Reports: Georgia Tech signs OC Buster Faulkner to new two-year deal
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Wednesday morning that Georgia Tech and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner have agreed to a new two-year contract heading into the 2025 season.
Faulkner is going into his third season this Fall serving under head coach Brent Key, and, according to Thamel’s report, the new deal will pay Faulkner $1.5 million per season over the next two years. JOL’s Kelly Quinlan confirmed the new contract agreement and terms on Wednesday and added that there is also an option for a third year.
Faulkner joined the Jackets’ staff prior to the 2023 season and immediately helped turn things around on that side of the ball, improving the unit’s points per game average by almost 14 points. In that season he helped lead an offense that led the ACC in rushing and was 12th nationally with 203.8 yards per game while also being first in the ACC with fewest sacks allowed at 1.15 per game, second in the ACC in third-down conversion percentage at .431, third in the ACC in total offense with 424.6 yards per game, fourth in the ACC in scoring at 31.1 points per game and fifth in the ACC in passing efficiency at 139.12.
Tech had five players earn All-ACC recognition on offense after the 2023 season, including running back Jamal Haynes, who was the team’s first 1,000-yard rusher in six seasons. Other selections included quarterback Haynes King, receiver Eric Singleton Jr., offensive lineman Joe Fusile and offensive lineman Jordan Williams.
Faulker carried that momentum into 2024 when he helped the Jackets’ offense to another strong season despite injuries forcing Tech to use three different quarterbacks. The unit still ranked second in the ACC and 32nd nationally in rushing offense with 187 yards per game and were in the top half of the ACC in total offense (424.5 yards per game), scoring offense (28.9 yards per game) and passing efficiency (138.47). The Jackets were also third nationally in fewest sacks allowed at 0.69 per game and 11th in fewest turnovers (10).
Faulkner’s offense boasted seven All-ACC selections in 2024 led by First-Team offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge.
Faulkner has more than two decades of coaching experience, most recently prior to his Georgia Tech stint serving as a quality control coach for quarterbacks at Georgia and being a part of the Bulldogs’ back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022. During his entire coaching career, he has been on staffs that have won 14 combined championships, including four division titles, six conference titles, three national titles and one high school state title.
Prior to coaching, Faulkner played quarterback at Valdosta State from 2001-2003 and then transferred to Texas A&M-Commerce for his final college season in 2004. He returned to graduate from Valdosta State in 2005 with a bachelors degree in history. Since then in his 20 years of coaching he has been a student assistant, graduate assistant, quality control, assistant coach or coordinator at several different stops, including Valdosta State, Georgia, Central Arkansas, Murray State, Middle Tennessee State, Arkansas State and Southern Miss.
