Florida QB Aaron Philo to Start vs. Kentucky
For the second straight week, Florida (5-4, 3-4 SEC) will make a change at starting quarterback. Gators quarterback Aaron Philo is expected to start Saturday at No. 11 Kentucky (7-2, 5-2), as first reported by CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz and 247 Sports’ Zach Goodall.
The change at quarterback marks the fifth straight week that UF will feature a different player as the starter, with Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. flipping back and forth in the role. Philo reclaims the role after conceding it last week to sophomore passer Jones, who made his second collegiate start against Oklahoma. Jones could not find the success he had against Texas, completing 10 of his 22 passes for 133 yards and two interceptions in the 23-7 loss to the Sooners.
Both Jones and Philo were listed next to each other as co-first teamers on the depth chart for the second consecutive week, leaving the starting quarterback spot presumably open. The poor performance from Jones, which included a red zone interception, left Florida coach Jon Sumrall non-committal about the position ahead of facing the Wildcats.
“Both practiced today. There’ll be one guy that starts and one guy doesn’t. They’re both still listed OR on the depth chart,” Sumrall said Monday. “You’ll find out later in the week, probably. I don’t know how it always gets out. Doesn’t get out from me. I don’t tell anybody. I tell them. But I’m sure they tell somebody that it gets out.”
Philo was named the starting quarterback just two weeks prior to the season opener against Florida Atlantic, holding the role for the first six games until he suffered a shoulder injury in the waning moments of Florida’s 38-19 loss to South Carolina. The injury held him out of the Gators’ 27-24 win against Texas before he returned to the starting role against Georgia, completing five of his seven passes for 26 yards and two interceptions before being benched in the second quarter.
Philo has completed 70.5% of his passes for 1,367 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions throughout the season while also tacking on 44 rushes for 104 yards and three touchdowns. Despite the ups and downs, Philo gets another opportunity to right Florida’s quarterback troubles and add another ranked win to UF’s resume in year one of the Sumrall era.
“My desire moving forward would be to start one of them, hoping they play great, and let them go,” Sumrall said Monday. “But if a guy goes in and is turning the football over or costing the team, then we’re going to let the other guy get an opportunity, depending on what that looks like.”
Category: Feature Sports News, Gator Sports, Gators Football
