Dan Mullen has Anthony Richardson among his Heisman contenders

Last season, Anthony Richardson spent most of the year as the backup at Florida behind Emory Jones. Now, he’s in line to be the starter in Gainesville — and his former coach thinks he’s in for a big season in 2022.

Dan Mullen, now an ESPN analyst after parting ways with Florida late in the 2021 season, put Richardson among his potential Heisman Trophy candidates for this year. Expectations are high for the sophomore quarterback under new coach Billy Napier, and he’ll start his first year as the starter on Saturday against Utah.

In fact, Richardson will face another one of Mullen’s Heisman sleepers in that season-opening game. He put Cameron Rising in that category, along with UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee.

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Last year under Mullen’s watch at Florida, Richardson threw for 529 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions in seven appearances. But he put together an impressive spring and now that Jones is at Arizona State, it’s his time to shine.

Dan Mullen says Cameron Rising, John Rhys Plumlee could be Heisman sleepers in 2022

Rising is back for his second year as the starter at Utah after helping the Utes to a Pac-12 championship and Rose Bowl appearance in 2021. He totaled 2,493 yards and 20 touchdowns as Utah went 10-4 overall and 9-1 in Pac-12 action.

The Utes then faced off against Ohio State in a Rose Bowl shootout for the ages. Rising went 17-for-22 passing for 214 yards and two touchdowns as Utah fell to the Buckeyes 48-45.

Plumlee is now at UCF this season after leaving Ole Miss via the transfer portal and was recently named the starting quarterback for Gus Malzahn’s group. Last year with the Rebels, he primarily played wide receiver after two years under center. He had 19 receptions for 201 yards for Ole Miss, two years after he threw for more than 1,000 yards as a freshman in 2019.