Jon Sumrall officially announces Buster Faulkner as Florida OC

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gators coach Jon Sumrall officially announced the hiring of three-time national champion and 20-year collegiate coaching veteran Buster Faulkner as his offensive coordinator on Thursday. Faulkner was named the 2025 FootballScoop Offensive Coordinator of the Year this week.

Faulkner spent the past three seasons (2023-25) as the offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech, where he also coached the tight ends. He was part of back-to-back national championships at Georgia as offensive quality control coach (2020-22) and also won a national title with Valdosta State in 2007.

“Buster is one of the most innovative offensive coaches in football and I couldn’t be happier for him to join our staff,” Sumrall said. “Throughout his impressive career, not only has Buster led some of the highest-scoring offenses in the country, but he’s also shown the ability to design and implement his offenses to the strengths of his players. There is not a doubt in my mind that Buster will have our offense lighting up the scoreboard.”

Collectively across his three seasons at Georgia Tech, Faulkner’s offense ranks first in the ACC in rushing (197.8), second in total offense (437.7), third in passing efficiency (144.1) and fifth in scoring offense (31.0). The Yellow Jackets have surrendered the fewest sacks in the league in all three years of his tenure, allowing 34 total in that span — good for third in the entire FBS. Georgia Tech also ranks 14th and 18th nationally in rushing offense and total offense since 2023, respectively.

“I’m extremely excited to get to work under Jon Sumrall,” Faulkner said. “He’s a proven winner and that’s what excites me the most about this opportunity. Florida is place where we can compete for national championships and I can’t wait to meet the players and get this thing rolling!”

Prior to his three-year stint at Georgia, he spent the previous 10 seasons as offensive coordinator at Southern Miss (2019), Arkansas State (2016-18), Middle Tennessee (2011-15) and Murray State (2010). He’s been a coordinator for 14 seasons total, including 2008 at Valdosta State. He coached quarterbacks at Central Arkansas (2009) and Valdosta State (2007) and was a graduate assistant at Georgia in 2006. He has mentored multiple NFL Draft Picks at Southern Miss, Middle Tennessee and Murray State.

As a native of Atlanta, Faulkner was the starting quarterback at Valdosta State from 2001-03. He threw for 7,100 yards and 64 touchdowns to lead the Blazers to a 47-6 record, collecting first team all-conference and honorable mention All-America honors in 2002 prior to transferring to Texas A&M-Commerce for his senior season. He set 10 school records in his lone year at Commerce, throwing for 2,861 yards and 16 TDs.

Faulkner was a three-year starter at quarterback at Parkview High School in Lilburn, Ga. and led the Panthers to the 1997 Georgia 4A state championship — the first state title in school history. In 2024, he and his son, Harrison, became the first father-son duo to both win Georgia high school state championships as starting quarterbacks when Harrison led North Oconee to the 4A state title. Faulkner and his wife, Tia, also have two daughters, Hadley and Haisley.

Buster Faulkner coaching history

Year	Position, School
2026-pres.	Offensive Coordinator, Florida
2023-25	Offensive Coordinator, Georgia Tech
2020-22	Quality Control – Offense, Georgia
2019	Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks, Southern Miss
2017-18	Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends, Arkansas State
2016	Offensive Coordinator, Arkansas State
2011-15	Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks, Middle Tennessee
2010	Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks, Murray State
2009	Quarterbacks, Central Arkansas
2008	Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks, Valdosta State
2007	Quarterbacks, Valdosta State
2006	Graduate Assistant – Quarterbacks/Offensive Line, Georgia
2005	Student Assistant, Valdosta State

Faulkner’s NFL Draft picks

Year	Round	Player	Position	Team	School
2025	5	Jackson Hawes	TE	Buffalo Bills	Georgia Tech
2023	4	Stetson Bennett	QB	Los Angeles Rams	Georgia
2020	6	Quez Watkins	WR	Philadelphia Eagles	Southern Miss
2018	7	Richie James	WR	San Francisco 49ers	Middle Tennessee
2014	6	Walt Powell	WR	Arizona Cardinals	Murray State
2009	1	Matthew Stafford	QB	Detroit Lions	Georgia
2008	7	Chester Adams	G	Chicago Bears	Georgia
2007	6	Ken Shackleford	T	St. Louis Rams	Georgia