Dan Mullen’s success at developing quarterbacks has been well-documented. From Alex Smith to Chris Leak to Tim Tebow to Dak Prescott to Nick Fitzgerald and, most recently, to Kyle Trask, few coaches can boast a track record as good as Mullen’s.
One of the biggest keys to Mullen’s steady stream of elite quarterback play is how seamless the transitions look from one guy to the next. When somebody of Prescott or Leak’s ilk departs, it’s almost assumed that there will be a significant drop-off at the position the following season. Instead, the train usually just keeps chugging down the tracks.
Mullen believes that there’s more that goes into that than just recruiting the right quarterbacks and getting lucky. He thinks his hands-on approach to teaching the position allows for smoother transitions. He doesn’t just teach them how to play the position on the practice field and in meeting rooms for a couple of years and then throw them to the wolves.
For example, Emory Jones played in 24 games the past three seasons behind Feleipe Franks and Trask. So, while he’s expected to make his first career start against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 4, he’s played meaningful snaps against teams like Georgia, Michigan, Florida State, LSU, Alabama and Oklahoma. He’s played in big-time atmospheres, including an SEC Championship Game, three bowl games and two Florida-Georgia games.
Because he’s gained that experience, Mullen and his teammates don’t have to worry about him freezing up and getting that deer-in-the-headlights look when he makes his first start. Jones has confidence in his abilities, and the rest of the team knows that they can trust him.
“As you continue to grow throughout your career, part of that is just checking the boxes [of] if I put him in all the situations I need to put him in to be successful so he’s prepared to handle it all,” Mullen said. “And so, that was kind of the strategy. There’s always a strategy behind why you do it.
“Emory, for example, played the second series of the SEC Championship Game. So, he’s been on the field, right in the beginning in the first quarter of an SEC Championship Game making plays.”
So, why fix what isn’t broken? Mullen envisions a similar career trajectory for redshirt freshman Anthony Richardson. The 6-foot-4, 236-pound behemoth of a quarterback played in four games last season. He carried the ball seven times for 61 yards and threw his first touchdown pass against Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl.
“I’m pretty sure we put him in some other situations to go do things on the field the same way,” Mullen said. “A lot of that, that’s about their development and making sure they grow throughout their time here and they’re continuing to grow and get better and they’re ready for whatever scenario that comes their way.”
Richardson got a taste of college football in 2020, and the Gators will pile a little bit more on his plate this season. He impressed in both of the scrimmages this fall, albeit primarily with the second team. He has a cannon for a right arm, and he can either run past defenders or through them. If he reaches his ceiling, he’ll remind you of Tebow or Cam Newton.
Though Jones is also a running threat, Mullen said that they’ll expand Richardson’s role this season. He’s confident in him starting games for them this season if that’s what needs to happen.
“I think he looks great,” Mullen said. “I think he’s prepared himself to be the starter, which is what you want. He’s going to be ready to get on the field in just about any situation that it is. Now it’s our job to kind of put him in the different situations, so that he has that experience in every different possible scenario for when he is on the field.”
And then, in a year or two, it will be Richardson’s turn to assume full control of the offense, while youngsters like Carlos Del Rio-Wilson and Jalen Kitna play a few snaps here and there to get a feel for what it’s like to play in a top-10 showdown.
And then the cycle will repeat again. It’s the Mullen Way, and it’s not going anywhere any time soon.