Georgia offensive analyst Buster Faulkner takes Georgia Tech offensive coordinator job
Georgia offensive analyst Buster Faulkner is headed elsewhere. After three seasons on staff with the Bulldogs, Faulkner has accepted a job at Georgia Tech and is expected to become the offensive coordinator on the staff of new Yellow Jackets’ head coach Brent Key. John Brice of FootballScoop was first to report.
Faulkner was hired in 2020 as an analyst at Georgia after he had spent the previous season as the offensive coordinator at Southern Miss. The Bulldogs were bringing in new offensive coordinator Todd Monken at the time, and Faulkner’s presence was a further breath of fresh air on the offensive side of the ball and added another mind with coordinating experience.
Aside from his season at Southern Miss as the offensive coordinator, Faulkner previously served as the offensive coordinator at Arkansas State for three seasons (2016-2018), Middle Tennessee State for four and a half seasons (2011-15) and one each at Murray State (2010) and Valdosta State (2008).
Since coming to Georgia, Faulkner has worked specifically with the quarterbacks. Stetson Bennett spoke highly of Faulkner during a media availability at the Heisman Trophy ceremony, and during his acceptance speech for the Burlsworth Award, saying that Faulkner’s impact has been especially felt on the sidelines during games.
“He’s been extremely important. He’s the one that runs us through drills and just talks ball,” Bennett said. “I think probably the main thing that he’s helped at is on the sidelines. He is the mediator between me and Monk. Me and Monk don’t really talk during the games, which I think is probably a good thing because we’re both so passionate.”
“Buster listens to what Monk says and filters it out,” he continued. “Obviously he doesn’t tell me everything. People say stuff in the heat of the moment, and I don’t need to hear all of that it. Just because it’s the nature of the job. He doesn’t need to hear everything I have to say. It’s just not important. Buster keeps me sane, keeps me in the moment, helps me out with what he might be seeing here on this play. His presence is comforting and he’s a damn good football coach.”
This season Georgia’s offense has been among the best in the country, ranking No. 7 for total offense (491.9 yards per game) and No. 11 in scoring offense (39.2 points per game). Helping achieve those kind of numbers have been supplementary stats like the nation’s No. 1 red zone offense, ranking fifth in third-down percentage and second when they do decide to go for it on fourth down. The Bulldogs have also been one of the least penalized teams and take care of the ball well too, ranking No. 8 nationally in time of possession. While Todd Monken’s name is attached to it, so too has Faulkner’s.
Georgia takes on Ohio State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl with a spot in the College Football Playoff Championship Game on the line. No announcement has been made as to whether Faulkner would stay on with the Bulldogs through the end of the season although it is not expected with no play-calling duties to his name.
