Friday afternoon, the vibes felt different around the University of Florida.
Sure, the surprisingly cool weather helped, but it was mostly due to the early success of Florida football.
The No. 22 Gators are 3-0 for the first time since 2019 and, with No. 6 Ole Miss in town for a top 25 showdown on Saturday, Sept. 25, the SEC Nation pregame television show is paying a visit to Gainesville.
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Larger crowds than in years past gathered Friday, and legendary UF quarterback and ESPN analyst Tim Tebow noticed the renewed energy while speaking to the media.
Tebow credited the feeling to first-year coach Jon Sumrall.
“I love his energy. Florida is an insanely special and unique place with a unique confidence,” Tebow said. “There’s a lot of pressure because we don’t like average.”
He continued, saying the Gators need a coach who embraces that, adding that Steve Spurrier, Urban Meyer and Dan Mullen in his first few years did.
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“Sumrall brings that contagious passion all together. It fires you up when you’re around him,” Tebow said. “First time we were talking on the phone, I said, ‘Yeah, let’s go get a lift.'”
Fellow ESPN commentator Marty Smith called Sumrall a “No BS guy.”
“He’s instilled an edge and toughness into this program. Urban had that same edge, and you can feel it with Sumrall,” Smith said. “This guy has won everywhere he’s been, and this is a reinvigorated fanbase.”
Philo has been the biggest revelation of the Gators offense in 2026. The Georgia Tech transfer so far has provided a stabilizing force behind center, and Tebow praised Philo’s decision-making, along with his poise and toughness.
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“So many plays last week, when he’s getting blitzed and hit in the face, he knows there’s no safety back there, and he knows this is one I can put in the air, and I can leave it up for (Vernell Brown III).”
In addition, Tebow showered praise on Brown and Dallas Wilson, comparing them to legendary receivers from his time in Gainesville, like Percy Harvin.
“Their size, athletic ability, shiftiness, speed,” Tebow said. “All of our receivers catch the ball well.”
Smith said he didn’t know what to expect for Philo coming into the SEC and noted how well he handled the hostile environment of Auburn last week.
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“That’s a big moment for an SEC quarterback to go into an environment like that and emerge victorious,” Smith said. “He’s only going to get better.”
Of course, the engine of the Gators offense remains Jadan Baugh. The Heisman hopeful has over 100 yards in all three games.
Tebow won the Heisman Trophy in 2007 and thinks Baugh deserves to be in the running this season.
“He’s one of the best players in the country and has showed that consistently, but it’s more than just his ability,” Tebow said. “It’s his mentality, his grit, his toughness. He inspires you.”
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Tebow thinks Baugh causes other Gators to improve their play, and that started in his freshman season when he was the pound for pound, strongest person on the team.
The “wizard” behind the offensive success is OC Buster Faulkner. Smith said Philo’s transfer helped Faulkner since it allowed him to build an offense with pieces he was familiar with.
Tebow said Saturday’s matchup with Pete Goulding – the Rebels’ head coach and former defensive coordinator – offers an interesting test.
“How aggressive do you want to be vs. controlling it with time and possession,” Tebow said. “You don’t want to give Trinidad (Chambliss) that many chances in the game.”
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Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1, Instagram @Ramreporter and Facebook Noah Ram – Reporter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Tim Tebow high on Jon Sumrall, Aaron Philo ahead of Florida football vs Ole Miss
