Florida Makes Another QB Change Before Kentucky Game

The Florida Gators are trying to play the best quarterback available, and not giving one of their young signal-callers a chance to make mistakes.

The Gators started Aaron Philo before losing to Georgia. Against Oklahoma last week, Tramell Jones Jr. got the start. 

Per CBS Sports, Florida is set to turn to Philo yet again when the Gators travel to play No. 11 Kentucky, a week after he was benched against the Sooners.

Jones, a freshman, went 10 of 22 passing for 133 yards and two interceptions in Florida's 23-7 loss at home to Oklahoma. Earlier this week, Gators head coach Jon Sumrall said he didn't think Jones played well enough against the Sooners after getting reps with the first team all week. 

He pointed to the two interceptions as problems and thought he missed out on some key opportunities.

Sumrall does believe Jones will continue to develop into a better quarterback.

Philo had a disastrous performance in his last start before being benched in the second quarter for Jones. He went 5 of 7 passing for 26 yards and two interceptions. The first interception was a poor decision to underthrow a pass when he was scrambling. The second interception should have been caught by Florida.

Philo has thrown for 1,367 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions this season.

Sumrall made it clear that Florida still doesn't have a true starting quarterback at this point. It's more of an "or" on the depth chart than No. 1 and No. 2. He likes some of the things that Philo and Jones have done this season, but they're not playing consistently.

Both quarterbacks are getting first-team reps at practice, though Philo will get the bulk of those reps later in the week.

Of course, not all of the problems with Florida's offense are on the quarterback position. The offensive line has not played well this season. Running back Jadan Baugh has not had a 100-yard rushing game since Sept. 26 in a win over Ole Miss. He was limited to 38 yards on 17 carries against Georgia.

Baugh rushed for 35 yards and a score against Oklahoma.

That's to say nothing of the pressure Jones and Philo have been under in the passing game. For Florida to beat Kentucky, the offensive line will have to create space for Baugh to run and keep its quarterback upright in the pocket.