Aaron Philo is getting the nod for Florida’s biggest stage yet.
The junior quarterback will start for the No. 17 Gators against No. 3 Georgia, a source told the Orlando Sentinel, settling a weeklong debate over whether Philo or Tramell Jones Jr. would open against the Bulldogs.
Florida had reasons to consider Jones after his rescue act in Austin. He took over when Philo hurt his shoulder in the 38-19 loss to South Carolina a week earlier, then helped the Gators shock then-No.
7 Texas 27-24 on Oct. 17.
That showing gave Jones a real case to keep the job.
Still, the coaches went back to Philo, the quarterback who won the competition that stretched through the preseason and into the fall.
Philo led Florida to a 4-0 start and a No. 8 spot in the AP Top 25, and he ranked third in the SEC in passer rating. But the Gators hit a rough patch in losses to Missouri and South Carolina, with Philo unable to pull them back once they were behind.
The shoulder injury came at the end of a run against the Gamecocks, and that opened the door for Jones.
Against Texas, Jones showed plenty of poise. He sparked a comeback from a 17-3 hole at then-No.
7 Texas, making key plays both through the air and on the ground. A 17-yard fourth-and-12 completion helped set up a touchdown before halftime.
Then, with Florida up by three and under two minutes left, he slipped one defender and beat another for a 9-yard run on third-and-7.
Jones finished 22 of 35 for 155 yards, with two touchdown passes to Lacota Dippre. He also added 52 rushing yards, not counting an 11-yard sack.
During Florida’s two-game skid, Philo threw one touchdown against two interceptions and was sacked six times.
Saturday’s matchup with Georgia means something extra for Philo. He played at Prince Avenue Christian in Athens, Ga., then spent two seasons at Georgia Tech before transferring to Florida in January.
Now he gets Georgia’s defense, and it is a nasty assignment. Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs lead the SEC in scoring defense and rank second in total defense.
In Other News...
Florida Heads Into Georgia With One Huge Question Still Unanswered
Floridas trip to Georgia comes with the usual rivalry pressure, but there is a bigger football question hanging over the Gators as they try to sort out a season that has gone from impressive to baffling and back again. Joel Klatt pointed to that week-to-week inconsistency, noting that Florida has paired significant wins with puzzling losses while still showing enough talent to make this one feel live.
The matchup also puts the spotlight on how Florida wants to play it, because the ability to run the ball and lean on a strong defensive line could go a long way toward keeping the game on script. Even so, the quarterback picture remains unsettled, with no starter announced and Tramell Jones and Aaron Philo both listed as questionable, leaving one of the teams most important decisions open as kickoff approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Florida May Be Getting A Massive Boost Right Before Georgia
Floridas passing game has been searching for consistency while the receiver room works through injuries to Eric Singleton Jr. and Vernell Brown III, a hit that has shown up in the offenses overall effectiveness over the last few games. The two bring different traits to the field, and when both are available, the group gives the Gators more options in how they can attack downfield and on the perimeter.
As Georgia looms, there is at least some reason for optimism that the receiving corps could be getting closer to full strength at just the right time. If that trend holds, it could open up more of the game plan Florida has been unable to fully lean on lately, with the real question being how quickly those pieces can be worked back into rhythm before the rivalry game arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Has Plenty Of Bulletin-Board Fuel Entering Georgia Showdown
Florida heads into the Georgia matchup with plenty of motivation, and the setup only adds to the intrigue. ESPNs Football Power Index gives the Bulldogs an 81.6% chance to win, and Georgia arrives with a five-game winning streak in the rivalry as the teams get set for Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Florida, meanwhile, is reportedly turning to Aaron Philo at quarterback as it looks to shake up a series that has leaned heavily the other way in recent years.
The timing gives the Gators even more reason to believe there is an opening, since Georgia is coming off a bye week after a recent loss. For Florida, it is the kind of stage where every number, every pregame prediction and every reminder of the recent history only sharpens the challenge. Now the question is whether the Gators can use all of that as fuel when the rivalry returns to one of college footballs biggest neutral-site stages. [Read more 🡒]