Florida aims to do better against QB Byrum Brown in SEC opener at Auburn
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Byrum Brown visited the Swamp in 2025 and left the Gators reeling, with Billy Napier’s days as Florida’s coach numbered.
Now, Florida aims to ignite the Jon Sumrall era with a SEC-opening road win by ruining the conference debut for Auburn’s new quarterback, who followed coach Alex Golesh from USF to the Plains.
Limiting Brown’s dual-threat abilities will be key to slowing Golesh’s up-tempo offense a season after the Gators could not contain the 6-foot-3, 235-pound senior at critical moments during a shocking 18-16 loss to the Bulls.
Brown threw for 263 yards, including completions of 29 and 12 on the game-winning drive, and rushed for 66 — including USF’s final 12 to set up a 20-yard field goal as time expired.
“When he’s got the ball in his hand, he’s a threat,” Florida defensive coordinator Brad White said Tuesday. “He throws a really nice deep ball. But you always gotta be mindful of him as a runner.
“You see guys try to arm tackle, and he runs right through those.”
Auburn’s 14 plays of 20 yards or longer are tied for third in the SEC with several teams, including Florida, as Brown ranks fourth in total offense with 600 yards, including 115 rushing.
But Baylor gave the Gators a blueprint on how to force Brown into mistakes.
He threw three interceptions and took five sacks during the season-opener against the Bears, but salvaged his performance with an 11-yard run for the go-ahead score with 3:21 to go in Auburn’s 18-17 win. The game-winning play displayed Brown’s ability to capitalize when plays break down.
“Keeping him in the pocket, that’s big time,” Gators’ linebacker Myles Graham said Monday. “Rushers, when they rush, keep having their eyes on him at all times. Don’t rush past the level of the quarterback. Make sure you keep your eyes on him.”
White’s defense will push to apply more pressure this week after inconsistent performances during one-sided wins against FAU and Campbell. Only two SEC teams have fewer than Florida’s four sacks.
FAU’s fast pace gave the Gators little time to get to the quarterback during the Gators’ 66-21 rout. Campbell, on the other hand, relied on third-down screen passes to keep Florida’s pass rush at bay.
The defensive-minded Sumrall credited Camels’ offensive coordinator Matt Kubik, a friend, during a telephone call the day after Florida’s 52-3 win.
“I’m like, hey, I respected how many screens you called on third down just to keep your quarterback out of harm,” Sumrall recalled. “Do we need to still get better? Yes. But any person watching a game, it’s like, ‘Why can’t we get pressure from the quarterback on a tunnel screen?’ Well, it’s because the ball’s out in one second.
“But I’m all for sacks.”
Wins excited Sumrall even more. Discipline, too.
Florida will need to limits mistakes at Auburn after committing seven penalties for 75 yards during what Sumrall termed a “sloppy” second half against Campbell.
Florida committed two back-breaking penalties during Brown’s game-winning drive last season in the Swamp.
Tackle Brendan Bett’s unsportsmanlike penalty for spitting on USF lineman Cole Skinner, leading to Bett’s ejection, followed a 13-yard pass interference penalty on cornerback Dijon Johnson.
Bett and Johnson will face Brown again Saturday.
But Johnson isn’t dwelling on what happened a year ago. Instead, the focus is on what Florida can do differently when the Gators and Brown meet again.
“I feel like this is a new year,” he said. “Credit to those guys and the scheme we are playing against over there, but at the end of the day, we just have to go play football and go play our best game.”
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