Florida’s quarterback picture is still unsettled, but Buster Faulkner isn’t ready to move on from the options already in the building.
With the Gators’ offense sputtering and questions mounting about whether a change is coming before the 2027 season, Florida’s offensive coordinator said he still trusts the two quarterbacks on the roster. The Gators have averaged just 15.8 points over their last five games and are 1-4 in that stretch, a skid that has only sharpened the spotlight on the position.
Redshirt sophomore Aaron Philo has started seven games and gone 4-3, while redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. is 1-1 as a starter. Jones also struggled in Florida’s 23-7 loss to Oklahoma on November 7 in The Swamp.
Florida coach Jon Sumrall has not decided whether to return to Philo or stay with Jones when the Gators play Saturday, November 14 at No. 13 Kentucky at 6:15 p.m. on ESPN.
Faulkner was asked if Florida would try to upgrade at quarterback through the transfer portal after the season, and he made clear he’s not looking past the players he has now.
"Yeah, the beauty of it is the portal doesn't open for a while," Faulkner said. "We got three games to evaluate everything.
Look, one thing about me is if I tell you, like, I do believe in them. And I do understand that it is a process with the quarterback position, and I will not rush that process, right?
I want to stand by those guys. I'm gonna bring them along.
It's our job to coach them."
The growing pains have shown up in the numbers. Philo has thrown for 1,367 yards with 9 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, and he has added 3 rushing touchdowns. Jones has passed for 712 yards with 4 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, while also scoring once on the ground.
Faulkner said the staff still has time to sort it out.
"We're going to evaluate and we've got to do what's best for the Florida Gators," Faulkner said. " And that's something that we take a great deal of pride. And I think we've got a great staff, get this thing figured out with the people we got right now, and we've got a lot of football left to be played this year"
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Floridas Offense Has A Problem Tramell Jones Didnt Dodge
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Jones also took responsibility for a costly interception and said Florida needs more consistency from the running game if it wants to finish possessions the right way. The emphasis now is on cleaner execution, better red-zone results and using the final three games to tighten things up through practice and film study, with Jones still sounding confident the offense can respond. [Read more 🡒]