Sports Illustrated ranks Aaron Philo No. 34 among power conference quarterbacks

Jon Sumrall insists he hasn’t made up his mind who will start at quarterback for Florida. At SEC Media Days in Tampa Sumrall said he “doesn’t have a timeline” to decide whether Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo or redshirt freshman Tramell Jones will get the opening game nod, adding, “Just because you start game one doesn’t mean you start game 12.”

Due to his two years at Georgia Tech where he was coached up by Buster Faulkner, now the UF offensive coordinator, Philo seems to have an inside track on the job. Even though Sumrall said he might not decide a starter until “five minutes before the game” the media is almost unanimous in its belief that Philo will be the man.

For a QB with limited experience – 938 passing yards, 2 TDPs; 95 rushing yards, 1 TD – Philo gets a lot of respect. In its ranking of all the power conference quarterbacks, Sports Illustrated ranked Philo No. 34, ahead of numerous multi-year starters. By that ranking, Philo will start the year as the No. 10 quarterback in the Southeastern Conference. Trinidad Chambliss of Ole Miss is not only the No. 1 QB in the SEC but SI ranks him No. 1 nationally.

Here is what SI said about Philo: “As the prime test case for a small sample size, Philo’s singular 2025 performance against Gardner-Webb can’t be regarded as a reason that Florida will finally get back on the right track behind center. He boasts a very similar build to Haynes King, whom he backed up at Georgia Tech and also represents a clear continuation of the Jake Retzlaff–type quarterback that Jon Sumrall found success with last season at Tulane. And he’s sticking with his offensive coordinator from Georgia Tech, Buster Faulkner. Philo’s running ability should open things up for lead back Jadan Baugh, but we’ll have to wait and see if his explosiveness can translate to the SEC.”

Here is a list of the Sports Illustrated quarterback rankings followed by my own commentary:

THE TOP 10 BY SI

1. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss: Outstanding at making in-game adjustments. Can throw and run, but this year has brand new receivers. Definite Heisman candidate.

2. Julian Sayin, Ohio State: He throws to Jeremiah Smith, which makes him seem better than he is. He stunk against Indiana and then Miami in the CFP. Ranked too high.

3. C.J. Carr, Notre Dame: Threw five of his six interceptions in the first four games last year, then torched a lot of bad teams the rest of the way. Jeremiyah Love is gone so Carr has to shoulder the load. Ranked too high.

4. Dante Moore, Oregon: Big arm, big play skills, but he hasn’t gotten it done in games against top notch opponents (see Indiana last year). He will get plenty of hype.

5. Darian Mensah, Miami: Started as a true freshman at Tulane, led Duke to the ACC title as a sophomore. Now he gets to throw to Malachi Toney and hand the ball off to Mark Fletcher. Heisman candidate who could get Miami to the national title game.

6. Arch Manning, Texas: Steve Sarkisian has surrounded Arch with big time talent such as Cam Coleman and Hollywood Smothers. Now we find out if all the hype was real. If it is, Texas could win the national championship. Heisman candidate.

7. Demond Williams Jr., Washington: He tried to break his contract and leave for greener pastures. That will resonate in the locker room. Shouldn’t be in the top 20.

8. Jayden Maiava, Southern Cal: He can beat the bad teams but has to show he can do it against the really good ones. Talented, but a product of Lincoln Riley’s system so he will always have big numbers.

9. Sam Leavitt, LSU: He has tremendous ability but has to stay healthy. He should put up Star Wars numbers in a Lane Kiffin offense with Charlie Weis Jr. calling the plays. If he lights it up, LSU is going to be a contender.

10. Josh Hoover, Indiana: He threw 42 interceptions in three years at TCU. Now he gets coached by the guy who turned Fernando Mendoza into a Heisman Trophy winner. He might need an exorcist.

No. 11-25

11. Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State: He could lead the country in passing yards and TDPs. He’s only a sophomore and the perfect fit for an Eric Morris offense. If he played for a good team he could be on the Heisman podium.

12. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M: Which QB is he? The one who led Texas A&M to an 11-0 start last year or the one who crashed and burned against Texas and then Miami in the CFP?

13. Devon Dampier, Utah: Started at New Mexico, then transferred to Utah where he was very good in a conservative offense.

14. Noah Fifita, Arizona: Three-year starter who has 72 TDPs and more than 9,000 passing yards in his career.

15. Gunner Stockton, Georgia: Ranked way too low. All he does is avoid making mistakes and win games. Georgia could win it all.

16. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, California: Everybody raves about him. Hawaiian kid (so were Marcus Mariota and McKenzie Milton) who had a great freshman year for a bad team. Should explode this year.

17. Byrum Brown, Auburn: He should be top 10. This will be his fourth year as a starter in an Alex Golesh offense. One of the better dual threat QBs in the country.

18. CJ Bailey, North Carolina State: Lights up the bad teams but has been bad against the good ones. Ranked too high.

19. Bear Bachmeier, BYU: Had a great true freshman season last year except for games against Texas Tech.

20. Kevin Jennings, SMU: Threw 13 interceptions last year, 11 the year before. Great against the bad teams, bad against the good ones.

21. John Mateer, Oklahoma: If he stays healthy he will be a Heisman candidate and Oklahoma will contend for the SEC and national championships.

22. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina: One to watch because Kendal Briles will be coaching him now that Mike Shula has been sent to Siberia.

23. Bryce Underwood, Michigan: Barely a 50 percent passer against good teams. Way over-hyped.

24. Conner Weigman, Houston: Formerly of Texas A&M. Played brilliantly in Willie Fritz’s offense at Houston. If the Cougars contend for the Big 12 title he could creep into Heisman conversations.

25. Rocco Becht, Penn State: Fifth-year guy who transferred from Iowa State. Solid in the clutch. A Florida kid. How did Billy Napier miss out on this guy?

No. 26-50

26.  Nico Iamaleava, UCLA: He was supposed to be the second coming of Tom Brady when he arrived at Tennessee. Big arm but has never come within a light year or two of matching the hype.

27. Anthony Colandrea, Nebraska: Was bad at Virginia, good when coached by Dan Mullen at UNLV. Now he’s at Nebraska. Should have stayed with Dan but the money was too good in Nebraska.

28. Avery Johnson, Kansas State: He’s at his best when used as a dual threat. Average arm, great legs.

29. Alonza Barnett III, UCF: Threw 71 TDPs at James Madison. Now he gets to work in a Scott Frost offense with McKenzie Milton coaching him up. UCF will surprise in the Big 12.

30. Keelon Russell, Alabama: Redshirt freshman with lots of hype. Kaelin DeBoer’s job might hang on his ability to produce.

31. Beau Pribula, Virginia: Backup QB at Penn State who transferred to Missouri where he threw too many picks and fumbled a lot. Ranked way too high.

32. Ethan Grunkemeyer, Virginia Tech: Formerly of Penn State. Followed James Franklin to VaTech. High percentage passer but not very mobile.

33. Mason Heintschel, Pittsburgh: Coached up by Kerwin Bell’s kid, Cade. Was very good as a true freshman when he had protection. Pitt’s line was a sieve and he was sacked 34 times. Should be a Heisman candidate in a couple of years.

34. AARON PHILO, FLORIDA: He has to beat out Tramell Jones for the starting job but he’s got a leg up thanks to the three years under Buster Faulkner at Georgia Tech. From a potential standpoint, he has a high ceiling.

35. Steve Angeli, Syracuse: Coming back from an Achilles tear. Wait and see on this one.

36. Will Hammond, Texas Tech: Started two games last year, tore his ACL. Might miss the first couple of games as a result. He was supposed to sit this year while Brendan Sorsby took over, but Sorsby is out due to gambling issues.

37. Katin Houser, Illinois: Fifth year guy who spent two years at Michigan State and two at ECU. He can make the big play, but has to learn how to take the easy one when there is downfield coverage.

38. Austin Simmons, Missouri: If football had a Wally Pipp Award he would have won it. When he went down with an injury at Ole Miss last year, Trinidad Chambliss became the starter and Simmons rarely sniffed the field again. Lots of dual threat talent.

39. Drake Lindsey, Minnesota: Another one who lights it up against the bad teams then disappears against the good ones. Redshirt sophomore with a penchant for mistakes.

40. Kenny Minchey, Kentucky: Threw 29 passes in three years at Notre Dame, but he was a hot commodity in the portal. The Kentucky folks think he’s the real deal.

41. Lincoln Kienholz, Louisville: Three years on the bench at Ohio State where he threw 36 passes, now the starter at Louisville. Another wait and see.

42. Alberto Mendoza, Georgia Tech: Fernando Mendoza’s baby brother left big brother’s shadow at Indiana to forge his own path at Georgia Tech. Big shoes to fill in dual threat Haynes King. Alberto can run but can he fling it?

43. Cutter Boley, Arizona State: Big strong guy who threw a lot of interceptions (12) after taking over as the Kentucky starter in the third game of the season in 2025. He may find Big 12 defenses more forgiving.

44. Jayden Craig, TCU: If nothing more, this Harvard transfer will up the team GPA. Threw 48 TDPs in 21 starts.

45. Malik Washington, Maryland: Talented dual threat guy who has to produce big or else his head coach (Mike Locksley) will get pink slipped.

46. DJ Lagway, Baylor: When he’s on he’s very good. When he’s off (see Miami, see Kentucky) he’s an interception looking for a place to happen. Threw 23 in two seasons at UF.

47. Michael Hawkins Jr., West Virginia: Oklahoma transfer better known for his running than his passing. Third year guy who could thrive in the Rich Rod offense.

48. Jared Curtis, Vanderbilt: True freshman who chose Vandy over Georgia. He will find SEC defenses a teensy bit tougher than those in high school. Shouldn’t be ranked this high since he has never taken a collegiate snap.

49. Colton Joseph, Wisconsin: Old Dominion transfer with 32 TDPs in 21 college games. Third year guy with the task of saving Luke Fickell’s job.

50. Christopher Vizzina, Clemson: One start in two years but it was good for 317 yards and three touchdowns. If he’s good then Clemson will be an ACC contender.

Everybody else

51. Aidan Chiles, Northwestern: Never lived up to the hype at Michigan State. Chip Kelly will be coaching him up at Northwestern. Might need an exorcist. Lots of talent but he’s been sacked 51 times and turned it over 21 in two years.

52. Faizon Brandon/George MacIntyre, Tennessee: Neither one has experience so who knows what Josh Heupel can get out of them.

53. JC French IV, Cincinnati: Formerly of Georgia Southern. Big arm, but has thrown 24 interceptions in two years.

54. Kamario Taylor, Mississippi State: Ranked way too low. Serious dual threat talent with a huge upside. Started four games late last year as a true freshman.

55. Gio Lopez, Wake Forest: Had a great redshirt freshman year at South Alabama then was a bust at North Carolina. Better runner than a passer. He needs to resurrect his career at Wake Forest Gump.

56. KJ Jackson, Arkansas: He’s got to beat out redshirt freshman AJ Hill who arrived in Fayette-Nam with new HBC Ryan Silverfield. Jackson has a big arm and very good wheels.

57. Jaylen Raynor, Iowa State: Three seasons at Arkansas State where his 52 TDPs were offset by 28 INTs and 80 sacks.

58. Julian Lewis, Colorado: He’s an 18-year-old redshirt freshman who was sacked 11 times in a loss to West Virginia last year.

59. Walker Eget, Duke: Redshirt senior transfer from San Jose State who threw 30 TDPs and 21 INTs his last two seasons.

60. Ashton Daniels, Florida State: In four years of college football he’s thrown 24 TDPs and 22 picks. Just what Mike Norvell needs to save his job.

61. Billy Edwards Jr., North Carolina: He threw two passes at Wisconsin last year and has 19 TDPs in four seasons (three at Maryland). Desperate times call for desperate measures.

62. Alessio Milivojevic, Michigan State: Got sacked a lot as a redshirt freshman but looked good throwing the ball when he was upright.

63. Cole Ballard/Isaiah Marshall, Kansas: Between the two of them, they’ve thrown 34 collegiate passes.

64. Mason McKenzie, Boston College: He comes to BC from Saginaw Valley State, the same school that prepped Trinidad Chambliss for Ole Miss. Runs well but lots of turnovers.

65. Dylan Lonergan, Rutgers: Third school in four years (Two at Alabama, one at BC) for Lonergan. Largely immobile pocket passer.

66. Ryan Browne, Purdue: Three years (two as a backup) have produced 13 TDPs and 14 INTs.

67. Jeremy Hecklinski/Hank Brown, Iowa: Brown spent two years at Auburn and one on the bench at Iowa. Hecklinski played in two games and took a redshirt last year. Iowa has the most boring offense in college football.

68. Davis Warren, Stanford: Sixth year guy whose career has been the equivalent of a blocked punt. Michigan transfer with seven TDPs and nine picks in his career.