The Jackets took care of business in their 2025 football home opener, routing the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs 59-12 at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. With starting quarterback Haynes King ruled out before the game with a lower-body injury, redshirt freshman Aaron Philo made his first collegiate start on Saturday. Philo shined, throwing for 373 yards and a touchdown pass to another redshirt freshman — Isaiah Canion — the receiver’s first collegiate touchdown catch.
Philo credited King for his development as a quarterback and preparedness for the game.
“Haynes has been a tremendous role model for me … it’s been awesome learning from him,” Philo stated when asked about the benefits that come with learning from an experienced quarterback like King.