Florida Football QB Competition Remains Undecided After Spring Game

Coaches say both Tramell Jones Jr. and Aaron Philo have performed well, but no starter named yet.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 9:11pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a Florida football game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in shades of orange, blue, and white.The Florida Gators' quarterback competition remains unresolved, with both Tramell Jones Jr. and Aaron Philo showcasing their talents in the spring game.Gainesville Today

Florida football coach Jon Sumrall said the starting quarterback job is still open after the team's spring game, despite strong performances from redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. and sophomore Aaron Philo. Statistically, Jones outplayed Philo, but Sumrall said he will have honest conversations with both players about the competition before making a decision.

Why it matters

The Gators' quarterback battle is one of the most closely watched storylines heading into the 2026 season, as Florida looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 campaign. Sumrall's decision on the starter will have major implications for the team's offensive identity and championship aspirations.

The details

In the spring game, Jones completed 13 of 17 passes for 210 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Philo went 18 of 24 for 166 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Jones got off to a slow start but made some big plays in the second quarter, including a 38-yard touchdown pass and a 75-yard score. Philo's two interceptions came on plays where the defense made good plays on the ball.

  • The spring game took place on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
  • Sumrall said he will meet with the quarterbacks on Monday to have a 'transparent conversation' about the competition.

The players

Jon Sumrall

The head football coach for the University of Florida Gators.

Tramell Jones Jr.

A redshirt freshman quarterback for the Florida Gators who had a strong performance in the spring game.

Aaron Philo

A sophomore quarterback for the Florida Gators who also played well in the spring game, though he threw two interceptions.

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What they’re saying

“Both guys have done some good things. I think that room's done good things as a whole. I'll sit down with all those guys on Monday and have a really transparent conversation about, hey, after 15 practices, this is where we are. I'll talk to them about, hey, if we had to play a game next week, this is probably what it would look like.”

— Jon Sumrall, Head Football Coach

“Started slow, bounced back. I think sustaining drives was a big thing for me, being able to put guys in good situations, get athletes the ball. So, I think just being able to do that, I think I did pretty good today.”

— Tramell Jones Jr., Quarterback

“Things are gonna go bad in games. Everything's not going to go the way that you want it to go. So you have to be resilient. You have to be able to bounce back when things go bad and I think it's a great trait of a quarterback.”

— Aaron Philo, Quarterback

What’s next

Sumrall said he will meet with the quarterbacks on Monday to have a more detailed discussion about the competition and provide an update on the team's plans for the starting job going into the summer.

The takeaway

The quarterback battle at Florida remains wide open heading into the summer, with both Tramell Jones Jr. and Aaron Philo showing promise in the spring game. Sumrall's decision on the starter will be a crucial one as the Gators look to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season and contend for a conference title.