It’s been just two weeks since Florida Gators handed Jon Sumrall the keys, and he’s already flooring it. First came Buster Faulkner with three national titles and two decades of experience as the offensive coordinator. But Sumrall isn’t done swinging. He followed it up by bringing Brandon Harris and Chris Collins into the fold.

“UCF defensive backs coach Brandon Harris is set to coach cornerbacks, with Kentucky co-defensive coordinator Chris Collins set to focus on DBs/safeties. CBS first,” reported On3 Sports’ Pete Nakos on December 13.

Harris is one of the fastest-rising names on the coaching circuit, fresh off earning a spot in the 2026 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. That’s elite-company territory. So, Sumrall must have already had him circled in red ink.

The chase wasn’t smooth sailing. He is the younger brother of current Florida State Seminoles wide receiver coach Tim Harris Jr. Harris was all but slotted for the Florida State’s defensive backs job, with reports breaking on Dec. 10 and paperwork still pending. That window was all Sumrall needed. He made a late push, pulled off the steal, and brought Harris into the Gators’ fold.

Sumrall drew a hard line, parting ways with cornerbacks coach Deron Wilson after a season filled with costly lapses. One glaring example came against the South Florida Bulls, when cornerback Dijon Johnson was flagged for pass interference on second down. It handed the Bulls a free first down. 

With Wilson expected to be hired by the Arkansas Razorbacks, what made Sumrall count on Harris? Before UCF Knights, Harris spent three seasons at Florida Atlantic Owls, rising from cornerbacks coach to co-defensive coordinator in 2023 after a stop at FIU Panthers in 2021. A former Miami corner and second-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Harris logged six years in the league before turning to coaching.

It’s easy to see why Florida State viewed him as a recruiting spark. Sumrall clearly saw the same and wasn’t about to miss out.  The new head coach made use of the Kentucky Wildcats connection to bolster his roster with Chris Collins. 

Thanks to new Florida defensive coordinator Brade White, who had worked with Collins. He just completed his fifth season coaching Kentucky’s defensive backs and his second as co-defensive coordinator.

His bio reads, “played a key role in developing a secondary that continues to produce high-level talent and results.” That’s what got Sumrall hooked. 

Kentucky’s pass defense took a major step back in 2025, finishing 103rd nationally. Just a year earlier, the Wildcats were elite, ranking 21st while holding opponents to 183.7 passing yards per game and posting top-five SEC, top-20 national marks across key defensive categories. No better moment for Collins to start things afresh under Sumrall. 

What about the other new waves in the coaching roster?

Jon Sumrall’s first big play and the shakeups that followed

Sumrall made his first official move at Florida by landing Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White. White arrives in Gainesville with nearly a decade of SEC seasoning and a résumé that backs it up. Under his watch, Kentucky reached six bowls, ranked top-20 nationally in both scoring and total defense.

He held Florida to 16 points or fewer in four of the last five matchups. So, Sumrall had to add White to his roster. The head coach carried on his expedition by adding 20-year collegiate coaching veteran Buster Faulkner as offensive coordinator. 

Faulkner’s résumé is loaded. He played a role in three national championships at the Georgia Bulldogs and Valdosta State before spending the last three seasons calling plays at Georgia Tech. With 14 years of offensive coordinator experience and additional time coaching tight ends at Tech following a stint at Georgia, he comes fully battle-tested.

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Sumrall’s next mission was to hire former player and two-time national champion Phil Trautwein. No wonder the head coach was successful in his attempt. 

Considering the chaos in the coaching roster in Florida, Sumrall has already caught the heat. The newly-appointed head coach refused to keep the interim and wide receivers coach, Billy Gonzales, and the running back coach, Jabbar Juluke. The after-effect?

The Gators lost the commitment of Muizz Tounkara from the 2025 class, who announced his intention to hit the transfer portal. Now comes the real test: how Jon Sumrall’s new hires mesh with Florida’s roster.