GAINESVILLE, Fla. – College of Florida head soccer coach Jon Sumrall’s preliminary Florida Gators workers is taking form, with this system including three-time nationwide champion and 20-year collegiate teaching veteran Buster Faulkner as offensive coordinator on Thursday. Faulkner was additionally named the 2025 FootballScoop Offensive Coordinator of the 12 months.
Instrumental in a trio of nationwide titles runs at Georgia (2021, 2022) and Valdosta State (2007), Faulkner involves the Gators after serving because the offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech the previous three seasons (2023-25). He comes outfitted with 14 years of expertise as an offensive coordinator alone, additionally teaching the tight ends at Georgia Tech after three seasons at Georgia as an offensive high quality management coach (2020-22).
“Buster is without doubt one of the most modern offensive coaches in soccer and I could not be happier for him to hitch our workers,” Sumrall mentioned. “All through his spectacular profession, not solely has Buster led a few of the highest-scoring offenses within the nation, however he is additionally proven the flexibility to design and implement his offenses to the strengths of his gamers. There may be not a doubt in my thoughts that Buster may have our offense lighting up the scoreboard.”
Along with his nationwide championship success, Faulkner boasts six collegiate convention titles and 4 division crowns, whereas claiming a highschool state championship as each a coach and a participant.
“I am extraordinarily excited to get to work below Jon Sumrall,” Faulkner mentioned. “He is a confirmed winner and that is what excites me probably the most about this chance. Florida is a spot the place we are able to compete for nationwide championships and I can not wait to satisfy the gamers and get this factor rolling!”
Collectively throughout his three seasons at Georgia Tech, Faulkner’s offense ranks first within the ACC in dashing (197.8), second in whole offense (437.7), third in passing effectivity (144.1) and fifth in scoring offense (31.0). The Yellow Jackets have surrendered the fewest sacks within the convention in all three years of his tenure, permitting 34 whole in that span – three fewer than some other ACC workforce and good for third in your entire FBS. Georgia Tech additionally ranks 14th and 18th nationally in dashing offense and whole offense since 2023, respectively.
The elite output from Faulkner’s Yellow Jacket offense has include large consistency. Faulkner has directed a Georgia Tech offense ranked within the prime half of the ACC in dashing, whole offense, scoring and passing effectivity in every of his three campaigns. Because of this, Georgia Tech improved from a 5-7 document the yr previous to Faulkner’s arrival to realize consecutive, seven-win seasons from 2023-24 upon his arrival, culminating with a 9-3 marketing campaign and t-second-place end within the ACC in 2025.
Faulkner produced 5 or extra All-ACC honorees on the offensive aspect of the ball in each season with the Jackets for a grand whole of 17 choices, that includes 2025 first workforce quarterback Haynes King. Beneath Faulkner’s steerage, King led the ACC whereas rating third nationally in whole offense (329.0 YPG) and was named ACC Quarterback of the Week 5 instances in 11 video games this season. King holds standing as the one power-conference participant within the nation this season, and simply the fifth since 1956, to common a minimum of 240 passing yards and 80 dashing yards per sport.
In 2024, guard Keylan Rutledge grew to become Georgia Tech’s first non-specialist to earn first-team All-America honors in 10 years. That very same yr, King turned in one other ultra-impressive season because the orchestrator of Faulkner’s assault, turning into the primary FBS quarterback within the final 70 years with 2,000 passing yards, 10 landing passes, a 70% completion share and two or fewer interceptions in a season. That got here on the heels of a 2023 marketing campaign by which operating again Jamal Haynes grew to become Tech’s first 1,000-yard rusher in six years, whereas King was certainly one of two Energy 5 gamers with a minimum of 2,800 passing yards, 700 dashing yards, 25 landing passes and 10 dashing touchdowns.
Previous to Georgia Tech, Faulkner gained two nationwide titles in three seasons as an offensive high quality management assistant for quarterbacks at Georgia (2020-22). Whereas in Athens, Faulkner performed a big position in developing and fielding one of many faculty soccer’s prime offenses. In his three seasons, UGA quarterbacks mixed to rank third within the SEC in each passing effectivity (158.6) and passing yards per sport (283.1), with the previous sitting eighth within the FBS, and fourth within the convention in touchdown-to-interception ratio (2.97). On prime of that, Georgia gave up the fewest variety of sacks (45) within the SEC for the Eleventh-best mark within the nation.
In 2022, the Bulldogs completed among the many prime 5 nationally in scoring (41.3 ppg) and whole offense (501.1 YPG). Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV completed fourth in voting for the 2022 Heisman Trophy in Faulkner’s ultimate yr on the UGA workers.
Previous to his three-year stint at Georgia, he spent the earlier 10 seasons as offensive coordinator at Southern Miss (2019), Arkansas State (2016-18), Center Tennessee (2011-15) and Murray State (2010). His 14 seasons as a coordinator additionally features a season as OC at Valdosta State in 2008. Faulkner coached quarterbacks at Central Arkansas in 2009 and at Valdosta State in 2007, and was a graduate assistant at Georgia in 2006. Alongside the way in which, Faulkner mentored eventual NFL Draft Picks at Southern Miss, Center Tennessee and Murray State.
As a local of Atlanta, Faulkner was a 2005 graduate of Valdosta State the place he starred below middle from 2001-03. Passing for 7,100 yards and 64 touchdowns to energy the Blazers to a 47-6 mixed document, Faulkner collected first workforce all-conference and honorable point out All-America honors in 2002 previous to transferring to Texas A&M-Commerce for his senior season. He set 10 faculty information in his lone yr at Commerce, throwing for two,861 yards and 16 scores.
Faulkner was a three-year starter at quarterback at Parkview Excessive College in Lilburn, Ga. and led the Panthers to the 1997 Georgia 4A state championship – the primary state title at school historical past. In 2024, he and his son, Harrison, grew to become the primary father-son duo to each win Georgia highschool state championships as beginning quarterbacks when Harrison led North Oconee to the 4A state title. Faulkner and his spouse, Tia, even have two daughters, Hadley and Haisley.
Buster Faulkner Teaching Historical past
Instrumental in a trio of nationwide titles runs at Georgia (2021, 2022) and Valdosta State (2007), Faulkner involves the Gators after serving because the offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech the previous three seasons (2023-25). He comes outfitted with 14 years of expertise as an offensive coordinator alone, additionally teaching the tight ends at Georgia Tech after three seasons at Georgia as an offensive high quality management coach (2020-22).
“Buster is without doubt one of the most modern offensive coaches in soccer and I could not be happier for him to hitch our workers,” Sumrall mentioned. “All through his spectacular profession, not solely has Buster led a few of the highest-scoring offenses within the nation, however he is additionally proven the flexibility to design and implement his offenses to the strengths of his gamers. There may be not a doubt in my thoughts that Buster may have our offense lighting up the scoreboard.”
Along with his nationwide championship success, Faulkner boasts six collegiate convention titles and 4 division crowns, whereas claiming a highschool state championship as each a coach and a participant.
“I am extraordinarily excited to get to work below Jon Sumrall,” Faulkner mentioned. “He is a confirmed winner and that is what excites me probably the most about this chance. Florida is a spot the place we are able to compete for nationwide championships and I can not wait to satisfy the gamers and get this factor rolling!”
Collectively throughout his three seasons at Georgia Tech, Faulkner’s offense ranks first within the ACC in dashing (197.8), second in whole offense (437.7), third in passing effectivity (144.1) and fifth in scoring offense (31.0). The Yellow Jackets have surrendered the fewest sacks within the convention in all three years of his tenure, permitting 34 whole in that span – three fewer than some other ACC workforce and good for third in your entire FBS. Georgia Tech additionally ranks 14th and 18th nationally in dashing offense and whole offense since 2023, respectively.
The elite output from Faulkner’s Yellow Jacket offense has include large consistency. Faulkner has directed a Georgia Tech offense ranked within the prime half of the ACC in dashing, whole offense, scoring and passing effectivity in every of his three campaigns. Because of this, Georgia Tech improved from a 5-7 document the yr previous to Faulkner’s arrival to realize consecutive, seven-win seasons from 2023-24 upon his arrival, culminating with a 9-3 marketing campaign and t-second-place end within the ACC in 2025.
Faulkner produced 5 or extra All-ACC honorees on the offensive aspect of the ball in each season with the Jackets for a grand whole of 17 choices, that includes 2025 first workforce quarterback Haynes King. Beneath Faulkner’s steerage, King led the ACC whereas rating third nationally in whole offense (329.0 YPG) and was named ACC Quarterback of the Week 5 instances in 11 video games this season. King holds standing as the one power-conference participant within the nation this season, and simply the fifth since 1956, to common a minimum of 240 passing yards and 80 dashing yards per sport.
In 2024, guard Keylan Rutledge grew to become Georgia Tech’s first non-specialist to earn first-team All-America honors in 10 years. That very same yr, King turned in one other ultra-impressive season because the orchestrator of Faulkner’s assault, turning into the primary FBS quarterback within the final 70 years with 2,000 passing yards, 10 landing passes, a 70% completion share and two or fewer interceptions in a season. That got here on the heels of a 2023 marketing campaign by which operating again Jamal Haynes grew to become Tech’s first 1,000-yard rusher in six years, whereas King was certainly one of two Energy 5 gamers with a minimum of 2,800 passing yards, 700 dashing yards, 25 landing passes and 10 dashing touchdowns.
Previous to Georgia Tech, Faulkner gained two nationwide titles in three seasons as an offensive high quality management assistant for quarterbacks at Georgia (2020-22). Whereas in Athens, Faulkner performed a big position in developing and fielding one of many faculty soccer’s prime offenses. In his three seasons, UGA quarterbacks mixed to rank third within the SEC in each passing effectivity (158.6) and passing yards per sport (283.1), with the previous sitting eighth within the FBS, and fourth within the convention in touchdown-to-interception ratio (2.97). On prime of that, Georgia gave up the fewest variety of sacks (45) within the SEC for the Eleventh-best mark within the nation.
In 2022, the Bulldogs completed among the many prime 5 nationally in scoring (41.3 ppg) and whole offense (501.1 YPG). Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV completed fourth in voting for the 2022 Heisman Trophy in Faulkner’s ultimate yr on the UGA workers.
Previous to his three-year stint at Georgia, he spent the earlier 10 seasons as offensive coordinator at Southern Miss (2019), Arkansas State (2016-18), Center Tennessee (2011-15) and Murray State (2010). His 14 seasons as a coordinator additionally features a season as OC at Valdosta State in 2008. Faulkner coached quarterbacks at Central Arkansas in 2009 and at Valdosta State in 2007, and was a graduate assistant at Georgia in 2006. Alongside the way in which, Faulkner mentored eventual NFL Draft Picks at Southern Miss, Center Tennessee and Murray State.
As a local of Atlanta, Faulkner was a 2005 graduate of Valdosta State the place he starred below middle from 2001-03. Passing for 7,100 yards and 64 touchdowns to energy the Blazers to a 47-6 mixed document, Faulkner collected first workforce all-conference and honorable point out All-America honors in 2002 previous to transferring to Texas A&M-Commerce for his senior season. He set 10 faculty information in his lone yr at Commerce, throwing for two,861 yards and 16 scores.
Faulkner was a three-year starter at quarterback at Parkview Excessive College in Lilburn, Ga. and led the Panthers to the 1997 Georgia 4A state championship – the primary state title at school historical past. In 2024, he and his son, Harrison, grew to become the primary father-son duo to each win Georgia highschool state championships as beginning quarterbacks when Harrison led North Oconee to the 4A state title. Faulkner and his spouse, Tia, even have two daughters, Hadley and Haisley.
Buster Faulkner Teaching Historical past
| 12 months | Place, College |
|---|---|
| 2026-pres. | Offensive Coordinator, Florida |
| 2023-25 | Offensive Coordinator, Georgia Tech |
| 2020-22 | High quality Management – 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, Center 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 | Pupil Assistant, Valdosta State |
Buster Faulkner NFL Draft Picks
| 12 months | Spherical | Participant | Place | Workforce | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | Jackson Hawes | TE | Buffalo Payments | 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 | Center 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 |
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