Florida’s quarterback battle has been one of the biggest storylines in college football.
Redshirt sophomore Aaron Philo and redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. went toe-to-toe in spring camp, showing flashes of excellence, but neither was named the starter. The Gators are now in fall camp with the first scrimmage coming on Saturday.
“Right now, in my mind — I’m not trying to make it coach speak — I view us as having two starters today,” first-year head coach Sumrall said last month. Sumrall has avoided rushing to name a successor to DJ Lagway since his arrival in Gainesville, and the competition could continue until Florida’s season opener. “I don’t have a timeline,” Sumrall went on to say. “My timeline may be five minutes before the game before anyone finds out.”
Sumrall hasn’t ruled out the possibility that whoever wins the opening-day job won’t be the incumbent starter moving forward. He noted that starting Week 1 doesn’t necessarily mean starting Week 12. Offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner expressed a similar sentiment as fall camp looms. “When we know, we’ll know,’ Faulkner stated. “Obviously, somebody has to take the first snap. We’ll make that decision when it’s right.”
“They always talk about us competing with each other, not against each other,” redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. said of his battle with redshirt sophomore Aaron Philo earlier during spring practice. Jones added that the coaches emphasize the pair supporting and pushing one another in order to make the entire quarterback room better. “I’m a firm believer in competition makes everybody better,” echoed Philo.
“It’s not a one-hit wonder. Can’t have one great day, and it’s like, ‘Hey, I had a great day. I’m the starter,” Sumrall said at SEC media days. Consistency and decision-making will determine who emerges before Week 1, according to Sumrall. “It’s who stacks days. Both of them are doing a great job.”
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Jon Sumrall hints at timeline for Florida quarterback decision
Reporting by Michael Long, Gators Wire / Gators Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Michael Long, Gators Wire | USA TODAY Network
