Gators Set Spring Game for April 11 as Jon Sumrall Ushers in New Era in Gainesville
There’s a new tone in Gainesville, and it’s coming through loud and clear. Florida’s first spring game under head coach Jon Sumrall is officially on the calendar - April 11 at noon in the Swamp - and it’s already shaping up to be more than just a scrimmage. It’s a statement.
After a 4-8 campaign that left the fanbase restless and the roster in flux, the Gators are deep into winter workouts, laying the groundwork for what Sumrall hopes will be a culture reset. And he’s not sugarcoating the process.
“We haven’t earned a damn thing,” Sumrall said bluntly, making it clear that the iconic Gator head logo - a symbol of pride for generations - won’t be worn until this team proves it deserves it.
That message is resonating through a locker room that’s seen significant turnover. Sumrall has 37 returning scholarship players, but he’s also brought in a wave of new faces - 24 transfers and 17 early enrollees from a 19-player signing class. That’s a massive infusion of fresh talent, but it also means cohesion is going to take time, and there are still gaps that need filling.
“There’s still some major areas of concern that we have on this roster,” Sumrall acknowledged. “But we got to develop. Everybody we got has to be their best and try to get this football team ready.”
One of the biggest storylines heading into spring? The quarterback competition.
Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo and redshirt freshman Trammel Jones Jr. are set to battle it out for the starting job. It’s early, but Sumrall likes what he sees so far in the room.
“I like our quarterback room,” he said. “Long way from making that decision, but they’ll make it for us. They decide who starts on me, by how they practice and how they play.”
That kind of merit-based approach is exactly what this program needs right now - a fresh start built on accountability and performance, not reputation or potential.
Spring practice kicks off March 3, with 15 sessions scheduled across Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The team will take a break from March 14-21 for spring break before returning to finish out the slate, culminating in the annual Orange and Blue Game.
The spring game itself, a fan-favorite tradition, will once again split the roster into two squads for a full scrimmage in the Swamp. Admission is free, but the stakes are real. For a team trying to rediscover its identity, this isn’t just a showcase - it’s a checkpoint.
Sumrall’s message is clear: nothing is given, everything is earned. And for a Florida program eager to turn the page, April 11 marks the first real chance to show what that new chapter might look like.