Tramell Jones Jr. Shines in Florida Gators Spring Game

Sophomore quarterback makes strong case to be named starter for upcoming season

Apr. 11, 2026 at 7:04pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a Florida Gators quarterback in the midst of throwing a pass, with the action broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of vivid orange and blue hues.Tramell Jones Jr.'s dynamic performance in the Florida Gators' spring game has shaken up the team's quarterback competition.Gainesville Today

In the Florida Gators' annual spring game, sophomore quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. put on an impressive performance, completing 13 of 17 passes for 210 yards and 2 touchdowns. His play has made him a frontrunner to be named the starting QB for the Gators in the fall, though head coach Jon Sumrall said a final decision has not yet been made.

Why it matters

The Gators' quarterback battle has been a key storyline this offseason, with Jones Jr. and veteran Aaron Philo competing for the starting job. Jones Jr.'s standout spring game showing gives him momentum heading into the summer and could solidify his status as the team's QB1 for 2026.

The details

Jones Jr. outperformed Philo in the spring game, completing more passes, throwing for more yards, and tossing the same number of touchdowns (2) while avoiding turnovers. His ability to attack downfield and connect on deep balls was particularly impressive, including touchdown strikes to wide receivers Eric Singleton Jr. and Micah Mays.

  • The Florida Gators held their annual spring game on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
  • Head coach Jon Sumrall said he will meet with the quarterbacks on Monday, April 13, 2026 to discuss the competition and provide an update on the depth chart.

The players

Tramell Jones Jr.

A sophomore quarterback for the Florida Gators who made a strong case to be named the starting QB with his performance in the spring game.

Aaron Philo

A veteran quarterback for the Florida Gators who is also competing for the starting job.

Jon Sumrall

The head coach of the Florida Gators, who said he will meet with the quarterbacks to discuss the competition after the spring game.

Eric Singleton Jr.

A senior wide receiver for the Florida Gators who caught one of Tramell Jones Jr.'s touchdown passes in the spring game.

Micah Mays

A transfer wide receiver for the Florida Gators who caught the other touchdown pass from Tramell Jones Jr. in the spring game.

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What they’re saying

“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. I won't make an announcement because we don't play a game next week, but I want them to know kind of after we wrap up, I think our players, they deserve and earned.”

— Jon Sumrall, Head Coach, Florida Gators

What’s next

Head coach Jon Sumrall will meet with the quarterbacks on Monday, April 13, 2026 to discuss the competition and provide an update on the depth chart, though he said he will not make a final decision on the starting QB at that time.

The takeaway

Tramell Jones Jr.'s impressive performance in the Florida Gators' spring game has made him the frontrunner to be named the team's starting quarterback for the 2026 season. While head coach Jon Sumrall has not yet made a final decision, Jones Jr.'s ability to attack downfield and connect on deep balls gives him a clear edge over veteran Aaron Philo in the ongoing competition.