Flush with cash for an elite coaching staff, the Florida Gators aim to overhaul their schemes. However, roster gaps and quarterback concerns loom over Jon Sumrall’s high-stakes debut.
The Florida Gators will have a new look this season under head coach Jon Sumrall.
Sumrall enters Gainesville with momentum after leading the Tulane Green Wave to an appearance in the College Football Playoff.
But there are some challenges ahead for the Gators in Sumrall's first season. For one, Sumrall has noted that the roster has some challenges, and he wished the transfer portal had been open after spring football to bring in some guys who could compete for a starting spot in training camp.
In addition to wanting a more competitive roster, Sumrall is changing up the scheme on offense and defense. New offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner is bringing a heavy-run scheme he ran with Georgia Tech.
An anonymous assistant coach told Kyle Wood of Athlon Sports that Sumrall made smart hires by bringing in Faulkner and defensive coordinator Brad White. And Florida is paying the price for that brain trust.
“(Jon Sumrall) has hired extremely well," the coach said. "It feels like they’ve really opened up the checkbook.”
Faulkner is set to make $2.1 million per season, and defensive coordinator Brad White is set to make $1.85 million. The Gators have made paying coaches a priority, though Sumrall has said the program needs about $15 million more to compete with top SEC teams for players.
But bringing in the right coaching staff matters in Year 1, and Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin noted that's one of the reasons he hired Sumrall.
“From the first time we talked to Jon, he said, ‘I want to get Buster Faulkner as offensive coordinator from Georgia Tech and Brad White as our defensive coordinator.’ He basically put together the staff that he said was going to put together," Stricklin said on the Paul Finebaum show in May.
"To me, those coaches who can do that are an early indication that, No. 1, they are in touch with what the reality of their ability to attract talent is. And then, No. 2, they’ve identified really good coaches. Those are really high-level coaches.”
The coaching staff should get Florida headed in the right direction, though how far they can go with a subpar situation at quarterback remains to be seen.
The Gators have talent on defense and skilled positions at offense, but Faulkner will have his work cut out for him with the offensive line and at quarterback.
