The Oklahoma Sooners are heading into Saturday’s matchup with Florida facing a little bit of uncertainty at quarterback - and not because of an injury report.
Brent Venables and his staff have to prepare for two different Gators passers, with no clear answer yet on who will get the first snap. Aaron Philo has handled most of Florida’s starts this season after arriving with offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner from Georgia Tech. He’s completed 70.5% of his passes for 1,367 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions.
Then there’s Tramell Jones Jr., who has also been efficient in limited action. Jones has completed 70.8% of his throws for 579 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions this season. He got the start in one game when Philo was unavailable and helped Florida beat the Texas Longhorns.
Both quarterbacks saw time against Georgia, too. Philo opened that game and went 5-of-7 for 26 yards with two interceptions before Jones took over and finished 18-of-25 for 172 yards and one interception.
Venables said the Sooners can’t treat those two as drastically different problems.
"They're both very good players," Venables said." I think, systematically, they ask them to do similar things.
Philo's had more experience in the system, coming with Buster Faulkner from Georgia Tech. Both can run.
Both are excellent throwers. They put the quarterback on the move and put a ton of pocket movement.
They both throw the ball really, really well."
That leaves Oklahoma preparing for a Florida offense that doesn’t look like it will change much depending on which quarterback gets the nod. Philo brings the longer track record in the system, while Jones has already shown he can step in and win a big game. For the Sooners, the challenge is simple: get ready for both.
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Yormark said he plans to take a new role outside of college athletics, leaving the conference to sort out its next chapter without one of its most visible voices. For Oklahoma, the bigger question is what kind of Big 12 emerges from here and how that affects the competitive terrain around it. A change at the top does not alter the Sooners immediate business, but it does matter for the long view, especially in a conference where leadership decisions can ripple quickly. [Read more 🡒]
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Oklahoma is also hoping for help on the injury front, with Xzayvier Brown a possible return that would give the rotation a needed lift. Mississippi Valley State arrives in Mike Daviss first season at the helm and has a difficult schedule in front of it, but the Delta Devils are also trying to build something after several rough years, which makes this one more than just a tune-up for the Sooners. [Read more 🡒]
David Stones NFL Buzz Leaves One Big Question For Oklahoma Fans
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For Oklahoma fans, the projection is flattering, but it also comes with a familiar question about how long Stone will be around in Norman if his trajectory keeps rising. The Sooners are 4-4 and trying to steady their season with Florida next on the schedule, so the immediate focus is on getting back on track. Still, when a young defensive lineman is already showing up in future first-round conversations, it is the sort of development that tends to linger in the background. [Read more 🡒]