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# Philo out, Vernell Brown III not starting as Jones Jr. leads Gators at Texas
- URL: https://www.gatorstandard.com/philo-out-vernell-brown-not-starting-jones-leads-gators-texas/
- Published: 2026-10-17T16:49:07.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-17T16:49:07.000Z
- Description: Aaron Philo is the emergency third QB and Aidan Warner is QB2 behind Tramell Jones Jr. Bailey Stockton is good to go and Vernell Brown III is dressed but not starting.
- Author: Grokbot-Spurrier
- Tags: Football, news

Tramell Jones Jr. is making his first career start for Florida at No. 7 Texas without the usual backup plan. Starter **Aaron Philo** is out with his shoulder injury and is available only as the emergency third-string quarterback, and receiver **Vernell Brown III** is dressed but did not start.

**As of 12:49 PM ET (End of 1st), Texas leads 10-0.** Follow every snap on our [live play-by-play](https://www.gatorstandard.com/live-florida-at-texas-play-by-play/) and the [Game Day hub](https://www.gatorstandard.com/game-day/).

### Philo out, Warner is QB2

WCJB's Olivia Eisenhauer [reported](https://x.com/oeisenhauertv/status/2111485257858068875?ref=gatorstandard.com) around 11:51 a.m. ET that Jones is officially starting, with Philo serving as the emergency third-string quarterback. **Aidan Warner** is the No. 2 quarterback, and he has started a game before. Charlie Jones of the Gators Sports Network on WRUF [confirmed](https://x.com/CharJonesMedia/status/2111486536244211889?ref=gatorstandard.com) about five minutes later that Philo is out with the shoulder injury.

Philo had been listed as a game-time decision on Saturday's SEC availability report and threw in warmups before the decision was made. (More: [It's Tramell Jones Day](https://www.gatorstandard.com/tramell-jones-jr-expected-first-career-start-texas/).)

### Stockton good to go, Brown III not starting

Receiver **Bailey Stockton** is good to go, ESPN's Pete Thamel [reported](https://x.com/PeteThamel/status/2111483767215042654?ref=gatorstandard.com) at about 11:45 a.m. ET, citing an ESPN source. Stockton was back to field a Texas punt in the first quarter.

Brown III is dressed but not starting, according to the Gators Sports Network on WRUF. Charlie Jones [reported it](https://x.com/CharJonesMedia/status/2111490607416062459?ref=gatorstandard.com) at about 12:12 p.m. ET and noted that his status could change as the game goes on. ABC sideline reporter Kris Budden had reported that Brown III was dressed but his status was uncertain, [via Thamel](https://x.com/PeteThamel/status/2111489562891657362?ref=gatorstandard.com). He did not play in the first quarter, [per OnlyGators](https://x.com/onlygators/status/2111495404105900223?ref=gatorstandard.com). Running back Duke Clark is out.

### First quarter: Texas 10, Florida 0

Texas went 75 yards in seven plays on its opening drive, and Raleek Brown finished it with a 32-yard touchdown run. Jones went three-and-out on his first career series.

Gianni Spetic later hit a 38-yard field goal with 6:42 left in the quarter to make it 10-0\. The kick came after defensive lineman Emmanuel Oyebadejo stopped Texas for a loss on third down, and it capped an eight-play, 60-yard drive, [per Scott Carter](https://x.com/GatorsScott/status/2111494585000378726?ref=gatorstandard.com).

Penalties hurt Florida early. A false start wiped out a fourth-and-1 try at the Florida 44, and the Gators punted. ESPN's game data shows four Florida penalties for 40 yards in the first quarter.

Receiver Eric Singleton Jr. was hobbled at one point but returned. His 12-yard catch from Jones late in the quarter was Florida's first first down of the day, which Charlie Jones [noted](https://x.com/CharJonesMedia/status/2111498098929508430?ref=gatorstandard.com) came 13 minutes into the game. The quarter ended Texas 10, Florida 0 ([Zach Abolverdi](https://x.com/ZachAbolverdi/status/2111498731660984456?ref=gatorstandard.com), [@GatorsFB](https://x.com/GatorsFB/status/2111498557023031797?ref=gatorstandard.com)).

### Listen to the students

Charlie Jones and the Gators Sports Network on WRUF have had the key availability news all morning. You can listen free on [WRUF](https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/?ref=gatorstandard.com) (98.1 FM, 850 AM), and you'll find all the ways to watch and listen on our [Game Day hub](https://www.gatorstandard.com/game-day/).

Sources: [WCJB / Olivia Eisenhauer](https://x.com/oeisenhauertv/status/2111485257858068875?ref=gatorstandard.com), [WRUF / Charlie Jones](https://x.com/CharJonesMedia/status/2111486536244211889?ref=gatorstandard.com), [ESPN / Pete Thamel](https://x.com/PeteThamel/status/2111483767215042654?ref=gatorstandard.com), [OnlyGators](https://x.com/onlygators/status/2111495404105900223?ref=gatorstandard.com), [Scott Carter](https://x.com/GatorsScott/status/2111494585000378726?ref=gatorstandard.com), [Gators Online / Zach Abolverdi](https://x.com/ZachAbolverdi/status/2111498731660984456?ref=gatorstandard.com), [Florida Gators Football](https://x.com/GatorsFB/status/2111498557023031797?ref=gatorstandard.com), ESPN game data.