Every decision matters. Good or bad, they all have ripple effects. With Buster Faulkner leaving Georgia Tech to join Jon Sumrall's first staff at Florida, he is betting on himself to be a primary reason for the Gators' success this season. If he can get the most out of Aaron Philo at quarterback, and newcomer Eric Singleton from Auburn at wide receiver, Florida might be able to push for the playoff...
It is why in Athlon Sports' anonymous coaches survey that Florida and Faulkner got immense praise.
"Hiring Buster Faulkner was a home-run move. Then getting Philo to come with him, and getting Eric Singleton, too.
The anonymous coach continued by saying Faulkner's scheme could catch the SEC by surprise...
“Faulkner can coach offensive football. It is such a departure from what anybody in the SEC does offensively, and they’re gonna have a couple games where they have an advantage because everything is so new schematically.”
Keep in mind the only SEC team Georgia Tech regularly plays happens to be a Florida rival in Georgia.
Anonymous Coach Comments on Florida in Athlon Sports CFB Magazine
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) May 19, 2026
“Hiring [offensive coordinator] Buster Faulkner was a home-run move.
“It is such a departure from what anybody in the SEC does offensively, and they’re gonna have a couple games where they have an advantage… pic.twitter.com/3i8xLXqooT
There seems to be only one potential downside to Florida hiring Faulkner: He might be leaving soon...
Buster Faulkner could put SEC defenses into a blender with his offense
Faulkner has been a bit of a coaching journeyman all over the southeast. Where he really started to pick up steam in the coaching department was being on Kirby Smart's Georgia staff as an assistant to Todd Monken when he was their offensive coordinator from 2020 to 2022. Faulkner left Athens for Atlanta, where he played a huge part in Georgia Tech becoming a strong team again under Brent Key.
Sumrall clearly took notice of this savvy offensive play-caller over on The Flats. He may favor the other side of the ball than him, but Sumrall knows good coaches when he sees one. When Florida landed Faulkner, the rest of the college football world knew the Gators got a good one. Simply by arriving in Gainesville, Faulkner has elevated the Gators' ceiling ahead of year one. Incredible stuff!
Because Georgia Tech ran the ball so much with its dual-threat quarterback of note in Haynes King the last few years, do not be shocked of Philo tucks it an runs on multiple occasions throughout the game. He is a different player than King, but one who knows the system like the back of his hand. Sumrall being able to put his trust and faith into Faulkner on offense should help him fix the defense.
Overall, Faulkner might be so great at his new job that he could be looking at another here soon... Outside of the star coordinators at both Indiana and Miami, is there another hotshot on a meteoric rise quite like Faulkner? Should Florida shine and some other SEC or ACC team falter, he might be a future head coach. If things go sideways under Shane Beamer, maybe he heads to South Carolina?
For now, Florida is going to have the upper hand in offensive play-calling because of its coordinator.
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