Jon Sumrall reveals how Buster Faulkner crafts a flexible, talent-driven offense, leaning into Florida's receiver strengths for the 2026 season.
New Florida head coach Jon Sumrall brought in former Georgia Tech offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner to run his offense in 2026.
Faulkner got the best out of GT quarterback Haynes King, and he's hoping to get more out of Aaron Philo, who transferred from the Yellow Jackets this offseason.
The Yellow Jackets were known for having a robust running offense under Faulkner. However, Florida will give the new offensive coordinator better weapons at wide receiver and running back, which could lead to a change in scheme.
When speaking to reporters last week, Sumrall praised Faulkner for building his offense around the talent Florida has at receiver.
“The personnel groupings you play the game in are dictated by who are your best players,” Sumrall said, via On3. “There might be certain years we’re more wide receiver drive based upon the depth of that room. Some years I’ve been more tight end driven based upon the depth of that room.
“What I love about what Buster’s done and what he’s been exposed to is multiple styles of offense and not being rigid, but being flexible to create an offense around the players that he has access to to give that team an opportunity to have success.”
With DJ Lagway transferring to Baylor this offseason, Florida will have a new quarterback under center in 2026. The new signal-caller will need to trust his receivers and running backs to make an impact this fall.
Sumrall appreciates that Faulkner can be flexible with his scheme this spring.
“I think great coaches, great coordinators, they don’t square peg, round hole it,” Sumrall said. “They don’t go, ‘Hey, you have to fit my system even if you don’t really have the strengths or skillsets to fit my system.’
"So you have to really lean into the strengths and maybe shy away from the weaknesses, or offset the weaknesses of your quarterback position and your offensive line on offense to me."
Fortunately, the Gators will have two tune-up games to get the new offense up to speed before playing Auburn in Week 3. UF will start the season by hosting FAU and Campbell.
Those games should give Faulkner an idea about what his offense can do.