TAMPA — Florida football coach Jon Sumrall said the Gators have “two starting QBs” right now and offered no timeline on a decision to name a starter before UF’s season opener on Sept. 5 against Florida Atlantic (7:45 p.m., SEC Network).
Sumrall enters his first fall camp with the Florida Gators undecided on whether to start redshirt sophomore Aaron Philio or redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. at quarterback.
“I’ve met with both of those guys individually,” Sumrall said at SEC Football Media Day. “I’ll meet with them before we start training camp together. I’ll meet with the whole room. Just because you start Game 1 doesn’t mean you start game 12 … my timeline might be five minutes before a game before anybody finds out.”
Philo, a transfer from Georgia Tech, played under new offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner with the Yellow Jackets and is more familiar with the scheme. Jones, though, impressed coaches this spring with his leadership ability and ability to throw the ball deep.
In UF’s spring game, Philo completed 21-of-28 passes for 193 yards and 2 TDs but also threw two intercepions. Jones completed 13-of-17 passes for 210 yards and 2 TDs but was sacked three times.
“Both guys have been great,” Sumrall said. “They lift from the same rack together in the weight room. They push each other, they challenge each other, they’ve got each other’s back. They are going to fight for each other. The quickest way they can lose the job, and they know this, is to be a bad teammate.”
Sumrall said a number of factors will go into the decision.
“I think the locker room will rally around both,” Sumrall said. “The intangible component of can you lead and will other guys play for you does matter at that position quite a bit …. consistency is the biggest. To me do you consistently do the right thing, make good decisions, you can’t forget to bring guys in motion who have to motion, you gotta operate. It’s not a one-hit wonder. It’s who stacks days. Both of them are going a great job.”
Jon Sumrall offers health update on Florida football WR Dallas Wilson
Sumrall offered a promising update on Florida football redshirt freshman wide receiver Dallas Wilson, who was hobbled with a foot injury that limited him in spring practice and kept him out of UF’s spring game.
“He’s back,” Sumrall said. “Fired up about that. Dallas, great energy, really hard working, he’s the kind of guy he walks in the room, the temperature of the room changes. It’s fun watching him.”
The 6-foot-3, 218-pound Wilson showed flashes of star potential as a true freshman, including catching six passes for 111 yards and 2 TDs in his collegiate debut during UF’s 29-21 upset win over Texas on Oct. 4, 2025. But Wilson was limited to just four games as freshman due to a foot injury that began in fall camp and lingered throughout the 2025 season.
Wilson visited Nike’s headquarters in Beavetron, Oregon last January and was fitted with a special cleat to help alleviate his foot issues.
“Thanks to Nike, Jordan Brand, all the people that’s helped us,” Sumrall said. “He’s got a special cleat deal that’s hopefully gonna make him feel great with where he’s returning from.
“But he’s running great speeds. He hit great speed numbers this summer. He’s been full go. There’s no limitations. If there are limitations right now it’s limitations from me because we’re gonna be smart. There’s a certain amount of work he has to work to get ready to play but we’re also going make sure we’re gonna give him Saturdays.
Jon Sumrall discusses Florida football offensive line
Sumrall said he’s not set on a staring five at offensive line yet, but has been pleased with the strength gains the position group made during the summer under UF strength and conditioning coach Rusty Whitt.
“I was very underwhelmed with our strength when I got to Gainesville with our offensive line,” Sumrall said. “The weight being moved wasn’t up to the standard of what I was comfortable with. The guys in that room, they’ve gotten really comfortable pushing heavy weight.”
Florida is looking to replace three starters on the offensive line, including All-American center Jake Slaugher, left tackle Austin Barber and right guard Damieon George Jr.
“We’ve got an above the line who is in competition right now,” Sumrall said. “It’s mixing and matching and we’re not done. We’ll go through training camp and continue to work different groupings.”
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football coach Jon Sumrall talks QBs, WR Dallas Wilson at SECMD
Reporting by Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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By Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun | USA TODAY Network
