Florida football held its third fall practice of the camp on Friday, August 7, at the Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville. The Gators are preparing for their season opener against Florida Atlantic scheduled for September 5 at The Swamp. First-year head coach Jon Sumrall continues to conduct practices in the morning as the team works out four days a row to start camp.
Morning Schedule and Player Readiness
Sumrall emphasized that players who were present during spring practice adapted well to the new format. "The guys that were here previously, then went through the spring, and got the format of the morning practice schedule, seemed to really enjoy it," Sumrall said. He noted that this timing allows the team to get the best of their day in terms of waking up fresh and ready.
The coach also highlighted the strategic advantage for the upcoming season. Late-week practices help players stay fast and fresh on Saturdays during games, which is crucial for conference play. The practice saw Florida ratchet up contact slightly with blocking and tackling drills, though the team has not yet moved into full pads.
Quarterback Competition Continues
The battle for the starting quarterback position remains open between Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. Both players threw short, intermediate, and long routes during the open portion of practice. Philo, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Georgia Tech who played under new offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, connected with running back Jadan Baugh on a wheel route.
Jones, a redshirt freshman who backed up DJ Lagway last season, made a notable deep throw down the sideline to tight end Amir Jackson. Sumrall stated there is "no timeline" for making a decision on the starting quarterback role as camp progresses.
Injuries and Position Battles
Wide receiver Dallas Wilson, who reported being 100 percent after dealing with lingering foot issues earlier in the week, did not participate in live passing drills. Instead, he worked out on the side using a JUGS machine to catch passes. Senior defensive end Kam James, who tied for UF's lead in sacks last season with 3.5, also worked out with trainers at the indoor training facility.
Other players working out indoors included freshman safety Kaiden Hall and redshirt freshman offensive lineman Jahari Medlock. On the offensive line, redshirt sophomore Fletcher Westphal (6-8, 309 pounds) participated in drills. He is currently battling with Emeka Ugorji and Eagen Boyer for the starting job at left tackle.
