Florida quarterbacks Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. both took first-team reps in Monday's practice, and Gators coach Jon Sumrall said he won't name a starter for Saturday's game against rival Georgia until later in the week.
Philo, a transfer from Georgia Tech, started the team's first six games. But Jones took the reins of Florida's offense in its last game, leading the Gators to a 27-24 upset of Texas on the road Oct. 17.
Jones, a sophomore from Jacksonville, Florida, completed 22 of 35 passes for 155 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in his first career start against the Longhorns. He ran for 41 yards on 10 carries.
"Both guys are available," Sumrall said. "I'm not going to name a starter today. We need both guys ready to play."
The No. 17 Gators will try to end a five-game losing streak in the series against the Bulldogs in Saturday's game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Georgia is ranked No. 3.
"You have to embrace it, first and foremost," Sumrall said. "Florida-Georgia is different. Anybody that says otherwise is insane. But what helps you win the game's not different. So, it's the task of helping our guys embrace what the rivalry and the history of it is because it is different. It's different for both fanbases. It's what makes college football great."
Sumrall didn't tell Jones he was starting against Texas until the day before the game.
"I told Tramell, 'Look, it's your game. You don't have to win it on your own. The way you win this game is by protecting the football, lean on the people around you and just go play clean. Like, you don't have to be a superhero,'" Sumrall said. "So, we'll make a decision in the middle of the week, a final decision."
Philo has played well, completing 70.5% of his attempts for 1,341 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions.
But Florida's offense bogged down in back-to-back losses before the upset of Texas. The Gators ran for only 42 yards in a 45-17 loss at Missouri and then had three turnovers in a 38-19 loss to South Carolina.