Florida Gators coach Sumrall is playing it close to the vest, refusing to name a starting quarterback between Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. for Saturday’s top 20 showdown against No. 3 Georgia in Atlanta. Both signal callers practiced last week and on Monday, October 26, according to Sumrall, and the coach made it clear there won’t be any big QB1 announcement this week. It is a classic SEC rivalry move, keeping everyone guessing.
Philo’s Hot Start, Rocky Road, and Burning Grudge
Philo, a junior, started the season on absolute fire, leading Florida to a 4-0 record. We’re talking big wins here, like on the road at Auburn and a crucial home victory against then No. 4 Ole Miss. That kind of start sent the Gators into the top 10 for the first time in five years. The kid was absolutely thriving under offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, who Philo actually followed over from Georgia Tech. But then things hit a wall with blowout losses to Missouri and South Carolina, and Philo picked up a shoulder injury against the Gamecocks. Despite the bumps, Philo’s numbers are solid, sitting eighth in the SEC in passing yards per game at 223.5, completing 70.5 percent of his passes, with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. This guy knows how to throw the rock, setting a Georgia high school passing record with 13,922 yards between 2020 and 2023. And get this, when asked in March how much he hated Georgia, he said, “A lot,” nodding his head. How much he wanted to beat them? “Real bad.” You can’t make this stuff up, folks, that’s the kind of intensity you want under center for a rivalry game.
Jones Steps Up Big Time
Enter sophomore Tramell Jones Jr. He was thrust into action against Texas after Philo’s injury, and man, did he deliver. Florida was down 17-3 to the No. 6 Longhorns on October 17, and Jones led an incredible rally for a 27-24 win. Talk about a clutch performance in his first career start. Jones completed 22 of 35 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns, plus he added 41 rushing yards on 10 carries. Even though he got banged up against Texas, his ability to step in and win against a top-tier opponent speaks volumes. Kirby Smart, Georgia’s coach, sees it too. Smart praised both quarterbacks, saying, “They’re both very talented. One beat Ole Miss handedly and one beat Texas on the road. I mean, they’re both completely capable, good players.” Smart also noted that Faulkner’s offense is “quarterback driven, but it doesn’t require the quarterback to be perfect. He gives them so many options and he can play to the strengths of each guy.” Sumrall confirmed that the offense really doesn’t need to drastically change depending on which guy is under center.
Who Gets The Nod For The Big One?
So, the decision looms large for Sumrall. He indicated he’d likely only play both quarterbacks if the starter isn’t performing well, so this isn’t a two-QB system by design. It’s a high-stakes choice for an unranked team trying to make a statement against their No. 3 rival. Both Philo and Jones have shown they can get it done, with Philo’s experience and deep-seated animosity for Georgia, and Jones’s recent heroics. Sumrall said the decision will be made “middleish of the week,” and “how they go through the week matters.” This Saturday, it’s No. 20 Florida vs. No. 3 Georgia in Atlanta. You know this game is going to be an absolute brawl, and whoever Sumrall puts out there needs to be ready to leave it all on the field.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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