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After back-to-back rough starts, Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson said he remains confident heading into the Week 4 matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers.
Despite Florida beating the University of South Florida 31-28 on Saturday to move to 2-1, Richardson completed only 10 of his 18 passes for 112 yards and ran the ball seven times for 24 yards.
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However, head coach Billy Napier has told Richardson to try and play a little safer after his injury history especially without backup quarterback Jack Miller.
Strong Tennessee Defense
Heading into the game, Tennessee has shined this year. It is ranked No. 11 in the nation with a 3-0 record. Defensively, the Vols have been terrific. They have allowed only 14.33 points per game which ranks No. 38 in the nation. While Richardson has yet to throw a touchdown pass this year, Tennessee has also allowed only three in its first three games.
It has also picked off four passes so far. Richardson said he knows not only will he be in for a tough task against Tennessee’s defense, but he will be playing in front of the biggest crowd of his life. Richardson said he hopes to use the experience from playing in the Swamp to his advantage.
Florida’s Run Game
This season, a large part of the Gators’ offense has been from the run game. The Gators have had a different leading rusher through the first three games. After Richardson ran for 106 yards in the win over Utah, Trevor Etienne led the team in yards against Kentucky.
Montrell Johnson Jr. carried the balls six times for 103 yards to lead the team against USF. While Florida was without right tackle Michael Tarquin against the Bulls, the Gators still ran for 217 yards.
This will be the first time Richardson has faced Tennessee after missing last year’s game with an injury. Kickoff for this SEC matchup will be on Saturday, Sept. 24, at 3:30 p.m. in Knoxville.
