Add Urban Meyer to the Anthony Richardson Fan Club

Anthony Richardson is already one of the darlings of the 2022 college football season. The Florida quarterback rushed for 104 yards and three touchdowns on just 11 carries in the Gators’ 29-26 upset of No. 7 Utah, a performance that earned him SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Saturday night’s showdown between No. 20 Kentucky and No. 12 Florida in the Swamp is being billed as a battle of the quarterbacks, Richardson vs. Will Levis, and so far, most of the hype surrounds the Gators sophomore.

Former Florida coach Urban Meyer shared his thoughts on Richardson yesterday in his new On3 podcast “Urban’s Take.” Meyer recalled Dan Mullen, his offensive coordinator at Florida from 2005-08 and the Gators’ head coach from 2018-21, first telling him about Richardson a few years ago.

“Dan Mullen was obviously a great friend, I worked with him for many years. We talked about Richardson, the great quarterback, No. 15 for Florida. He said he’s legitimately a 4.3 [40-yard dash] guy that’s 240 lbs. and can throw the ball 85 yards. The most talented player — and he coached Cam Newton, says he’s bigger, faster. I said, ‘Than Cam Newton?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’ And I saw it. That 50-yard run was magical. They’ve got a new staff, new energy down there. I think Florida’s going to have a great run.”

Meyer didn’t go in-depth on Will Levis, but he did compliment Mark Stoops and the job he’s done at Kentucky, which includes snapping Florida’s 31-game winning streak.

“One thing about Kentucky, when I was there it was like a 30-game win streak and I was so nervous. I didn’t want to be the coach that loses that game and loses that win streak. That’s been broken. Coach Stoops of Kentucky’s done a heck of a job. I think Florida — to do what they did, the way they did it, I don’t want to say they’re real and they’re back but this is going to be a good team as they continue to build.”

Mark Stoops, Brad White on containing Anthony Richardson

Richardson’s three rushing touchdowns stole the headlines, but he’s a talented passer as well. Against Utah, he completed 17 of 24 passes for 168 yards. Yesterday on the SEC Teleconference, Mark Stoops said Richardson’s versatility is his biggest strength.

“It’s tough to just single out any one thing,” Stoops said about what makes Richardson a threat. “Heck, he has a talented arm. You know, I think everyone is going to say what an athlete he is, but the guy can rip it as well. He can throw the football.”

Last night after practice, defensive coordinator Brad White said Kentucky will focus on containing Richardson rather than stopping him because the latter is an almost impossible task.

“He’s going to make plays. You gotta do a good job of trying to limit the big ones and respond when he does make plays.”

“You have to control your emotions and you have to control the ebb and flow of good plays and bad plays, good drives and bad drives,” White added. “You could be in the perfect position, you could have the perfect play-call, you could do everything you’re coached to do and he can make a guy miss, he can make a miraculous throw. You sort of tip your hat and go on to the next one. Dominant pitchers give up home runs. It happens, but you gotta come back and try to be dominant again.”