Philo Steps Up In Dual-Threat Performance

Sunday, November 15, 2026 | Football, Scott Carter

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Gators needed somebody — anybody in a helmet and shoulder pads — to step up. And as first-year head coach Jon Sumrall likes to say, the Gators really needed to stop beating the Gators.

Welcome back, No. 12.

Two weeks after getting benched in the second quarter of a loss to Georgia in Atlanta, with many family and friends at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to watch the Georgia native play, and a week after taking only one snap behind starter Tramell Jones Jr. in a home loss to Oklahoma, quarterback Aaron Philo made a triumphant return on Saturday night.

"It's just been a tough couple of weeks,'' Philo said. "I'd be lying if I said it…