Kirby Smart shares on Buster Faulkner, possibility to be with team during Playoffs
Georgia saw offensive analyst Buster Faulkner move on to the offensive coordinator job at Georgia Tech earlier this week, but the Bulldogs’ head coach isn’t ruling out the possibility of Faulkner still helping out for the College Football Playoffs. Kirby Smart spoke to reporters on Wednesday as he and his team received their official invitation to play in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and there he said that discussions are still to be had about Faulkner’s ability to be with the Bulldogs through the remainder of this season.
“We’re going to determine that, probably at a later date. We’re still in conversations with Buster and Brent (Key),” Smart said. “It’s not something that’s pressing right now because he doesn’t really do anything at practice. We’re practicing right now, and he’s a supplement to ideas with Coach Monken. He can certainly still do that from the position he’s in, and we’ll determine that at a later date.”
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.”
Georgia takes on Ohio State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, a College Football Playoff semifinal this season, as the two teams square off for just the second time in history. The only other meeting came in the 1993 Citrus Bowl where Georgia won 21-14 behind a big day from Garrison Hearst.
UGA players wrap up final exams this week before having over two full weeks with nothing to worry about but football, including about a week on-site in Atlanta. Kickoff time from Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 31st is set for 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe on the call.
