4 winners and 3 losers from Florida Gators dominant win in Jon Sumrall’s debut vs. Florida Atlantic
Jon Sumrall’s first game as the Florida Gators head coach was one for the ages, but there is still room for improvement.
Jon Sumrall’s debut as Florida Gators head coach was a massive one, as they steamrolled the Florida Atlantic Owls 66-21 in The Swamp. Florida’s offense put up 624 total yards and 66 points in a dynamic performance that showcased multiple elements fans needed to see. With the blowout win in the books, there are four positives worth highlighting and three potential areas of concern.
Winner: Aaron Philo is the real deal
The Gators knew coming in that quarterback Aaron Philo had experience in offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner’s offense, and that familiarity was arguably the biggest reason he won the starting job. Philo looked incredibly comfortable in the pocket throughout his first start, finishing 16-of-21 for 275 yards, 3 touchdowns, and an interception that hit his wide receiver in the shoulder pads — not a turnover-worthy play in the slightest.
Philo was willing to attack vertically down the field and found his receivers in a multitude of ways, reading the defense well from left to right and doing a good job handling everything thrown at him. It helps to have a phenomenal group of skill players around him, but overall, you have to be happy with how things went in Philo’s first career start.
Concern: Snapping issues from Harrison Moore
One of the reasons starting center Harrison Moore made a lot of sense was his experience in Faulkner’s offense at Georgia Tech. Unfortunately, that did not manifest in consistent snapping. Moore botched multiple shotgun snaps in the first half, including one that resulted in a 20-yard loss on a Wildcat play with running back Jadan Baugh. That package was installed during fall camp, and the miscue nearly cost the Gators points. Whether this becomes an issue throughout the rest of the year is hard to say, but it’s something to monitor.
Winner: Jadan Baugh is the best running back in college football
There’s no better running back in the country than Baugh. He carried the ball only 14 times Saturday night but gained 160 yards with 3 touchdowns. Two of his scores looked almost identical: he displayed phenomenal patience, stuck his foot in the ground, juked to the right, and took it upfield for a short score. He also broke a 61-yard run off left tackle where he didn’t have the speed to quite finish it but had enough savvy to stop, put his foot in the ground, cut inside, and pick up extra yards.
Baugh knows he’s the best in the business, even throwing up the Heisman pose after one of his touchdowns Saturday night. It might be a little early for that, but is it?
Concern: The pass rush wasn’t getting home
The pass rush was not getting home early against FAU’s up-tempo offense. The question is whether Brad White chose not to throw a ton of complex blitzes against the Owls’ pace and instead stayed relatively static, trying to let guys win one-on-one while playing a more contained style. Florida finished with only 2 sacks: half a sack each for Jamari Lyons and Myles Graham, with Kamran James recording a full sack. It was noteworthy that the Gators weren’t able to generate consistent pressure, especially early on.
Winner: Wide receivers look explosive and deep
No matter how you slice it, the wide receivers looked fantastic Saturday night. Vernell Brown III had 6 receptions for 117 yards. Dallas Wilson added 3 catches for 47 yards. Bailey Stockton scored a touchdown, and T.J. Abrams hauled in a 63-yard catch, while Micah Mays Jr. also got involved.
This receiving group is incredibly deep, and the Gators didn’t get a single touch for Eric Singleton Jr., who suffered a knee injury early in the game and did not return. Whether that injury turns out to be anything more than minor remains unknown. Regardless, this group is deep, explosive, and ready to attack from all angles.
Concern: Jon Sumrall’s timeout management
Sumrall burned all of his timeouts by the 6:55 mark of the second quarter, still leading 14-0. Given how Billy Napier’s timeout management was scrutinized during his tenure, that’s not a great look. One of the timeouts was due to defensive lineman Jeremiah McCloud going down to stop the clock because of FAU’s high tempo, also known as the Lane Kiffin rule. It’s the first game, and you only have a couple of scrimmages during fall camp to simulate these situations. How concerning is it long-term? Only time will tell.
Winner: D.J. Coleman flew under the radar and made a huge impact
Safety D.J. Coleman arrived through the transfer portal without much fanfare, but he played a huge role Saturday night. Coleman grabbed the first interception of the season in the red zone and then tipped a pass that allowed Dijon Johnson to intercept the ball. The safety position is one where Florida has a lot of youth, and adding Coleman to fortify the group has been a massive asset. His play helped the Gators keep momentum early and build a commanding lead, something that should pay dividends both short and long-term.
