The Gators are back in the win column after Sunday’s 52-17 victory over the Eastern Washington Eagles. It was another sloppy performance from a defensive standpoint, but the game wasn’t even close as the Gators finished with 666 total yards of offense. A multitude of young talent got the opportunity to showcase their talents this weekend and did not disappoint when thrown in the game. =A quarterback who wears the #11 jersey was ready when his name was called.
Redshirt freshman Jalen Kitna entered the game for Florida after Anthony Richardson went down with an apparent ankle injury early in the second quarter. Although Richardson was able to come back in and play, Kitna got more chances to light it up down field going 8-for-12 on the day for 152 yards and one touchdown.
Compared to previous years, there’s been a large increase in the number of freshmen with a significant number of snaps. The work these young players have put in at practice has been paying off, and it certainly has so far for Jalen Kitna.
“The last probably two weeks, he’s really grown up a lot,” Napier said on Kitna. “He’s really grown up a lot. You go back to training game, probably the fourth or fifth day of training camp, he got injured. He missed significant time. But since Jack’s [Miller] injury and he started getting those twos, you’ve seen some growth there. All the guy does is throw completions in practice and that’s what he did today. Two Thursdays ago, he was 100% completion percentage in practice. I don’t know if that’s ever been done. The guy’s a pretty smart player. He’s learned our system. For the most part, the ball went where it was supposed to go today.”
Not only did Kitna go out there and do his job, but he looked extremely confident and composed while doing so. Everything seemed to be second nature for the 19-year-old, and he took advantage of his opportunities Sunday showing that he can definitely be the guy behind Richardson.
“It felt good,” Kitna said on his impressions of the game. “Obviously being there and being prepared for my team, I have a job to do and went out there and it feels a little like practice. Not too hard. We have a gameplan and it was exactly what we saw. We have been preparing for it all week.”
“I know Coach has a specific way he calls things and I know my job is to come in there and operate the system. All the quarterbacks are taught to operate that system the same way,” Kitna said.
Development has been a top priority for Billy Napier and this staff, especially with the quarterbacks. There’s always room to improve no matter who you are.
“This new coaching staff is big on development. They are huge on getting 1% better every day so that is what I need to do,” Kitna said on development. “Fix some little things with my throwing motion and being a better manager of the game and situations,” Kitna said. “Having eyes in the back of my head so I can just worry about the defense. Take my game to the next level. I am appreciative of the staff and how they have developed me.”
Jalen Kitna is a football guy; he’s been around it all his life and he’s as hardworking as football players come. Kitna knows how to put his head down and get to work which rubs off on fellow teammates.
“We’ve got a guy coming in who’s been working really hard, keeping his head down,” Justus Boone said on Kitna. “I’d say he practices really hard, takes his reads, and takes his opportunities.”
Fans got a slight peek of that hard work Kitna has put in so far this year on Sunday. Gators fans across the country should be happy about the quarterback play behind Richardson and excited for what’s to come.
This football team showed a lot about themselves playing their first Sunday game in Florida football history. These players continue to grow up and improve every single week.
“I think we played clean,” Napier said of Sunday’s game. “I think when we watch the tape, we will see a little bit more. Just the maturity. Think about what you are walking into here: Sunday at 12 noon against an opponent on the other side of the country. Do you have enough maturity to show up and play and play fast and physical early and execute? I thought we did that. These games are beneficial in a lot of ways. To see us take advantage was important.”
I know it’s Eastern Washington, but this offense and Anthony Richardson are finally starting to get comfortable and more efficient as a group. It’s been a battle so far this season for Richardson as a passer, but the Richardson we’ve seen the past two weeks is a different quarterback. The sophomore has done a great job in terms of finding himself going 8-for-10 for 240 yards and two touchdowns with an interception in Sunday’s win.
“He did a great job today. Anthony’s [Richardson] a product of his work,” Napier said on Richardson’s performance. “I think you are seeing a guy and he’s settling in a little bit. He is starting to get more familiar to what his routine should look like. What does my Monday look like? What does my Wednesday look like? I think he’s taking a true professional approach to the preparation part relative to when I watch the clips and situationally. How do I get familiar with the opponent early in the week prior to the Tuesday practice?”
Keep in mind Richardson has only started under center seven times in collegiate football. The anxiousness and not looking calm and poised in the pocket will only fade away with time and experience. It’s certainly looking like we may be heading towards those final days if Richardson can stay locked in mentally, no matter the opponent.
“And then physically how to take care of himself,” Napier said. “You gain experience when you start to settle down a bit. That’s the big difference, I would say, is that he is less anxious. These first couple of weeks he may have looked calm, cool, and collective, but the heart was beating. I think he is getting more comfortable with his role and certainly the direction of the team. We are going to give him the opportunity to do what he can do.”
Every opponent is a worthy opponent, especially when you’re kicking off at noon on a Sunday for the first time ever. Although, we all know Eastern Washington isn’t big man SEC football, the Gators did exactly what they needed to do against an opponent of a different caliber. Both Anthony Richardson and Jalen Kitna played exactly how they needed to in a game where we needed to see Richardson and either Kitna, Kyle Engel or Jack Miller succeed.
This football team came off their best practice of the week prior to strapping up against the Eagles. That showed Sunday after Richardson and even Kitna himself looked the best they have in warmups and when the clock started ticking. The preparation and confidence of these quarterbacks and everybody around them is exactly what this offense has been missing.
It truly seems as if this Florida offense has found its rhythm at just the right moment coming off two great performances in a row with six straight SEC games on the way.