With the exodus of Billy Napier and former Gators, like DJ Lagway, ahead of 2026, UF and head coach Jon Sumrall are beginning to build around a new staff and a new scheme. Arguably most importantly, the Gators need a new quarterback to light a fire under the team and lead the way as a grueling schedule, including nine conference matchups, rapidly approaches.
Through Florida’s six spring practices, quarterbacks Tramell Jones Jr. and Aaron Philo have jumped ahead as frontrunners for this year’s starting spot. However, Sumrall has made it clear that the quarterback room will remain in competition up until – and even into – the 2026 season.
Jones and Philo have split reps evenly, and according to Sumrall, “both guys are doing a great job.”
Sumrall called Philo a “good decision maker” with a “quick release" and “good arm,” who has tangible leadership traits, while he harped on Jones’ “naturalness” and “quiet confidence.”
The coach has been impressed with each of his young quarterbacks thus far and believes the room’s competition has helped boost the overall level of play.
“You don’t elevate by pushing someone else down, and really, someone else elevating should help you elevate,” Sumrall said. “They’re challenging each other, but they’re doing it in a healthy competitive way.”
Here’s how the two have stacked up through six practices and prepare to attack the season:
Tramell Jones Jr.
A rising redshirt freshman, Jones joined the Gators as a freshman in 2025 and completed 21 of 35 passes for 191 yards and 2 touchdowns playing behind Lagway.
Now competing for the starting role, Jones cited Lagway’s return from injury as a key piece that taught him how to handle both rehab and the mental side of the game.
“When he came back, it was just the mental piece, learning what he did, learning from his mistakes, and that’s what I came in to do,” Jones said. “I came here to learn from DJ and compete with him, make him better and push myself also.”
Florida’s coaching staff has played a role in keeping the quarterback room locked in on competition. Jones said his coaches are pushing quarterbacks to compete with each other rather than against one another, and that pushing each other and staying positive through the process are two of the biggest components in carving out a starting role.
Within the competition, Jones has focused on improving his speed and health, hoping to stay 100% healthy while branching out into becoming a mobile quarterback. He even said he’s about 2 mph faster than last season and that coaches are looking for quarterbacks to be consistent, take shots downfield, create explosive plays and show consistency in not turning the ball over.
Additionally, Jones said he’s been consumed with learning the ins and outs of UF’s new offensive scheme, studying the play call sheet to know where his teammates’ heads are at.
Though Philo has familiarity in offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner’s scheme, Jones remains a top option for Florida because of his arm strength and elite spin rate.
“I think it’s like in the top five in the NFL, like out of everyone they’ve ever tested,” Jones said.
His familiarity with Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson is another key factor that could give Jones a leg up in the competition. He also highlighted Micah Mays Jr. as a top receiver through Florida’s first practices, and believes UF’s talent at receiver will make it easier to facilitate the game, especially in the fast-paced environment of SEC football.
“When you’re learning a new offense, you want things to come like second nature,” Jones said. “You don’t want to be second-guessing yourself on the field, so taking those extra reps, walking through, watching film, that’s going to be able to help you.”
Aaron Philo
Philo joined the Gators through the portal ahead of 2026 after serving as Haynes King’s backup at Georgia Tech. He completed 21 of 28 passes for 373 yards and a touchdown in 2025 and will enter the 2026 season as a redshirt sophomore.
Philo wasn’t promised a starting job at Florida, but believes healthy competition is a big proponent of improvement. He said he hit it off with Tramell immediately upon arriving in Gainesville and feels they are both good leaders who want to compete.
“I’m a firm believer in: Competition makes everybody better,” Philo said. “When you’re competing with somebody, competing with multiple people, you’re going to push yourself to be better than you would be if it was just given to you.”
As the competition for the starting role continues, Philo has done his best to give Jones tips to help him adjust to Faulkner’s new offensive system and said communication within the quarterback room has been very open, with all the players working to teach, learn from and elevate one another
“We’re sharing everything that we see, so I know we’re not hiding anything,” Philo said. “I’ve been in the offense for two years, so there’s some ins and outs that maybe you wouldn’t see if you’re just looking through it the first time, so I’ve been trying to give [Jones] those little tips.”
One of the biggest changes for Philo will be the jump in conference competition from the ACC to the SEC. He’s excited for the challenge and noted that becoming a mobile quarterback, like Haynes King, can help open up the offense, make it more explosive and keep opposing defenses on their heels.
“I’m extremely excited, just going through practice, you can obviously tell everybody’s bigger, faster, more physical. There’s definitely a difference in this league,” Philo said.
Like Jones, Philo will see some continuity at receiver that could bolster his ability to manage the offense and connect on throws down the field.
Philo spent time with both Bailey Stockton and Eric Singleton Jr. at Georgia Tech, allowing him to build on preexisting chemistry and step comfortably into a leadership role at Florida. Like Philo, tight end Luke Harpring transferred from Georgia Tech as well.
Moreover, Philo hopes to show consistency and explosiveness ahead of Florida’s first scrimmage on Saturday, citing a need to move the chains and score points without turning the ball over. As he begins to branch into a leadership role, Philo’s familiarity with Stockton, Singleton and Harpring may allow him to step up and command the offense in 2026.
“Championship teams, they’re all player-led, so when all the players buy in, it gives the team a really good chance,” Philo said. “I’ve taken initiative of that and am trying to be the best leader that I can, getting guys going, holding guys accountable.”
Contact Curan Ahern at cahern@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @CuranAhern.
Curan is a junior sports journalism student in his fourth semester at The Alligator. He is currently the sports desk's football and enterprise beat writer, and previously served as a reporter for men's tennis, sports enterprise and football. He is currently pursuing a public relations minor and is an avid Duval sports fan. (#DTWD)
