Coming out of Florida’s second fall scrimmage, Gators coach Jon Sumrall named Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo as the team’s starting quarterback ahead of next month’s opener against FAU. One of Florida’s top transfers this cycle after joining former Yellow Jackets offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner in Gainesville, Philo backed up Haynes King last season and beat out Tramell Jones Jr. for the job with the Gators.
Philo has received most of the first-team reps during the last week of practice and reportedly impressed during Saturday night’s scrimmage, highlighted by a 15-yard touchdown run early on.
Undecided on Florida’s quarterback battle after spring, Sumrall mentioned the position remained even earlier this month as both players pushed for the job. That changed after Sumrall and his offensive staff reviewed film over the weekend.
He mentioned Monday that Philo will get the “lion’s share of reps” this week as game prep begins.
“We are preparing for him to be the starter for Week 1,” Sumrall mentioned.
Sumrall’s still a believer in Tramell Jones
Sumrall stressed that Philo is the starter for the first game.
“There will not be some crazy hoopla around it in our building, it’s just how we’re moving forward,” Sumrall mentioned Monday. “I met with both guys and both are awesome. I’m excited about the room. The good news is both of them have elevated their play. Love both of them and I’m fired up for both of them.
“It’s been a real battle, it’s not been some empty competition. It’s been real and that’s where we are.”
From pre-snap checks to reading defenses and being able to “kill” bad calls, Philo showed superiority.
“He has operated at the line of scrimmage at a touch higher level,” Sumrall mentioned. “There’s no surprise in the spring because he’d been in the system and Tramell had not. We’re able to operate the full offense at a little bit higher level with Aaron, with the whole level. Their arm talent is very similar. What’s unique is both of them’s play style resembles each other more than it differentiates.”
Sumrall also mentioned that Philo has seen the “middle of the field” a bit more during practice.
“I talked to Aaron this is not an anointing,” Sumrall mentioned. “(This) is not some permanent, you’re the starter forever. For Tramell, it’s not like you’re being relegated or demoted and forgotten. This is not fatal. I’m a believer in Tramell Jones. I just feel like right now it’s where we need to go with the decision, but the guys will rally around both.”
Faulkner’s offensive scheme at Florida
Faulkner wants a passer who can operate quickly, distribute the football in space and punish defenses when safeties creep toward the line of scrimmage.
Philo checks every box. He played with confidence at Georgia Tech, understanding leverage and has enough mobility to extend possessions without abandoning the structure of the offense. Those are two areas of strength Philo reportedly displayed during both camp scrimmages this month.
Most importantly, Philo’s comfortable playing aggressively. Florida needs a quarterback capable of creating explosive plays while keeping the offense on schedule, and Philo’s experience in Faulkner’s system should accelerate that transition.
There will be adjustments against SEC defenses, but the scheme familiarity makes Philo a natural fit for what Florida wants offensively.
