The Quarterback Carousel Spins Again — and It Stops on Aaron Philo

The quarterback carousel in Gainesville is spinning again, and this time it stops on Aaron Philo.

Thursday morning's report — Matt Zenitz, Zach Goodall and Graham Hall — holds up under independent confirmation from ESPN, the Sentinel, the Sun and On3. Real story. Real plan.

The timeline tells you everything. Philo started six games, hurt his shoulder, and watched Tramell Jones Jr. steal a 27-24 upset at Texas. Philo got the job back against Georgia and lasted three drives — 5-of-7 for 26 yards and two picks, one an underhand fling that Ellis Robinson IV gift-wrapped. Jones finished that 27-8 loss, then started last week's 23-7 clunker against Oklahoma, going 10-of-22 with two more giveaways.

So Sumrall's choice is the guy who got benched over the guy who couldn't keep the job. At some programs they call that a quarterback competition. In Gainesville it's a coin flip with shoulder pads.

The numbers say Philo deserves it: 110-of-156 (70.5 percent), 1,367 yards, nine touchdowns, five picks, 4-3 as a starter. But numbers don't explain two straight weeks of 15 total points, or a third consecutive game with a different starter.

Saturday's stage doesn't care about Florida's feelings. Kentucky (7-2, 5-2 SEC) is No. 13 in the AP poll — the "No. 11" in that original tweet flatters the Wildcats — and a 3.5-point favorite at Kroger Field, 6:15 on ESPN. The Gators have lost three straight in Lexington, including last year's 38-7 humiliation, when DJ Lagway threw three interceptions to a team that had no business covering anyone.

And there's the subplot: Sumrall returns to his old Kentucky stomping grounds, where he once played linebacker, needing a win nobody expects.

Philo gets his second chance. At this rate, there may not be a third.