Quarterbacks Aaron Philo (12) and Tramell Jones Jr. (9) during a recent practice.
Philo is QB1, but Competition Will Continue
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 | Football, Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The day after learning the pecking order in their position room, both Florida's starting and backup quarterbacks addressed the media for the first time since meeting with Coach Jon Sumrall and learning of his decision Monday.
The former, third-year sophomore Aaron Philo, exhibited just the right combination of confidence and humility. The latter, second-year freshman Tramell Jones Jr., was equally balanced in his disappointment and determination.
Both were noticeably respectful to one another. How so?
When Philo took the first turn at the podium Tuesday morning, Jones sat in the back of the room and listened. Philo did the same when Jones took questions.
"I'm honored. I don't take it lightly at all, I don't take this position for granted at all," said Philo, who will become UF's 20th starting quarterback since Tim Tebow's final snap in 2009 when takes the field against Florida Atlantic in the 2025 season opener on Sept. 5. "I'm very blessed, very honored, and it's something that I've worked my whole life to get to. So, I definitely don't take it lightly and I'm going to do everything in my power to bring Florida back."
Jones, meanwhile, will do everything in his power to take the spot, which means keeping the pressure on Philo to perform.
"Definitely understand, definitely disappointed," Jones said of the decision. "I had two choices to make: I could either lay my head down, shy away from the opportunity [and] my teammates would see me down, [but] that's not the kind of energy you want to hold; or, option two, I can keep competing, I can keep working, I can keep getting better, I can keep developing in the offense, and that's exactly what I'm going to do."
Philo, the transfer from Georgia Tech, arrived on campus last January already with a significant leg up in the competition, having played two seasons under offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, who Sumrall lured away last winter from the Yellow Jackets. Jones, meanwhile, played sparingly as the backup to DJ Lagway during Coach Billy Napier's final UF season in '25.
Jones had a year up on Philo as a Gator, but the new guy had knowledge of the Faulkner system – with its multiple checks, shifts and run-pass options – that in 2025 ranked 12th nationally in total offense at 466.3 yards per game, including 31st in passing (263.3) and 19th in rushing (203.0).
CHARTING THE GATORS
Numbers put up by Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. in their brief collegiate careers.
Sumrall said during his weekly press opportunity Monday that Philo's head start was evident in the spring, but Jones closed the gap during the offseason. What they did on the practice field, coupled with their performances in the two preseason scrimmages ultimately led to Philo getting the nod.
Along the way, though, each guy set the bar for the other.
"I think it's just putting your head down and going to work each and every day, and when you have guys to push you, like, we competed our butts off," Philo said. "It was a battle, man, and that just pushes each of us to be better, and it pushed me to be better."
After being told of the decision, both Faulkner and quarterbacks coach Joe Craddock encouraged Jones to join Philo and address the situation, thus illustrating their unified front and resolve to continue the competition.
"I'm closer to where I want to be than I was in spring, and I was closer to where I want to be when I was in summer when I talked to you guys last," Jones said. "Just knowing snap-timing, knowing formations, knowing where my guys are going to be. Just like Philo says, you are going to be comfortable [in the system], and you are going to be able to play free and deliver the ball on time, any time. But I've definitely gotten way more comfortable in the offense."
And why not? With skill-position guys like preseason first-team All-America tailback Jadan Baugh to feed and a bevy of explosive receivers – Dallas Wilson and Vernell Brown III are back, plus impact transfers Eric Singleton (Auburn) and Bailey Stockton (Georgia Tech) – whoever is playing quarterback is going to have playmakers at his disposal.
The offensive line was the biggest question mark heading into fall camp, but all parties were encouraged by how the unit fared during Saturday night's scrimmage under the lights in the Swamp. The team is seeing progress there.
"When we protect, we got guys that can go downfield and make plays, so it's big time," Philo said. "Our skill positions are obviously extremely good, and it allows me to just kind of dish the ball around and let them go to work and not have to be a hero. Just get them the ball in space and let them go make plays."
That's how Philo saw Faulkner's offense work at Georgia Tech. Philo, though, mostly watched from the sideline as Haynes King ran through and threw over defenses on his way to being named 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. That's the kind of potential the system presents.
Philo will get the first crack to produce, though Jones will be close behind.
"I mean, he's a baller. I'll just put it at that," Philo said of his QB partner. "He battled, like, really hard and it pushed me to be better, no doubt."
There will be no letup in the push, either.
"I have to prepare like I'm the starter because you never really know what's going to happen out there in the game," Jones said. "Watching them practicing hard, straining in practice … when the guys see you also doing that, they still have confidence in you, especially when you're going in the game and you're still able to do this thing and lead the team to win."
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu. Find his story archives here.
The former, third-year sophomore Aaron Philo, exhibited just the right combination of confidence and humility. The latter, second-year freshman Tramell Jones Jr., was equally balanced in his disappointment and determination.
Both were noticeably respectful to one another. How so?
When Philo took the first turn at the podium Tuesday morning, Jones sat in the back of the room and listened. Philo did the same when Jones took questions.
"I'm honored. I don't take it lightly at all, I don't take this position for granted at all," said Philo, who will become UF's 20th starting quarterback since Tim Tebow's final snap in 2009 when takes the field against Florida Atlantic in the 2025 season opener on Sept. 5. "I'm very blessed, very honored, and it's something that I've worked my whole life to get to. So, I definitely don't take it lightly and I'm going to do everything in my power to bring Florida back."
Jones, meanwhile, will do everything in his power to take the spot, which means keeping the pressure on Philo to perform.
"Definitely understand, definitely disappointed," Jones said of the decision. "I had two choices to make: I could either lay my head down, shy away from the opportunity [and] my teammates would see me down, [but] that's not the kind of energy you want to hold; or, option two, I can keep competing, I can keep working, I can keep getting better, I can keep developing in the offense, and that's exactly what I'm going to do."
Philo, the transfer from Georgia Tech, arrived on campus last January already with a significant leg up in the competition, having played two seasons under offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, who Sumrall lured away last winter from the Yellow Jackets. Jones, meanwhile, played sparingly as the backup to DJ Lagway during Coach Billy Napier's final UF season in '25.
Jones had a year up on Philo as a Gator, but the new guy had knowledge of the Faulkner system – with its multiple checks, shifts and run-pass options – that in 2025 ranked 12th nationally in total offense at 466.3 yards per game, including 31st in passing (263.3) and 19th in rushing (203.0).
CHARTING THE GATORS
Numbers put up by Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. in their brief collegiate careers.
| QB | Games | Starts | Att. | Comp. | Pct. | Yards | TD | INT | Rush att. | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Philo (Georgia Tech) |
8 | 0 | 59 | 102 | 57.8 | 939 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 95 | 1 |
| Tramell Jones Jr. (Florida) | 2 | 0 | 12 | 18 | 66.6 | 191 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 0 |
Sumrall said during his weekly press opportunity Monday that Philo's head start was evident in the spring, but Jones closed the gap during the offseason. What they did on the practice field, coupled with their performances in the two preseason scrimmages ultimately led to Philo getting the nod.
Along the way, though, each guy set the bar for the other.
"I think it's just putting your head down and going to work each and every day, and when you have guys to push you, like, we competed our butts off," Philo said. "It was a battle, man, and that just pushes each of us to be better, and it pushed me to be better."
After being told of the decision, both Faulkner and quarterbacks coach Joe Craddock encouraged Jones to join Philo and address the situation, thus illustrating their unified front and resolve to continue the competition.
"I'm closer to where I want to be than I was in spring, and I was closer to where I want to be when I was in summer when I talked to you guys last," Jones said. "Just knowing snap-timing, knowing formations, knowing where my guys are going to be. Just like Philo says, you are going to be comfortable [in the system], and you are going to be able to play free and deliver the ball on time, any time. But I've definitely gotten way more comfortable in the offense."
And why not? With skill-position guys like preseason first-team All-America tailback Jadan Baugh to feed and a bevy of explosive receivers – Dallas Wilson and Vernell Brown III are back, plus impact transfers Eric Singleton (Auburn) and Bailey Stockton (Georgia Tech) – whoever is playing quarterback is going to have playmakers at his disposal.
The offensive line was the biggest question mark heading into fall camp, but all parties were encouraged by how the unit fared during Saturday night's scrimmage under the lights in the Swamp. The team is seeing progress there.
"When we protect, we got guys that can go downfield and make plays, so it's big time," Philo said. "Our skill positions are obviously extremely good, and it allows me to just kind of dish the ball around and let them go to work and not have to be a hero. Just get them the ball in space and let them go make plays."
That's how Philo saw Faulkner's offense work at Georgia Tech. Philo, though, mostly watched from the sideline as Haynes King ran through and threw over defenses on his way to being named 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. That's the kind of potential the system presents.
Philo will get the first crack to produce, though Jones will be close behind.
"I mean, he's a baller. I'll just put it at that," Philo said of his QB partner. "He battled, like, really hard and it pushed me to be better, no doubt."
There will be no letup in the push, either.
"I have to prepare like I'm the starter because you never really know what's going to happen out there in the game," Jones said. "Watching them practicing hard, straining in practice … when the guys see you also doing that, they still have confidence in you, especially when you're going in the game and you're still able to do this thing and lead the team to win."
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu. Find his story archives here.
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