GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Anthony Richardson dazzled a packed Swamp in Florida’s season opener, delivering extra feel-good moments than anybody actually might have anticipated.
Long runs, exact throws, damaged tackles, clutch performs, a whirly-bird 2-point dialog, the go-ahead landing. It was a breakout efficiency for a hometown child who’s all of a sudden turn out to be one of many hottest gamers in school soccer.
Now everyone seems to be questioning: What will he do for an encore?
Richardson and the Twelfth-ranked Gators have an opportunity to show their 29-26 victory over then-No. 7 Utah was no fluke after they host No. 20 Kentucky (1-0) to start Southeastern Conference play Saturday evening.
“Everything you want in a quarterback, he has,” Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall stated of Richardson. “He’s got a rocket for an arm. If he wants to throw it across the entire field, he can do that. Just ask him, he’ll throw it a hundred yards.”
Richardson threw for 168 yards, ran for 106 extra and three scores, and, most significantly, performed turnover- and sack-free soccer towards the Utes.
Sure, there was one third-down throw that ought to have been picked, however not even detail-oriented coach Billy Napier might do greater than nitpick.
“A little jittery early on, made a few mistakes, but, ultimately, he operated well,” Napier stated. “He’s his own worst critic now. He’s going to watch the film three times and tell you everything he could have done better, but he rose to the occasion is what I would say. … I saw a guy who is prepared behind the scenes, is a product of his work, and it showed up.”
Florida was rewarded for its season-opening upset with a uncommon rise from unranked to No. 12 within the newest AP Top 25 ballot.
“Onto the next because, you’ve got to beat them to keep going up,” middle Kingsley Eguakun stated. “And if you don’t, you know what happens. … At the end of the day, we’ve got to go handle business.”
Kentucky dealt with penalty-prone Florida final season in a 20-13 win in Lexington thanks partly to returning a blocked area objective for a landing. That loss was the beginning of Florida’s freefall — dropping six of 9 to finish the season — that led to Dan Mullen’s dismissal and Napier’s arrival.
The Wildcats have loved extra teaching stability than Florida up to now decade, with Mark Stoops getting into his tenth season. They pulled away from Miami (Ohio) within the second half of their opener to win 37-13 at dwelling. Will Levis threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns, however he additionally threw an interception and was sacked 4 instances.
Levis, who was principally a non-factor towards the Gators final yr and regarded a first-round NFL draft choose in 2023 together with Richardson, expressed disappointment along with his season-opening efficiency.
“We don’t need him to put that kind of pressure on himself,” Stoops stated. “We love and respect his drive and motivation, and that’s obvious. But there also can be added pressure when the expectations go high on him.
“We just need him to be him. He is very driven and playing at a very high level.”
RARE MATCHUP
This is an uncommon matchup for Kentucky and Florida: It’s simply the fourth time in 73 conferences that each groups are ranked. The Gators gained two of the earlier three, popping out on high in 1998 and in 2007, whereas Kentucky’s win got here in 1950.
Florida and Kentucky have performed yearly since 1967. The Gators gained 31 straight earlier than splitting the final 4.
UNDERMMANED CATS
Kentucky will probably be with out working again Chris Rodriguez for the second straight sport and in addition may very well be with out tremendous senior linebacker Jordan Wright once more. Rodriguez, the workforce’s main rusher with 1,379 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2021, and Wright are coping with off-the-field points which can be out of Stoops’ management.
“There’s layers to this that I’ve been advised I can’t comment on it,” Stoops stated. “It’s not that I’m trying to hide things from you, but the players have rights and things of that nature with this situation.”