchdown run and 75-yard touchdown pass in the same season since Jeff Driskel in 2012.

He didn't have to think long to decide which of his big plays Saturday – his 75-yard pass or 80-yard run – was his favorite.

"I'd say probably the pass,'' he said. "I didn't hurt after that one."

With wins over FAU and USF checked off on the Gators' to-do list, next up is the Crimson Tide.

It's the biggest game in "The Swamp" since most of the current Gators were in elementary school. Jones and Richardson will both have a say in the final outcome.

In what way is the question on everyone's mind. For starters, Jones can't toss a pair of interceptions the way he has in each of the season's first two games, which has served as a match to fuel the fire of whether he should be starting ahead of Richardson.

Until kickoff in seven days, it's back to work for the "Quarterback Whisperer" and his two main pupils.

"I have great appreciation, our fans have great appreciation of, you know, watching things and watching great athletes out there on the field," Mullen said. "We're pretty fortunate. We have two quarterbacks right now that can make great plays out there on the field. You know, it's a long season and we have young quarterbacks that I got to continue to grow and continue to develop into being really good football players.

"My job is to put us in the best position to win football games and develop this football program to be the best it can be. That's what we're doing."