Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson is “going to get his” yards

Anthony Richardson accounted for 274 yards and three touchdowns in an upset win over Utah. (Florida Athletics Photo)

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham got to see plenty of Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson when the Gators upset Utah last week to open the season with a win over a top 10 team.

Richardson threw for 168 yards but also ran for 106 yards — averaging 9.6 yards per carry — and three touchdowns. Two of those touchdowns came on read-option plays, including the game-winning score late in the fourth quarter.

“He ran for over 100 yards and there were some damaging runs in the first half and the touchdown run in the second. He is going to get his,” said Whittingham. “The guy is like 6-4 and 240 (pounds) and runs like a 4.3 (second 40-yard dash), so there is no way to keep him bottled up. He did the damage at key points and times in the game and he is a terrific player.”

One of those Utah players who was trying to stop Richardson was safety RJ Hubert.

“There was a couple things where we would bring me down into the box to kind of … we’re down a man if the quarterback runs and that’s kind of what the free safety’s job is to mirror the quarterback and so they brought me down in the box a couple times,” Hubert said.

It never really helped.

“Anthony Richardson is one heck of a football player, very good player. I think that’s pretty obvious. Just very talented, you could see much more comfortable in this offense with (first-year) coach (Billy) Napier and what they’re doing,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said Monday. “He has a very talented arm and could make all the throws and, obviously, hurt you with his feet.”

Stoops said his defensive front must maintain its discipline when pursuing Richardson, something Utah did not always do and Kentucky did not always do against Miami of Ohio last week.

“It’s as simple as getting past the quarterback on certain things. Taking sides, being able to escape and come back in on certain pressures, things we need to iron out, and you’re right, especially going into this week,” Stoops said.

“I think you saw last week, whether it was straight coverage, he (Richardson) pulled it down and just ran it in for a touchdown that looked effortless, what, 40-something yards? Other times where they (Utah) had great pressure on him, and players all over him, and he still managed to escape. That tells you how strong he is and how good a feel he has for it.”

Kentucky could benefit from having veteran inside linebacker Jacquez Jones and DeAndre Square to track Richardson and anticipate what he might do.

“Florida does a nice job of dressing things up, lot of motions.  He’s shown through the years to be balanced with ’12’ (one running back, two tight ends formation) and ‘11’ (one running back, one tight end), this past game they were in a lot of spread sets and that probably has a lot to do with Anthony, the way he can be such a threat,” Stoops said about Napier’s offense.

“There’s still a lot of moving pieces, a lot of eye candy, a lot of motions, play-actions, things you saw us having success with the past couple of years. Experience does matter, it helps, so those guys (UK linebackers) have to continue to lead and play physical in the run game and also pick up some of the play-actions because you’re going to see that this week.”

“They can hurt you with some of the play-actions off all the shifts, motions, flies, all the different things we’re going to see, some shots down the field.”

Richardson obviously has some of the intangible qualities as UK quarterback Will Levis, who criticized himself after throwing for 303 yards and three touchdowns.

“What I love about Anthony is he’s probably thinking about the six or eight plays he could have done better,” Napier said after the Utah win. “He’s critical of himself. He’s a humble competitor. We all know the kid has got physical talent but what’s impressed me is his work ethic, his discipline, his attention to detail.”

All reasons for Kentucky to worry a lot about stopping Richardson Saturday night.