New Florida OC Buster Faulkner Aims to Bring Air Raid Offense to The Swamp

Faulkner, a Steve Spurrier fan, plans to tailor innovative offense to Gators' roster strengths

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

New Florida football offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner is looking to bring an innovative, up-tempo Air Raid offense to The Swamp. Faulkner, who grew up admiring Steve Spurrier's 'Fun N Gun' offenses, plans to adapt his system to the strengths of the Gators' roster, including rising star running back Jadan Baugh and a talented receiving corps.

Why it matters

Florida fans have long expected high-powered offenses, and Faulkner's Air Raid background could help restore that tradition. His ability to evolve his scheme to fit his personnel will be key, as the Gators look to bounce back from a disappointing season.

The details

Faulkner, who previously served as offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech, has deep roots in the Air Raid offense dating back to his playing days at Valdosta State. He plans to emphasize repetition, tempo, and getting the ball to Florida's playmakers in space. The Gators return a talented running back in Jadan Baugh and young receivers like Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson, giving Faulkner weapons to work with.

  • Faulkner was previously the offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech from 2023-2025.
  • Faulkner and Florida head coach Jon Sumrall have known each other for about 4-5 years.

The players

Buster Faulkner

The new offensive coordinator for the Florida Gators, known for his innovative Air Raid offense and background working under Air Raid coaching pioneers like Chris Hatcher and the late Mike Leach.

Steve Spurrier

The former head coach of the Florida Gators, known for his 'Fun N Gun' offenses that dominated the SEC in the 1990s.

Jadan Baugh

The Gators' returning junior running back, who rushed for 1,170 yards and 8 touchdowns last season.

Vernell Brown III

A rising sophomore wide receiver for the Gators who showed playmaking ability as a true freshman.

Dallas Wilson

Another rising sophomore wide receiver for the Gators with potential after a strong freshman campaign.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The way he went about it, he would talk trash a little bit along the way. So that was always fun to watch. As a kid, he was an outside-the-box thinker. He was ahead of his time right? Like always adjusting. I thought that was something that I take a great deal of pride in, is just trying to stay ahead of the game.”

— Buster Faulkner, Florida Offensive Coordinator

“He had great leadership ability, and I knew when he got into coaching, that trait was going to carry over, it was going to make him successful.”

— David Dean, Former Valdosta State Offensive Coordinator

“From a defensive perspective, when you evaluate offensive coordinators, you're looking for people who can make the scheme fit the people. Everything is player driven. I think you've seen Buster evolve and adapt to, okay, who's my quarterback, and what's our O-line do well, and then who are the skill people we want to distribute the football to.”

— Jon Sumrall, Florida Head Coach

What’s next

Faulkner and the Gators will need to quickly get their young quarterback and offensive line up to speed during spring and summer practices to be ready for the season opener.

The takeaway

Faulkner's background in the innovative Air Raid offense and his ability to adapt his scheme to his personnel could help restore Florida's reputation for high-powered, entertaining offenses under Steve Spurrier. The Gators' success will hinge on how quickly Faulkner can get his new-look unit up to speed.