Aaron Philo’s Florida debut offered a small but telling contrast with DJ Lagway’s Baylor ending.
The Gators’ quarterback battle had been sorted through all offseason, and there was never just one clean answer. Tramell Jones drew support from the camp that believed his ceiling was higher, while Aaron Philo also had a case because of his familiarity with Buster Faulkner’s offense. In the end, whoever took the job would be tasked with replacing DJ Lagway, whom Jon Sumrall essentially pushed into the transfer portal back in December.
On Saturday, the difference between the two quarterbacks showed up on one of those tiny, decisive throws that can get lost in the box score.
Before Florida kicked off, plenty of Gator fans were likely paying close attention to Auburn’s game against Baylor. Florida meets Auburn in Week 3, and Lagway is now Baylor’s starting quarterback.
Lagway had a rocky afternoon at times, but he still helped drive the Bears to a touchdown that cut the deficit to 17-16 with eight seconds left. Baylor then went for two and tried to win the game in regulation.
The play was there. Baylor had its tight end slipping into the flat. Lagway completed the pass, but the ball came in a little behind, which checked the play up and gave Auburn enough time to make a game-saving tackle at the goal line and escape with the win.
If Lagway had led him, Baylor would have won.
That’s what made Philo’s touchdown pass to Bailey Stockton stand out. The setup was nearly the same.
Stockton lined up at tight end, crossed and leaked into the flat, and Philo found him. The key difference was the placement.
Philo threw it out in front, letting Stockton stay on stride and finish the play for the score.
First Florida TD for @BaileyStockton_ and it's a good one 🐊 pic.twitter.com/z4UWN68yBN
- Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB)
It may sound like a small critique, and it is. Eventually, Florida will move on from Lagway. But after a whole offseason of his camp framing the story as one where Florida fans were the problem, and saying he could now play loose and free at Baylor, seeing him miss on the same kind of throw he struggled with in Gainesville is hard to ignore.
And the replacement quarterback did it right on his first crack.
In Other News...
Eric Singleton Injury Clouds Florida's Biggest Week 1 Takeaway
Floridas Week 1 win over Florida Atlantic came with one of those early-season reminders that a good opener can still leave a program checking the injury report. Wide receiver Eric Singleton, the high-profile transfer from Auburn, went down after being rolled up on while blocking and had to leave the game with a leg injury, adding an uneasy note to an otherwise encouraging showing from the offense.
The Gators managed to keep moving without him, which offered a positive sign about the depth around him, but Singletons status now hangs over what should have been the biggest takeaway from opening week. For a Florida offense trying to build momentum early, the question is less about what happened Saturday and more about whether one of its most important newcomers will be available for the games ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Already Has An Early Injury Concern On Offense
Floridas offense was already dealing with a shaky start in the opener against Florida Atlantic, and it got worse quickly when senior wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. left early with an ankle injury and did not return. For a team trying to establish rhythm right away, losing a veteran pass catcher so soon put an immediate spotlight on the depth around him and how the Gators would adjust if he had to miss any additional time.
Head coach Jon Sumrall said the severity of Singletons injury is still unknown, with more information expected later. The backfield had its own issue too, as senior running back Evan Pryor was sidelined by a hip injury, though that problem is not expected to be long-term. For Florida, the early-season concern is less about one isolated absence and more about whether the offense can stay intact long enough to settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Floridas Opener Grades Exposed One Issue Fans Cant Ignore
Pro Football Focus Week 1 review of Floridas opener against FAU offered plenty of encouraging numbers for a team trying to set an early tone. The Gators landed in the top 40 nationally in 11 of 12 categories, a strong sign that the operation was largely sharp on both sides of the ball and that the overall performance matched the kind of clean start Billy Napier has been pushing for.
Still, one category stood out for the wrong reasons, and it is the sort of area fans will keep circling as the schedule gets tougher. Florida ranked 85th in quarterback pressure, a gap that sits a little awkwardly next to the otherwise favorable grades and hints at an issue that could matter far more once the competition ramps up. PFF also handed out individual grades on offense and defense, giving a fuller picture of who helped drive the opener and who left something on the table. [Read more 🡒]