GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida will start quarterback Aaron Philo in the team’s season opener against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 5, coach Jon Sumrall said Monday.
Philo, a 6-foot-1, 207-pound junior from Bogart, Georgia, edged Tramell Jones Jr. in a competition that began in the spring and carried into fall camp. The Gators held their second of two scrimmages Saturday, and Sumrall made the announcement two days later. He told both QBs his decision Sunday.
Sumrall said the “biggest separator” was Philo being able “to operate the full offense at a little bit higher level right now.”
“There will not be some crazy, big hoopla around in our building,” Sumrall said. “It’s just how we’re moving forward. I’ve met with both guys … Both are awesome. Both fully understand and see where we are in the competition.”
Sumrall said Philo will get “the lion’s share of the reps” with the first-team offense beginning this week in practice. Jones, meanwhile, will work as the backup and wait for another shot.
“It’s been a real battle,” Sumrall said. “It’s not been some empty competition. It has been real, and that’s where we are.”
Philo seemingly had an advantage from Day 1, partly because he spent the last two seasons with Florida offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner. Philo followed Faulkner to Gainesville from Georgia Tech. Philo served as Haynes King’s backup and appeared in eight games.
He got his first college start last year against Gardner-Webb and completed 21 of 28 passes for 373 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.
Philo arrived at Florida in January and worked to reshape his body. Since he knew the offense, he spent much of spring and summer working on timing and chemistry with a receiving corps that includes Vernell Brown III, Micah Mays, Eric Singleton Jr., Bailey Stockton and Dallas Wilson.
Jones served as DJ Lagway’s backup last season and played in two games, completing 21 of 35 passes for 191 yards and two TDs.
“Their arm talent is very similar,” Sumrall said of Philo and Jones. “What’s unique is … they’re kind of similar players. Arm talent-wise, running ability, they’re similar-ish. On the GPS numbers, they’re about the same speed.
“So I would say it’s probably the biggest differentiating factor has just been being able to maybe get us into the right call, out of the wrong call, check things, alert things, kill things off of defensive pictures and then maybe see the middle of the field a little bit more in the throw game. But both guys have done a lot of great things, but that’s probably been the biggest difference. It’s just operational.”
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