Florida’s quarterback picture got a lot murkier in the buildup to its showdown with Georgia.
The Gators entered the week with both Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. listed as questionable for Saturday’s game in Atlanta, leaving Florida without much clarity at the most important position on the field. Philo, who started Florida’s first six games, missed the Oct. 17 loss to Texas because of a shoulder injury. Jones, who sparked the upset of the Longhorns with 155 passing yards and two touchdowns, is now dealing with an undisclosed injury.
Coach Jon Sumrall said both quarterbacks practiced this week, and he also suggested Jones was already banged up coming out of the Texas game when he spoke during his opening-week press conference on Oct. 26.
"He’s got a couple of bumps and bruises, too, now," Sumrall said. "And he had, you know, pulled the guy fresh out of that garage and he goes and plays, and he got a couple fender-benders.
So, there's some bumps and bruises he's dealing with that are new. I noticed it last week."
If neither Philo nor Jones is available, Florida would have to lean on redshirt junior Aidan Warner or true freshman Will Griffin. Warner has already been in this spot before, appearing in the Florida-Georgia game in 2024 when DJ Lagway left with a hamstring injury, and then making his lone career start the next week against Texas.
Florida had other names pop up on the availability report as well. Inside linebacker Jaden Robinson and wide receiver Bailey Stockton were listed as doubtful, while running back Duke Clark moved up to questionable. Wide receiver Vernell Brown III, who has been out for the last three games with a knee strain, is listed as probable.
Georgia’s report brought its own set of absences and question marks. Wide receiver Thomas Blackshear, outside linebacker Amaris Williams and safety Tyriq Green were ruled out. Preseason All-SEC safety KJ Bolden is questionable, along with running back Chauncey Bowens and wide receiver Isiah Canon.
No. 20 Florida, sitting at 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the SEC, is trying to end a five-game skid against Georgia, which comes in at 6-1 and 4-1 in the SEC. The teams meet Saturday, Oct. 31 at 3:30 p.m. on ABC in Atlanta, where the game is being played because EverBank Stadium is undergoing a $1.4 billion renovation for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Even with the result in hand, the setup left the bigger question hanging as the Gators shift their attention to the regular-season opener against Miami. Todd Golden praised the way his team performed, but the illness that sidelined Fland added another layer to Floridas guard rotation picture, and the staff now has a short window to sort out how it wants the backcourt arranged when the games start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]
Florida-Georgia Just Lost The Rivalry Feeling Fans Loved Most
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The move also comes with a 50-50 ticket split between the schools, and the matchup is already mapped out to land in Tampa in 2027 before returning to Jacksonville through 2031. Even with a path back to the river city, the rotation underscores how much is lost when Florida and Georgia are not meeting in the place that gave the rivalry its distinct personality, and it has plenty of fans and former players thinking about what used to make the weekend feel bigger than just another SEC game. [Read more 🡒]
Floridas Best Shot Vs Georgia Comes Down To One Brutal Test
With Florida and Georgia heading into another rivalry meeting at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the spotlight is on a familiar kind of uncertainty for the Gators: quarterback play. ESPN analyst Greg McElroy expects No. 3 Georgia to bounce back from its recent loss, while Florida is still sorting out its own answer under center, with Jon Sumrall yet to name a starter between Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. It is the kind of week where every practice rep matters and every hint from the coaches gets parsed for more than it probably should.
Georgias quarterback situation adds another layer, even if the Bulldogs appear to be in better shape overall. Kirby Smart said Gunner Stockton dealt with a shoulder stinger after the last game but did not show concussion symptoms, which at least eases one concern for a team trying to steady itself after a loss. For Florida, though, the bigger issue is simpler and more pressing: finding the quarterback who can handle the moment in a game where one rough stretch can quickly tilt the whole afternoon. [Read more 🡒]