Jon Sumrall Delivers Straight Talk on QB Competition as Tramell Jones Jr. Calls Decision to Stay ‘No Brainer’

Florida’s starting quarterback spot is still up for grabs in Jon Sumrall’s debut season. The competition is wide open following DJ Lagway’s transfer to Baylor. Florida got back on the field Tuesday morning for its first practice since returning from spring break.

Jon Sumrall Discusses the Florida Gators Quarterback Competition Between Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr.

The time off didn’t change the outlook of the quarterback competition between Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr., but Sumrall came away encouraged by what he saw from the group.

“They’re challenging each other, but they’re doing it in a healthy competitive way,” Sumrall said. “I tell them all the time, you don’t elevate by pushing someone else down.”

Philo currently appears to be the leading candidate to start for Florida in 2026. He played in 8 games, including 1 start, for Georgia Tech, throwing for 938 yards.

Meanwhile, Jones is expected to be his main challenger for the QB1 job. He saw action in 2 games for Florida last season, completing 21 of 35 passes for 191 yards and 2 scores without an interception.

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As true freshman Will Griffin has also impressed early in camp, Sumrall said that the starting job is far from decided.

“We got a long way to go to identify who’s going to be the trigger man that gets the opportunity to start game one,” Sumrall said. “You start game one, and it doesn’t mean you’re starting game two or three or four, or you got to play well if you even if you get to nod for game one and so on.”

It would have been so easy and so simple for Jones to move on from the coaching staff that didn’t recruit him, hit the transfer portal, and land at a new school.

However, he wanted to stay even after Sumrall hired offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, who, in turn, brought Philo with him from Georgia Tech.

Jones provided his side of the explanation in staying at Florida through the coaching change, saying on Tuesday:

“I grew up always wanting to be a Florida Gator. Coach Sumrall and Coach Faulkner gave me a chance to complete, so it was a no-brainer.”

Jones, who was a four-star prospect and the No. 21 QB in the 2025 recruiting cycle according to the 247Sports Composite, will be a redshirt freshman in the 2026 season. During his first season, he earned the QB2 role over Aidan Warner and Harrison Bailey in fall camp and remains a strong contender to win the starting job in 2026.

Florida will open its season versus Florida Atlantic on Sept. 5. PFSN gives the Gators just a 0.9% chance of making the College Football Playoff in 2026.