GAINESVILLE — Until this summer, Florida’s Aaron Philo hadn’t been in a quarterback competition since he was a high school sophomore on the cusp of a record-setting career in Georgia.
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Philo, now a third-year college junior, couldn’t recall who he beat out. After all, Lucian Anderson really didn’t have much of a chance, Philo’s high school coach Jon Richt recalled Tuesday — a day after his former star was named the Gators’ starter.
This time around, Philo had to fight to hold off Tramell Jones Jr.
Each emerged from the competition better for it and prepared to spearhead Jon Sumrall’s Gators.
“He’s a baller; I’ll just put it at that,” Philo said of Jones. “He battled really hard, and it pushed me to be better.”
Jones said he was “definitely disappointed” he didn’t push past Philo. Yet, the 19-year-old sophomore from Jacksonville isn’t down or deterred.
“I could either lay my head down, shy away from the opportunity, my teammates would see me down, that’s not the kind of energy you want to hold,” he said. “Or I can keep competing, I can keep working, I can keep getting better.”
Philo knows he’ll have to play well to keep the job, beginning Sept. 5 when the Gators host Florida Atlantic during their season opener in the Swamp.
“Tramell pushes me each and every day,” he said. “I understand that I have to go out there and I have to perform.”
But if the six-month competition, dating to spring practices, unfolds the way it did back in 2021 at Prince Avenue Christian in Athens, the Gators will be in good hands with Philo.
He went on to produce 13,922 career passing yards, breaking Trevor Lawrence’s state record, and a single-season record 56 touchdowns in 2023 when his team won a second state title with Philo at the helm.
The 21-year-old, though, knows he won’t have to be the star of the show at Florida, either.
The game won’t be on his shoulders, given the abundance of talent at the skill positions. Star tailback Jadan Baugh and receivers Vernell Brown III, Eric Singleton and Dallas Wilson — potentially one of the SEC’s most talented trios — make a quarterback’s job much easier.
“It allows me to just dish the ball around and let them go to work and not have to be a hero,” Philo said. “Just get them the ball in space and let them go make plays.”
Also in Philo’s favor is his familiarity with offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner’s scheme after the pair spent the past two seasons at Georgia Tech.
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“Just knowing each play, what he wants out of it when he’s going to call something, that’s just that helps a lot,” Philo said.
The ability to operate the offense ultimately proved the difference, Sumrall said Monday.
An interception and two fumbles on exchanges by Jones effectively sealed the deal.
“You don’t want things like that,” he said of the miscues. “But I think it’s the bigger picture in why the decision was made.”
Sumrall’s decision on a starter still took time for Jones to process. But he quickly turned the page and recalibrated.
He now will continue to learn the ins and outs of Faulkner’s system and be ready if his No. 9 is called.
“You never really know what’s gonna happen out there in the game,” he said. “I’m gonna be preparing just like I’m the starter.”
Surviving an SEC season with a single quarterback handling every snap is a feat.
For now, Philo embraces earning one of college football’s most high-profile jobs.
Florida has produced three Heisman-winning quarterbacks — Steve Spurrier, Tim Tebow and Danny Wuerffel — a runner-up in Rex Grossman and a finalist in Kyle Trask. Chris Leak led the 2006 Gators to a national championship. Shane Matthews won two SEC titles and two conference Player of the Year awards.
“I’m honored, and I don’t take it lightly at all,” he said. “It’s something that I’ve worked my whole life to get to. I’m gonna do everything in my power to bring Florida back.”
Jones will, too.
The team’s backup rarely meets with reporters within 48 hours of a starter being named. Jones took Sumrall’s request as a positive sign for the future.
“That just shows that coach still has confidence in me,” he said. “Usually guys backing up don’t come in here and talk. That just shows the program still has confidence in me and thinks I can win football games.
“I’m gonna keep working, head is up, energy is up, and when my number is gonna be called I’ll be ready.”
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Edgar Thompson can be reached at [email protected]