Florida HC Jon Sumrall Teases Timeline for QB Battle

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

The Florida Gators' biggest question to answer in training camp (at least to most people around college football) was who would lead the offense at quarterback this fall. 

Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo and freshman Tramell Jones Jr. are set to compete for the QB1 job this summer. Gators head coach Jon Sumrall hasn't provided many details on the battle, noting that the quarterback position was one of several position battles that were critical for the Gators in camp. 

Florida will kickoff its season against FAU on Sept. 5. The Gators will have to make a decision on Philo or Jones by then, but Sumrall told reporters on Monday that he might not name a starting quarterback at all before the opener, and there could be a surprise when the Gators host FAU.

"Are we ready to name a starter today? No," Sumrall said, via USA Today. "We may not name one…. the week of the first game, I may not come out and have some big formal announcement of who QB1 is. 

"We’re just probably not doing that. We’re going to figure out how to win a game each week. That’s our goal."

It's fair to wonder if the quarterback battle could continue into the regular season based on Sumrall's comments. There could be a week-to-week decision made until Jones or Philo establishes themselves as the true QB1.

Sumrall likes the way the two quarterbacks are competing early in camp.

"They’re both competitive in nature," Sumrall said. "They both want to be the guy. If they didn’t, we’d have a problem. They’re both in a great spot. 

"They compete with each other well. They lift with each other on the same rack. They encourage each other, they challenge each other, they compete with each other."

After FAU, Florida will host Campbell in Week 2. That will be the Gators’ last chance to prepare the roster for the SEC, as they will travel to play Auburn on Sept. 19. 

Florida will need Jones or Philo to be a leader by the time the SEC schedule comes around. But there might not be clarity until at least then.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos