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CFB Rumors: Insider Updates Florida Gators Starting QB Battle
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- CFB Rumors: Insider Updates Florida Gators Starting QB Battle
The Florida Gators made sweeping changes to their football program this offseason coming off a 4-8 campaign. With a new era for the team beginning under head coach Jon Sumrall, the next step is determining who will be the Gators starting quarterback next season.
Pete Nakos of On3.com reported some intel from the Gators spring practice, including on the quarterback battle. As of now, it appears that Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones are "neck-and-neck" in the competition and a big weekend is ahead for both.
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Florida is set to hold 11-on-11 drills during spring practice this weekend, providing Sumrall and the rest of the Gators coaching staff with a better opportunity to see how the two signal-callers look. Each quarterback will have a chance to showcase how well they operate under pressure and demonstrate their ability to read and react to what defensive coordinator Brad White's defense throws at them.
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Aaron Philo stats :59-of-102 (57.8% completion rate), 938 passing yards, 9.2 yards per attempt, 2-3 TD-INT, 135.7 passer rating, 1 rushing touchdown
Philo, a redshirt freshman who transferred from Georgia Tech, was originally rated as a three-star recruit by On3.com out of high school. One thing the 6-foot-2 pocket passer has going for him in this spring competition is familiarity with Gators offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, who was Georgia Tech's OC from 2023-25.
Jones, who doesn't turn 20 years old until October, starred at Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, Florida. The 6-foot quarterback was a consensus four-star recruit and appeared in two games for the Gators last season, throwing a pair of touchdown passes in a victory over Long Island University and later coming in during a blowout loss to the Kentucky Wildcats.
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While Jones has far less familiarity with Faulkner's scheme, he has reportedly stood out thanks to his elite athleticism. That could present Faulkner and Sumrall with a choice before the fall, needing to determine if they'd prefer the more experienced pocket passer or the higher upside from the dual-threat quarterback. Either way, this offense will be centered around running back Jadan Baugh.
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