Florida football kicked off its fall camp on Thursday in preparation for the upcoming 2026 season, and on Friday, redshirt freshman quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. spoke with the media about his progress this summer as well as his expectations heading into camp.
Among the topics covered by Jones Jr. in his presser were the starting quarterback competition and his relationship with fellow play-caller Aaron Philo, along with details from his process of learning a new system and working with a new coaching staff.
The Jacksonville, Florida, product also discussed working with his offensive line and the relationships he has built with his teammates on and off the field, among other subjects of interest.
Below is a look at everything Jones Jr. said at his press conference on Friday, abridged for clarity.
What have you learned from Aaron Philo?
Really, just like what he does throughout the playbook. I mean, some of the questions I ask when the coaches aren’t there, but really, I’ve been trying to learn it all myself, just because that’s what I have to do in the game; nobody’s gonna be able to help me.
So being able to learn myself, do the extra things, that’s what’s going to be able to push me over to know the playbook a little more.
How do you distill all that information and keep it from overwhelming you?
I think that’s the difference between being a good quarterback and a great quarterback. I mean, being able to sustain a lot of information at one time and not playing robotic, ’cause they’re not about playing robotic. You want to be an athlete, you want to be able to put the ball in situations where athletes can do great things in space, and that’s what they’re really all about.
What’s your process there?
Really taking notes. I like to write a lot of things down and look back over them at night and in the morning. I like to walk through mentally at home, and then just keep going over and over again. And once I do that, now I drill it into my brain.
How important was it to improve your speed this summer?
It felt great. It really did because being healthy, having a healthy spring. And then going into the summer (with) Rusty (Whitt)… being able to push myself in the weight room… me and Philo lived at the same rack. So we push each other all the time.
So being able to push each other to that 500 squat, 500 deadlift, that really takes a toll — not really takes a toll, but it takes, it adds elements to your speed when you go on the field, and you can really feel how explosive you get based off the weight room.
How do you feel you got better this summer and what were some other things you wanted to work on?
Process. Knowing where they go with the football, going quickly through my reads, or where everyone’s at, motions, just process with the offense. Getting everybody down fast. I mean, that’s great, especially when you have athletes, you can get those guys the ball fast. Let them do what they need to do and touchdown.
Was it film study? Was it some of the player-run practices that you guys did and how you feel like that came along?
Definitely player-run practice. The reps are what you need. Repetition after repetition. I mean, once you keep doing those things, then it becomes like clockwork.
So now when you get in fall camp, you can be full speed ahead. Just like last year, when I was learning new playbook, came in spring, trying to learn, then we got a player-run practice during the summer, and it was repetition after repetition in fall camp. It was (the) home stretch.
What do you feel like, you know, what do you bring to the table?
Definitely accuracy, arm strength, and now I can move a little bit, of course, but accuracy and arm strength, being a point guard on the field and just delivering the ball wherever I need to on the field and making a throw anytime. I think those are my best attributes.
Will that give you the edge to earn the starting job?
I wouldn’t say the edge, just because you can make everything on the field, doesn’t mean that… I mean, we have a lot of guys out there in the country that can make everything on the field, but it’s about process, knowing the protection, knowing defenses, and then making plays. I can make any throw, but am I making it on time? Am I doing those things correctly? So it will, but if I’m doing it in the correct way.
What really stands about stands out about Philo’s game?
He’s smart. Those are things that stand out because he knows where they go with the football. Quick delivery can make any throw, has a great arm, and he’s very decisive.
What was that pivotal moment when you knew you were gonna be on the quarterback track?
I would say… pretty funny story. I was in middle school and I was playing quarterback. I was playing quarterback all my life. I played everything till I got to high school, but in middle school, I played my middle school football team. I was playing quarterback and they’re like, “We don’t think you’re good enough.” So switching me to a receiver kind of took me off a little bit.
So then when I got to high school, I was able to compete to play quarterback, ended up taking the job and starting for my freshman year, to my senior year, and then that’s when I knew this was gonna be serious. And then had a lot of conversations with my dad. He’s like, “Hey, do you want to play the quarterback position? You know how big of a deal this is?” And I was like, “Yes, I want to be in that role.”
Anybody try to convince you to go another way?
No other way. No, there was really no other way, because once I got to high school, it was nothing but quarterback.
You were not really healthy last season and then you come back to a whole new offense with a guy who has two years in that offense
You gotta be able to adapt. You gotta be able to adapt, and that’s what makes somebody a great player: being able to adapt on the fly, and being able to switch up anytime.
There’s something that different goes on. I mean, last year came into a new offense, was able to adapt this year, come into a new offense, able to adapt. You just got to overcome the odds and then keep pushing yourself.
What about the relationship with Aaron? How would you describe it?
Very genuine; we get along very well, laugh, have fun. I think we want to see each other succeed, and I want to see him succeed, for sure. And I think that’s why we both get along so well, because no matter who’s going on the field, we want to see the other person be great.
How did Dallas Wilson do on the golf course?
Dallas, he was out there with us. He wasn’t very good. He hit a couple of holes, and then we was like, “Nah, go sit on the golf cart for the rest of the day.” But he’s just a great human to be around and we love the vibes that he brought. So I had no problem with him being out there.
What about you and Aaron? You guys are competitors
Well, for me, I just started playing. So, and he’s been playing since he was yay-high (gestures). That’s what he said. So, you know, he was a little bit ahead, but I’m ready to compete. I want to play, I want to hit. So, yeah, no problem with it. That’ll stand up out there.
Who invited Dallas?
I think he kind of just heard us talking, and he was like, “Hey, let me come out there.” You know how he gets. And I was like, “All right, let’s see what you can do.” And then we finally get out there, and he’s like, “I’ve never played. I’ve never hit.” And we’re like, “It doesn’t matter. You an athlete, let’s just see what you can do.”
And then after a couple holes, we were like, “Nah, let’s sit down.” He holding up time right here.
Did he use your clubs?
I let him use my clubs because… I just bought some old used clubs just to get started so I can get used to hitting, so I let him use it and he was hitting around, hitting the dirt. I was like, “Damn, you missing them.”
What type of team bonding does that?
You get to know him on a personal level. Everything that he’s been through in his life. You know when he gets on that field, you know how hard he’s pushing to get to the next level. And so when you see him out on the field, you see how hard he’s pushing, you, you kind of look deeper than that because you know how he is off the field and what he’s going to bring to the table for us.
Given the injuries Florida’s starters have faced the last three years, how fair is it if two guys are ready to roll?
It’s great, but I don’t think both of us want to bank off someone being injured. I think both of us want to win fair and square with everyone being 100% ready to go. But with Coach Sumrall saying that he feels like he can win with both of us, it’s very reassuring, and that he has confidence in both of us.
So we’re just competing and pushing each other.
How important is it that the two of you guys compete healthily and work together to set that example for the team?
The other guys see it, and they drive around us, and they love to see how we compete, and we still have a healthy relationship. I think the whole team sees it, and then that’s what we want to take on everyone because everyone’s competing. Everyone’s competing for a starting spot — nothing’s given. That’s where the coaching staff has put emphasis on. So when they see things like that, they take it with their position group or whoever they’re competing with, and they’re doing it.
What did Sumrall say he wanted to see you do this summer after spring practices to take that next step?
Process of the offense. Because just learning in that spring, sometimes I’m a hitch late, or I’m a step late. Now with those summer reps and those fall camp reps starting now, I’ve been completely way better. And then being more vocal as a leader. I feel like being a leader, we have a whole new team; half of the team is brand new.
Uh, in the spring, you’re kind of like just setting yourself up because they want to see what you can do because they got to get respect for you because they can know what you can do on the field before you become a vocal leader. So he wanted to see him become a vocal leader. whole guy’s more accountable. So in the summer, I pretty much did that.
What has Sumrall said about the strengths that you’ve shown and what you’ve done to show you’re worthy of the job?
Putting the ball in great position, throwing the ball downfield — just hitting the shots, hitting pretty much when I’m on fire, being able to do everything, being able to get outside the pocket, escape, get vertical north and south. And that’s what he loves about my game. And then, just being consistent, taking care of the football, and then everything else will be set for itself.
What have you learned from Buster Faulkner?
I learned just to take what the defense gives you. Spread the ball to your athletes. That’s pretty much been the word. Give the athletes the ball. And I think that’s what being a part of a point guard is: not trying to do too much, not trying to be… there’s a time to be a game manager and then a game changer. So I’ve learned that and then, I mean, just doing the extra things outside the facility and inside the facility to learn the offense because I knew — I want to play quarterback here.
So this is something serious. I got to be able to take all my time into this and learn a new playbook, learn all the motions. I knew I had to be somewhat ready for spring and then taking extra time in the summer. And setting those goals for myself that has really helped me.
What do you like about Rusty Whitt’s strength program? How different is it compared to last year?
He holds us to a high standard, for sure. He demands a lot from us. And I think we see the guys’ speed this year — almost a 2-mile-an-hour increase from most of the guys at the top. So you see how powerful and explosive we’ve gotten as a team and how fast we are. So I think that speaks for itself.
You mentioned athletes. What do you think about these weapons around you?
Very versatile and explosive. You got VB3, you got Dallas, you got Micah Mays, you got the whole running back room, you got Bailey Stockton. Pretty much the whole receiver room, running back room, tight ends. Those guys are very versatile and explosive. They can do anything for you. They can catch the ball. I mean, as long as you get those guys the ball in space… it’s speechless. You can do anything.
You said you want the offense to become second nature. Where are you in that process?
I would say we’re getting closer there. If we have a motion on the play, I know the motions over here; I can send a motion, be able to process the defense while motions come in, or the snap timing has to be for the motion. I think that’s somewhere I want to be, and then no one was on the back end, so I can change the protection. That’s something that’s second nature.
So, once I get all those things, which will come later fall camp — still more repetition, because I can still get better at that. I can always have ways that I can improve. But then I think it would be second nature.
What about this offense makes it kind of maybe quarterback friendly?
It has answers for everything. I mean, if you have blitzes, you have hot reads, you could change the protection, you could change the whole play once you get to learn, once it is second nature. Once you get to learn most of the offense, Coach Faulkner’s going to be able to give you the keys, be able to switch and audible things.
So it’s very quarterback-friendly, especially once you know it.
What do you see from Harrison Moore?
He gives me Jake Slaughter vibes a little bit. Just because of the way he carries himself, his leadership. I mean, you see him. We work out in the morning and during the summer, and you see him up here at 3 o’clock, getting perfect snaps, making sure he’s perfect.
And that’s something everyone sees. And that’s something that we want to follow. And then just him up front, how physical he is, how smart he is. That’s the one that’s Jake Slaughter vibes.
What are your thoughts on the offensive line as a whole, and just how that group is coming together?
I think they’ve grown tremendously. Just from how they’ve… strength, play speed, body structure. I think they’ve grown tremendously, how physical they are, how detailed they are, and then how close they came as a group, just seeing them together around the facility, seeing them outside the facility.
If it’s eating, if I’m going to a restaurant, oh, I see three or four guys hanging out with each other. That’s something you want to see and they can be able to work together and job as one.
What do you feel like that group needs to do to make you and Aaron feel like you guys are good to go for the season?
I feel like just like hand placement, feet. I mean, to be honest, out there at practice, I feel great behind those guys. I have confidence in those guys, just because of how much they work, how much I’ve seen them put in this offseason. I have confidence in those guys tremendously.
How did the dinner come together with you and Aaron taking the guys out?
We did it at Hawkstone (Country Club), and they try to get us together every year. Aaron and I brought the idea to them, and we were like, “Yeah, let’s do it. Let’s do this thing. Let’s get everyone together. Let’s get us a steak and lobster, some potatoes,” and everyone came together. It was great. It was a great event.
Just linemen or other offensive players?
All the linemen and the quarterbacks. Yes, sir.
And how was the night?
It was great. We got to see, we got to meet (Grant) Holloway, the Olympic hurdler — just to see his growth, his mindset, his journey. And then being able to just talk to everyone, having everyone there, it was just a great vibe.
Do you and Philo hang out off the field?
Yeah, we hang out — golf. We go eat with the quarterbacks all the time. And then really just outside in the facility, just being able to get close to him, being able to just being able to laugh, giggle, have fun sometimes. I think that’s what is gonna build us closer.
Have you all played each other on the game, the NCAA or college?
Not yet. He’s been playing FIFA. And then I haven’t been I haven’t been playing the game that much. So, yeah.
Reason you got golf clubs because you want to play with them?
So the whole quarterback room — Aaron Williams… you know, Aiden (Warner) has a golf page and he’s been playing golf. Coach Craddock plays golf, Coach Spurrier plays golf. So Buster plays golf. So I’m like, oh my gosh, I need to, I need to get in on this because they’re going to play after later on in the day.
So I’m like, “I need to get on in this.” And everybody was like, “You need to go get golf clubs. You need to go ahead.” So I’m like, “All right, I’ll go get some golf clubs. I’ll go hit.” So then that’s how I got into it.
You need better golf clubs
I know. Well, I’ll go get them measured, however they do it. Eventually fitted.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida’s Tramell Jones talks QB competition, fall camp with press
Reporting by Adam Dubbin, Gators Wire / Gators Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Adam Dubbin, Gators Wire | USA TODAY Network
