Florida quarterback Tramell Jones Jr.’s 17-yard completion to Dallas Wilson right before halftime against Texas did not just shift momentum and convert a 4th-and-12 in a crucial spot. It also gave Florida coach Jon Sumrall a lot to think about when evaluating the starting quarterback role.
Sumrall spoke with the media for the first time since the Gators’ top-10 upset of the Longhorns, shedding light on who may lead No. 17 Florida (5-2, 3-2 SEC) into its annual rivalry tilt with No. 3 Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC) following the bye week. What resulted was a non-committal attitude from the first-year coach, navigating a situation mired by Aaron Philo’s health moving forward.
Florida will continue to test out both passers for now, with a decision likely to come internally as preparation progresses into the middle of the week. What is certain is how Sumrall feels about the quarterback room, regardless of who ends up starting against the Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
“Both guys are available. I believe in both guys,” Sumrall said Monday. “I’m not going to name a starter today. We need both guys ready to play.”
Both quarterbacks may be available, but each is dealing with their own process to become game-ready and face Georgia. Philo’s predicament is the more concrete of the two, working his way back from a shoulder injury he sustained in the loss to South Carolina that held him out of the Texas game. On the other side, Jones is dealing with what Sumrall described as “bumps and bruises” from the first start of his collegiate career.
Jones led the Gators into the Texas matchup in place of the injured Philo, completing 22 of his 35 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns and adding 10 carries for 41 yards on the ground. The performance in the victory was not perfect, but Jones’ effort proved enough to stir up another quarterback competition more than halfway through the regular season.
Philo and Jones understand that they are fighting each other for leverage in the second bout to be the starter, but you could not tell that by how they support each other. Philo was the first player to celebrate with Jones following the sophomore’s first win as a starter, a quality that Sumrall admires in the duo’s handling of the battle.
“I love both of them and respect both of them, and I am grateful for both of them and how they’ve handled it. I think when you’re transparent with them, you’re truthful with them, you show respect to both of the guys involved, that makes everybody handle it better,” Sumrall said. “Naturally, everybody wants to be a starter. But to me, I think the way you handle it’s just like you do any other position. The evaluation process is not really hard.”
The first decision on the starting quarterback was made within two weeks of the season-opening 66-21 win against FAU, with Philo winning the job due to his knowledge of offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner’s system. That choice saw Philo’s familiarity shine through in the first six games, completing 70.5% of his passes and throwing for 1,341 yards and nine touchdowns compared to three interceptions.
Philo’s consistency has been met with Jones catching up to him in learning the operation of Faulkner’s offense, complicating the situation even more. What does alleviate some of that stress is the clear similarities between both quarterbacks.
“The offense doesn’t really change with one or the other. Both have similar skill sets. One may do one thing a little better. One may do the other thing a little bit better,” Sumrall said. “It’s not like they’re drastically different players where you’re playing with a true run threat quarterback that can’t throw it, and then you have another guy that’s a pocket passer that can’t run.”
Another factor into the decision is how each quarterback matches up against one of the best defenses in the nation. Georgia coach Kirby Smart boasts a unit that holds teams to 15.9 points per game, a mark that ranks first in the SEC and 16th in all of FBS.
The Bulldogs also generate suffocating pressure, notching 22 sacks and creating a hurried environment opposing passers. As strong as Georgia’s defense has been, Smart is not taking the challenge of preparing for either quarterback lightly.
“They’re both very talented. One beat Ole Miss handily and one beat Texas on the road.” Smart said Monday. “I mean, they’re both completely capable, good players. I’ve known about both of them for a long time. In terms of their ability, they’re both plenty capable, especially in Buster’s offense.”
No matter who commands the Florida offense that Smart reveres, the group will likely benefit from a key threat coming back to take on Georgia.
Gators wide receiver Vernell Brown III has been held out of the past three contests after suffering a knee strain against Ole Miss in Week 4. Brown practiced Monday and is eyeing a return to the field in Atlanta Saturday, according to Sumrall.
“VB looks really good. Practiced last week, practiced today,” Sumrall said. “Today’s an hour-ish long run-through for us, but he looks normal to me.”
The sophomore target is still Florida’s leading receiver even with the absences, recording 17 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Returning one of UF’s best vertical threats will aid whichever quarterback gets the nod to start.
The Gators will have the remainder of the week to figure out who will lead the offense out on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Florida enters the first ranked meeting between the two teams since 2020 on the wrong end of the spread, tabbed as a 10.5-point underdog in the matchup.
With a week filled with preparation and hard decisions ahead, the Gators can find motivation and dig deep by embracing one of college football’s signature rivalries. That element is one Sumrall revels in, looking past the resounding quarterback questions and displaying his enthusiasm to be a part of the storied clash.
“You have to embrace it first and foremost,” Sumrall said. “Florida-Georgia is different. Anybody that says otherwise is insane, but what helps you win the game is not different, so it’s the task of helping our guys embrace what the rivalry and the history of it is.”
