Gators quarterback Emory Jones prepares to launch a pass in Saturday night's win over FAU in the season opener. (Photo: Courtney Culbreath/UAA Communications)
Jones Vows to Improve as Richardson Opens Eyes in Opener
Saturday, September 4, 2021 | Football, Scott Carter
Share:
By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The chorus grew louder each time Anthony Richardson hurdled an FAU defender or made an Owl whiff on a tackle. Finally, after Richardson raced 73 yards for the Gators' final touchdown Saturday night in their 35-14 season-opening win, the social-media pundits had seen enough.
They declared Richardson, a redshirt freshman and former prep star at Eastside High a few miles from "The Swamp," ready to be Florida's starting quarterback. Some appeared willing to cast a Heisman vote if they had one.
Truth be told, the 6-foot-4, 236-pound Richardson impressed throughout preseason camp with his ability and his presence, a 19-year-old man-child with a strong right arm and gravelly voice. He's an intriguing talent. There's no denying that and why he's on the roster.
"He's exciting with the ball in his hand,'' Gators coach Dan Mullen said after he improved to 4-0 in season openers at UF. "I think he's going to be a great player for us. I think you saw that tonight, his athleticism."
The caveat here, of course, is that fourth-year junior Emory Jones made his first career start on Saturday after waiting his turn behind Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask. The 6-foot-2, 211-pound Jones is gifted in his own way, an elusive runner who has shown a rifle arm on occasion.
Jones took the field Saturday with high expectations. He made some plays, including calling an audible and then checking back to the original call on Florida's first score, a pitch to running back Dameon Pierce that resulted in a 2-yard touchdown run.
"And it worked,'' Jones said.
Emory Jones in action Saturday night against FAU. (Photo: Isabella Marley/UAA Communications)
Jones finished 17 of 27 for 113 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He rushed 10 times for 74 yards in a game that was never seriously in doubt after the Gators took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a pair of drives directed by Jones. He tossed his first touchdown of the season on the Gators' second drive, connecting with Rick Wells for a 9-yard score.
Still, Jones admitted he wasn't as sharp as he would have liked. He misread a signal from the sideline on a fourth-and-goal from FAU's 4-yard line that resulted Jones running into a pile of Owl defenders and turning the ball over on downs.
"He wasn't sure with the play call," Mullen said. "That's an experience deal. He's got to take a timeout for us."
And he threw a pair of interceptions, including one in the end zone on third-and-seven from FAU's 12-yard line in the first half.
Jones handled some thorny questions like a veteran in his postgame press conference.
"I don't really feel that good about it, honestly," Jones said of his performance afterward. "I definitely have to play better and just overall, we have to play better. We just have to get back in the lab. I feel like I still made a lot of mistakes early in the game that you probably couldn't see. I missed too many throws that I never do. It's just getting more comfortable, just being out there actually being the starter."
Mullen said the plan entering the game was for Jones and Richardson both to receive reps in the opener. He stuck to the script when Richardson entered the game on Florida's first drive of the second quarter. Richardson immediately made his presence felt on three consecutive runs that moved Florida from the FAU 35 to the Owls' 7. Then, after a delay-of-game penalty, Jones was picked off by Diashun Moss in the end zone.
Mullen reacted incredulously when asked by SEC Network sideline reporter Cole Cubelic about the possibility of a quarterback change heading into next week's game in Tampa against USF. He provided context to the beat reporters about a half hour later.
"The plan was that we were going to play both of them,'' Mullen said. "We got Anthony that series in the first half and then wanted to get him another couple of series in the second half. I thought he did a good job, missed some reads. But I thought it was good for him to get experience.
"It was great for Emory to get that experience as a starter right now, for his first game out there. He missed some reads too, but I think you see that both of them have the ability to make explosive plays. The nice thing is, I'm pretty confident with both the quarterbacks. Obviously, Emory's our starter. As you get the experience, you roll the guys through. We did that tonight and it was great to see them both make some really explosive plays." CHARTING THE GATORS
Redshirt junior quarterback Emory Jones made his first career start Saturday. A look at UF quarterbacks in their first career starts in the post-Tim Tebow era:
20 of 28, 293 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT in 34-3 win over Tennessee
Feleipe Franks
2017
5 of 9, 75 yards in 33-17 loss to Michigan in Arlington, Texas
Malik Zaire
2017
13 of 19, 158 yards, 1 INT in 45-16 loss at Missouri
Austin Appleby
2016
23 of 39, 296 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT in 38-28 loss at Tennessee
Luke Del Rio
2016
29 of 44, 256 yards, 2 TD in 24-7 win over UMass
Will Grier
2015
10 of 17, 151 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT in win over East Carolina
Treon Harris
2014
3 of 6, 27 yards as Gators rushed for 418 to upset Georgia
Skyler Mornhinweg
2013
10 of 13 for 107 yards, 1 INT in 19-14 loss at South Carolina
Tyler Murphy
2013
15 of 18, 156 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT in 24-7 win at Kentucky
Jeff Driskel*
2012
10 of 16, 114 yards, 1 TD in 27-14 win over Bowling Green
Jacoby Brissett
2011
8 of 14, 94 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT in 41-11 loss at No. 1 LSU
John Brantley
2010
17 of 25, 113 yards, 2 TD in 34-12 win over Miami (Ohio)
Note: *Driskel started at receiver, took over at quarterback on next play
Most of Florida's 553 yards of total offense came on the ground, and it was Richardson leading the way with 160 yards on seven carries. He was 3-for-8 for 40 yards through the air as the Gators finished with 400 yards rushing, their highest single-game output since a 418-yard rushing effort to upset Georgia in 2014.
If you've paid close attention in the offseason, you knew Florida's offense was going to look different from a year ago when quarterback Kyle Trask directed the nation's top passing team. Still, it might not look at different as it did Saturday if the Gators can shake off some of the rust and sloppiness that Jones said plagued them in the opener.
He is committed to do his part.
"I mean, just mentally and physically, I have to go out there and perform better,'' he said. "This is just the first game."
Jones was already aware of the outside noise that typically follows a scenario such as the one that unfolded Saturday. That's part of being the starting quarterback at Florida.
"That's expected,'' he said. "[Anthony] went out there and did his thing. He played good. I'm happy for him, but I'm definitely going to expect that. I mean, it's happening right now. I'm not really worrying about it. I've just got to focus in on the next week. We are just going to play the game however Coach Mullen plans the game plan. We're just going to roll with it every week."
First, Jones had plans for the wee hours of Sunday morning. He planned to head home to dissect the film of his first career start.
Florida Football | Interim Head Coach Billy Gonzales Postgame Press Conference | TennesseeFlorida Football | Interim Head Coach Billy Gonzales Postgame Press Conference | Tennessee
Sunday, November 23
Florida Football | Jadan Baugh Postgame Media Availability | TennesseeFlorida Football | Jadan Baugh Postgame Media Availability | Tennessee
Sunday, November 23
Florida Football | Devin Moore Postgame Media Availability | TennesseeFlorida Football | Devin Moore Postgame Media Availability | Tennessee
