Florida football: 3 takeaways from statement win over No. 7 Utah

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Sep 3, 2022; Gainesville, Florida, USA;Florida Gators running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (2) runs with the ball as DUPLICATE***Utah Utes safety Cole Bishop (8)***Utah Utes quarterback Brandon Rose (8) stops him short of the goal line during the first quarter at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

2. The run game can be dominant

If you’re Florida, you have to feel great about what you saw from the run game. Montrell Johnson, a transfer from Louisiana, was a revelation after following Billy Napier to Gainesville and Trevor Etienne looks like he’s going to be a star at Florida.

Johnson looked like the starter, rushing 12 times for 77 yards and a touchdowns while Etienne added 64 yards on just five carries for an average of 12.8 per touch.

And then you add in Anthony Richardson who is one of the most mobile quarterbacks in all of college football and the Gators have a three-headed monster capable of each reaching 100 yards in any game. Nay’Quan Wright is supposed to be a really good back, too, but struggled on Saturday night. Three guys carried the ball 10-plus times and you have to love that depth.

Florida really won the battle in the trenches on the offensive side of the ball as Richardson, Etienne, and Johnson played well but we should expect more from Wright moving forward.

This run game is going to cause some problems.

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