Florida names Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo starting quarterback for season opener

Florida names Aaron Philo starting quarterback for season opener

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida will start quarterback Aaron Philo in the team's season opener against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 5, coach Jon Sumrall said Monday.

"We are preparing for him to be the starter for Week 1," Sumrall said, as reported by multiple outlets.

Philo, a 6-foot-1, 207-pound junior from Bogart, Georgia, edged Tramell Jones Jr. in a competition that began in the spring and carried into fall camp. The Gators held their second scrimmage Saturday, and Sumrall made the announcement two days later, per the Associated Press and NBC Sports.

Transfer familiarity gives Philo an edge

Philo followed Buster Faulkner to Gainesville from Georgia Tech, where Faulkner serves as Florida's new offensive coordinator and play caller. Philo spent the last two seasons with Faulkner at Georgia Tech, serving as Haynes King's backup and appearing in eight games. His familiarity with the system, characterized by a "kaleidoscope of pre-snap shifts and motions" as ESPN described, made him the perceived favorite.

"[He] operated at the line of scrimmage at just a touch higher level and was more efficient. There's no surprise to that in spring because he'd been in the system and Tramell had not," Sumrall said, as reported by the Independent Florida Alligator.

Sumrall noted that Philo will get the "lion's share of reps with the ones" as the team prepares for game one, but stressed the decision is not permanent.

"Doesn't mean Tramell won't get some with the ones ... but as we prepare for game one, Aaron Philo, we are preparing for him to be the starter," Sumrall said, per the Alligator.

Competition dynamics

Sumrall said after Saturday's scrimmage that Philo had the edge over Jones, and reported that Philo had no turnovers and recorded a rushing touchdown in the scrimmage. The announcement came after a previous scrimmage where Sumrall said Jones had the advantage.

"I thought he protected the football, made good decisions Saturday," Sumrall said of Philo. "He had a good week last week." Sumrall met with both quarterbacks Sunday afternoon, and both understand where they stand.

The starting job will not be permanent, Sumrall said. "It's not something permanent... I'm fired up about both of them," he said, as reported by the Alligator.

Jones, a second-year quarterback, played the second half of Florida's loss at Kentucky last year, completing 9 of 17 passes for 60 yards, per ESPN and the Alligator.

Philo's path and potential

Philo arrived at Florida in January and worked to reshape his body. Since he already knew the offense, he spent much of the spring and summer working on timing and chemistry with a receiving corps that includes Vernell Brown III, Micah Mays, Eric Singleton Jr., Bailey Stockton, and Dallas Wilson, as reported by AP and NBC Sports.

Philo also has familiarity with receivers Bailey Stockton and Eric Singleton Jr. from their time together at Georgia Tech, per the Alligator. His connection with Stockton dates back to high school, where they won two Georgia state championships at Prince Avenue Christian School, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

In his only college start, against Gardner-Webb last year, completed 21 of 28 passes for 373 yards, with one touchdown and one interception, per multiple reports.

Philo's high school credentials are notable: he is the all-time passing yardage leader in Georgia high school history, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, and he earlier stated this summer that he hates Georgia "a lot."

A loaded schedule ahead

Florida will open the season at home against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 5, with an ESPN report noting the 7:45 p.m. ET kickoff on SEC Network. After games against FAU and Campbell, the schedule turns tough: Weeks 3-9 include trips to No. 25 Missouri and No. 5 Texas, hosting No. 10 Oklahoma and No. 9 Ole Miss, and a neutral-site game against No. 6 Georgia, as reported by Yardbarker.

Philo has a "tall task" ahead, but Sumrall's confidence rests on the quarterback's command of the offense and the surrounding skill talent. Florida running back Jadan Baugh earned second-team All-ALL-SEC honors last year with 1,170 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, per ESPN.

While the quarterbacks competition remains fluid, Sumrall's decision signals a commitment to a system that Philo knows well. As the coach said, "We are preparing for him to be the starter for Week 1."