Florida Eyes Georgia Tech Transfer QB Aaron Philo as Potential Pivot Point in Sumrall Era
One of the worst-kept secrets in college football right now? Florida has its eye on Georgia Tech quarterback Aaron Philo as the transfer portal gears up to reopen in January.
And while nothing’s official yet-this is college football in 2025, after all, where things change faster than a fourth-quarter momentum swing-the buzz is real. If Philo ends up in Gainesville, it could mark a defining early move in the Jon Sumrall era.
Let’s unpack what this could mean for the Gators.
Who is Aaron Philo?
Unless you’ve been following Georgia Tech’s depth chart or are deep into Georgia high school football, Aaron Philo might not be a name that rings many bells. That’s fair.
Despite being named Georgia’s Class A Division I Offensive Player of the Year back in 2022, Philo came out of high school as a lower-tier three-star recruit. His Power Four offers included Cincinnati, UCF, and Indiana-not exactly a who's who of college football powerhouses.
He spent this past season as the backup at Georgia Tech, where he was being groomed for a future starting role under then-OC Buster Faulkner-who, not coincidentally, is now running the offense in Gainesville. That connection is key. Faulkner knows what Philo brings to the table, and if Florida does pull the trigger, it’ll be because Faulkner believes Philo can execute his system.
The DJ Lagway Factor
Of course, this potential move doesn’t happen in a vacuum. If Philo does land in Gainesville, it likely signals the end of DJ Lagway’s time with the Gators. And that’s where things get complicated.
Lagway came into 2025 with sky-high expectations, but his season didn’t go according to script. He threw the second-most interceptions of any quarterback in the country, struggled with mechanics-especially footwork-and didn’t flash the arm strength that once made him a top-tier recruit. Reading between the lines, it seems Sumrall wasn’t ready to hand him the 2026 starting job and didn’t want to burn resources trying to keep him in the fold.
That’s a bold move, because even with the struggles, Lagway’s ceiling is still tantalizing. When he’s on, he brings a dynamic element that’s tough to replicate. Philo, by contrast, remains more of a mystery.
What We Know About Philo on the Field
Philo saw limited action in 2024 but did enough to turn some heads. He played in four games, including a solid showing in Georgia Tech’s upset wins over Miami and NC State.
Against the Wolfpack, he threw for 265 yards on 19-of-33 passing and added 57 yards on the ground. He showed poise in short and intermediate throws and managed Faulkner’s offense with confidence.
This year, his only action came against FCS opponent Gardner-Webb. Statistically, he looked sharp-21-of-28 for 373 yards and a touchdown-but the tape tells a more nuanced story.
Of those 21 completions, only seven traveled more than ten yards. His longest pass, a 78-yarder, came on a screen.
He also had an underthrown deep ball that turned into an interception and didn’t consistently hit receivers in stride on vertical routes.
In short, Philo’s accuracy is solid, but his arm strength raises some legitimate concerns. If you’re looking for a comparison, think Graham Mertz-efficient in the short game, but limited when it comes to stretching the field.
The Fit in Faulkner’s Offense
Here’s where things get interesting. Philo may not be a household name, but he knows Faulkner’s system inside and out.
That familiarity matters, especially as Florida looks to establish a new offensive identity under Sumrall and Faulkner. There’s real value in having a quarterback who doesn’t need a crash course in the playbook.
That said, he won’t be handed the job. Tramell Jones is still in the picture, and Florida reportedly wants to bring in two quarterbacks from the portal. Philo would have to earn his spot just like anyone else.
But if he does win the job, and if he can run Faulkner’s offense efficiently, the Gators might have found their guy without breaking the bank.
High Risk, High Reward
Let’s not sugarcoat it-this is a gamble. If Philo comes in and Florida goes 10-2 or better, Sumrall is going to look like a genius. He’ll have made a tough call, moved on from a struggling five-star in Lagway, and found a quarterback who fits the system and delivers wins.
But if Florida struggles, say goes 6-6, while Lagway thrives elsewhere? The questions will come fast and furious. And fair or not, Philo will be the focal point of those conversations.
That’s the nature of quarterback decisions in college football today. They’re not just about X’s and O’s-they’re about optics, development, and long-term vision.
Final Thoughts
Aaron Philo isn’t a sure thing. He’s not a blue-chip recruit, and his body of work is still relatively small.
But he’s accurate, he knows the system, and he’s got the trust of the guy calling plays. That’s a decent starting point.
Whether it’s enough to carry Florida forward in the post-Lagway era? That’s a question we won’t be able to answer until the pads go on and the lights come up.
But make no mistake-if Philo ends up in Gainesville, it’ll be one of the first big chess moves of the Jon Sumrall era. And like any good opening move, it’ll set the tone for what comes next.