Florida Gators hire Buster Faulkner as offensive coordinator

[Escambia94]

As of December 5, 2025, Buster Faulkner's hiring as the offensive coordinator for the Florida Gators under new head coach Jon Sumrall represents a high-upside infusion of creativity and proven production into a unit that has languished in mediocrity. Reported on December 4 by ESPN's Pete Thamel and confirmed across multiple outlets, Faulkner, 44, leaves Georgia Tech after three transformative seasons where his offense ranked 12th nationally in total yards (466.3 per game) and 28th in scoring (33.1 PPG) in 2025. A Broyles Award semifinalist and the architect of one of college football's most efficient attacks (7.09 yards per play, ninth nationally), Faulkner brings 20 years of experience, including 13 as an OC, three national championship rings (two at Georgia, one at Valdosta State), and a track record of QB elevation.

Faulkner's path is a masterclass in adaptability, blending high school championship pedigree with college innovation. A Lilburn, Georgia native, he quarterbacked Parkview High to the 1997 state title before starring at Valdosta State (2000-03), where he threw for 7,100 yards and 64 TDs in a 47-6 run, including a D-II national title game berth.
He transferred to Texas A&M-Commerce in 2004, setting 10 school records with 2,861 yards and 16 TDs.His coaching ascent began at his alma mater and mirrors a climb through FCS, G5, and Power 4 ranks:

• Valdosta State (2005-08): Student assistant (2005), QBs coach (2007), OC (2008) – Led D-II quarterfinals run with 380.8 YPG offense; QB Chris Hart (3,000+ yards, 27 TDs) earned GSC Freshman of the Year.
• Georgia (2006): Graduate assistant, immersing in SEC schemes.
• Central Arkansas (2009): QBs coach at FCS level.
• Murray State (2010): OC/QBs – Explosive air raid: 42.2 PPG (top-5 nationally), 362.2 passing YPG, 486.3 total YPG (conference lead).
• Middle Tennessee (2011-15): QBs coach (2011), promoted to OC mid-2011 after scandal – 31 wins, two bowls; 2012: Record 299 completions, 3,000+ passing yards (second in school history).
• Arkansas State (2016-18): OC/TEs – Back-to-back bowls; 2017 Sun Belt title, school-record 494.8 YPG (10th nationally), 11 All-Sun Belt honorees; Developed TE Blake Mack (all-time receptions leader, signed with Chiefs).
• Southern Miss (2019): OC/QBs – QB Jack Abraham: 3,496 passing yards.
• Georgia (2020-22): QB quality control – Key in Stetson Bennett's development (4th in 2022 Heisman, 7,000+ yards, 56 TDs over two titles); Offense top-5 in scoring (41.3 PPG) and total yards (501.1 YPG) in 2022.

Faulkner's Power 4 breakthrough came at Georgia Tech (2023-25), hired by Brent Key to revive a 124th-ranked scoring offense (2022). He delivered: From 27th in yards per play (2023) to top-10 efficiency (2025), with consistent ACC rushing dominance (1st in 2023, 2nd in 2024-25). His GT tenure yielded a 23-14 record, including 9-3 in 2025, but he bolted for Florida despite a recent extension (through 2026, $1.5M/year) – owing GT his full $1.25M base as a buyout.

Coaching Philosophy: Pro-Style Hybrid with Run-First InnovationFaulkner self-describes his scheme as a "pro-style hybrid," fusing Air Raid roots (Valdosta State under Mike Leach influences) with run-heavy misdirection, motion, and play-action – honed under Todd Monken at Georgia.
Core elements:

• Run Game Dominance: Counter/misdirection heavy (GT led ACC rushing 2023-25); Forces defenses to load the box, opening play-action (GT top-10 pass efficiency despite run focus).
• QB Development: Elevates dual-threats (King: 7,653 pass yds, 53 TDs at GT; Bennett: 56 TDs in titles); Tailors protections and RPOs for quick decisions.
• Efficiency & Explosiveness: 7+ YPP consistently; Top-5 national marks in motion usage (per Monken influence), red-zone scoring (GT 85%+ TD rate 2025).
• Adaptability: Shifts from air raid (Murray: top-5 pass) to pro-style (Ark. St.: balanced 494 YPG) based on talent – ideal for volatile rosters.

Critics point to GT's 2-5 record vs. ranked foes, but context shines: Upsets over Miami (2024), road wins at No. 10 Notre Dame (2025). X buzz calls him "one of THE very best" for scheme design.

Why Faulkner clicks:

• SEC Fluency: Georgia stints (2006, 2020-22) give him Dawg Nation recruiting ties; Knows SEC physicality, having schemed against it.
• Talent Amplifier: Lagway's mobility mirrors King's (15 rush TDs under Faulkner); Baugh fits run-first ethos; Brown/Wilson thrive in motion-heavy passing (GT's 90th percentile explosiveness).
• Culture Synergy with Sumrall: Sumrall's defensive background needs an offensive visionary – Faulkner's "explosive isn't optional" aligns with HC's mandate.
• Recruiting Magnet: Florida's pipeline + Faulkner's GT surge (from 125th to top-12 scoring) draws in-state studs; Potential to retain portal targets like Lagway.

He's the anti-Napier: Adaptive, QB-focused, and playoff-proven – poised to push 30+ PPG by 2026.

 

[DRU2012]

At this point, on THIS thread, given what I have already said, have reflected on at LENGTH by now ELSEWHERE, it is sufficient I think to simply state my current overall feelings in summation:
“I am feeling better and BETTER about this hire, no matter HOW we got here!”

 

[Escambia94]

Buster Faulkner Offense Overview
Buster Faulkner's offense is a modern spread-to-run offense influenced by Air Raid but with a stronger commitment to the run. The "Gator Raid" offense (my suggestion) features the following:
- Air Raid passing concepts (mesh, Y-cross, shallow cross, 4-verticals, dagger, drive, sail)
- Power gap running with inside or outside zone from shotgun
- Heavy use of pre-snap motions, shifts, and RPOs
- Mix of 12 and 13 personnel to create conflict

This scheme is used in the NFL under Sean McVay (LA Rams) and Mike McDaniel (Miami). The scheme should look similar to Baylor under Art Briles 2013-2015, or even Lane Kiffin but with more run focus.

Signature Concepts & Plays​

Run Game​

• Duo (double teams, no back-side reach)
• Inside zone & wide/outside zone from shotgun
• Power & Counter (often with a pulling TE or H-back)
• Buck Sweep / Jet Sweep with orbit motion

Packaged Plays / RPOs​

• Glance or slant/flat RPOs off inside zone read
• Bubble screens packaged with zone read
• Triple option looks with QB keep, RB dive, jet sweep

Core Passing Concepts​

1. Mesh / Air Raid Mesh– Classic wheels under two crossing drags at 5 yards– Settler is usually the RB on a swing or the over route
2. Mills– RB angle/flat route + post by #2 (very common vs. Cover 3 beater)
3. Shallow Cross / Drive– #1 runs 18–20 yd dig, #2 runs shallow from opposite side
4. Dagger / Seattle– Clear-out 9 by #1, inside breaking in-cut by #2 at 14–18 yds
5. Sail / 95– 9-route + corner + flat (classic Air Raid)
6. Y-Cross / 94– Deep over from the boundary TE/Y at 22–25 yds (big play vs. Cover 2)
7. Four Verticals (4V or “Vegas”)– Benders by inside receivers vs. Cover 2, seams vs. Cover 3
8. Stick-Air– Inside receiver runs stick, outside runs fade, RB leaks late

Play-Action Staples​

• Bootlegs off 12-personnel power look
• Naked boot with TE leak
• Deep over or post-wheel off play-action

 

[DRU2012]

Buster Faulkner Offense Overview
Buster Faulkner's offense is a modern spread-to-run offense influenced by Air Raid but with a stronger commitment to the run. The "Gator Raid" offense (my suggestion) features the following:
- Air Raid passing concepts (mesh, Y-cross, shallow cross, 4-verticals, dagger, drive, sail)
- Power gap running with inside or outside zone from shotgun
- Heavy use of pre-snap motions, shifts, and RPOs
- Mix of 12 and 13 personnel to create conflict

This scheme is used in the NFL under Sean McVay (LA Rams) and Mike McDaniel (Miami). The scheme should look similar to Baylor under Art Briles 2013-2015, or even Lane Kiffin but with more run focus.

Signature Concepts & Plays​

Run Game​

• Duo (double teams, no back-side reach)
• Inside zone & wide/outside zone from shotgun
• Power & Counter (often with a pulling TE or H-back)
• Buck Sweep / Jet Sweep with orbit motion

Packaged Plays / RPOs​

• Glance or slant/flat RPOs off inside zone read
• Bubble screens packaged with zone read
• Triple option looks with QB keep, RB dive, jet sweep

Core Passing Concepts​

1. Mesh / Air Raid Mesh– Classic wheels under two crossing drags at 5 yards– Settler is usually the RB on a swing or the over route
2. Mills– RB angle/flat route + post by #2 (very common vs. Cover 3 beater)
3. Shallow Cross / Drive– #1 runs 18–20 yd dig, #2 runs shallow from opposite side
4. Dagger / Seattle– Clear-out 9 by #1, inside breaking in-cut by #2 at 14–18 yds
5. Sail / 95– 9-route + corner + flat (classic Air Raid)
6. Y-Cross / 94– Deep over from the boundary TE/Y at 22–25 yds (big play vs. Cover 2)
7. Four Verticals (4V or “Vegas”)– Benders by inside receivers vs. Cover 2, seams vs. Cover 3
8. Stick-Air– Inside receiver runs stick, outside runs fade, RB leaks late

Play-Action Staples​

• Bootlegs off 12-personnel power look
• Naked boot with TE leak
• Deep over or post-wheel off play-action

AND (conditionally) we HAVE the mix of talented personnel with which to RUN just such an offense, the largest “condition” being the assumption that we indeed have (and KEEP) the DJ Lagway we saw about to blossom forth his true freshman year—BEFORE injury, inaction, questionable coaching (in both training and play calling) and outright misuse seemed to knock him thoroughly off his stride…
Which raises another question:
How is all this best addressed?
DJ’s onfield performance showed signs of better fitness and more confidence the last few games; are his nagging injuries finally healing on their own? Or does he now need to sit out a season while getting surgery and rehab that in truth should have been prescribed a year ago?
He will have to be approaching full health heading into the SPRING the next time he is to be relied upon to run the offense. That foolish snow job Napier and Co. tried foisting off on EVERYONE LAST Spring, as if “watching, not DOING” was “almost as good as” actually handling the ball and hooking up with his receivers, was pure idiocy.
The young 5-star dual-threat QB he showed coming out of high school had all the skills necessary to run this “Gator-Raid” offense in abundance. Can he be that again?
These are among the stark questions that must be honestly addressed, right up top.