Richardson, Cox Jr. Take Home SEC Player of Week Honors

Anthony Richardson scores one of his three rushing touchdowns in the season-opening win over Utah. (Photo: Hannah White/UAA Communications)

Richardson, Cox Jr. Take Home SEC Player of Week Honors

Monday, September 5, 2022 | Football

Richardson, Cox Jr. Earn First Career Player of Week Honors

By: Nick Yuska

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A career night by Anthony Richardson in the win over seventh-ranked Utah earned him SEC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career, the league office announced Monday. Brenton Cox Jr. also claimed his first conference player of the week honors, being named SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week.

Richardson ran for a career-best three touchdowns, including the game-winning 2-yard scamper that gave Florida a lead late in the fourth quarter. The Gainesville native is the first FBS quarterback to rush for three touchdowns in a game this season and is one of only five Florida quarterbacks to rush for three touchdowns in a game since 1996, joining Emory Jones, Jeff Driskel, Jesse Palmer, and Tim Tebow, who did it twice.

With 168 passing yards, Richardson set a career-high, topping his previous best of 167 last year at LSU on Oct. 16, 2021. He added 106 yards on the ground, ending the season opener with 274 yards of total offense. Richardson is one of just three Gator quarterbacks to rush for three touchdowns and pass for 150-plus yards in the same game, joining Jesse Palmer and Tim Tebow, who did it twice.

Cox Jr. recorded a career-best 10 tackles in last Saturday's win over Utah on his way to being named SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week for the first time in his career. He was one of only eight SEC players to tally double-digit tackles over the weekend.

Brenton Cox Jr. posted a career-high 10 tackles in the win over Utah.

A preseason All-SEC honoree, Cox Jr. posted his seventh-straight game with a quarterback hurry, and his sixth-straight game with a tackle for loss, two categories he led the Gators in last season.

Florida hosts No. 20 Kentucky on Saturday for a 7 p.m. kickoff on ESPN.

OFFENSIVE
Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

DEFENSIVE
Christopher Smith, S, Georgia
Bumper Pool, LB, Arkansas

SPECIAL TEAMS
Barion Brown, KOR, Kentucky

FRESHMAN
Jayden McGowan, WR, Vanderbilt

OFFENSIVE LINE
Darrian Dalcourt, C, Alabama
LaQuinston Sharp, OL, Mississippi State

DEFENSIVE LINE
Brenton Cox Jr., JACK, Florida
Jordan Domineck, DL, Arkansas