In a surprising twist, the Florida Gators are poised to secure a notable addition to their coaching staff. But who is this new recruit?
According to reports, the Gators' new head coach, Jon Sumrall, is set to hire Brandon Harris, the defensive backs coach from the University of Central Florida (UCF). This news comes as a potential blow to Florida State, who were initially expected to hire Harris as their cornerbacks coach.
Harris, a former NFL player, has been making waves in the coaching world. He joined UCF in 2025 and quickly made an impact, elevating the Knights' pass defense to a national ranking of 25th this season. His coaching journey began at Florida Atlantic (2022-2024) and then led him to Florida International University (FIU) in 2021, where he coached cornerbacks.
But here's where his story gets even more intriguing: Harris is a local hero, having played cornerback for the University of Miami from 2008 to 2010. He was a highly regarded prospect, selected in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Harris went on to play for six seasons in the NFL, representing the Houston, Tennessee, and Miami franchises.
After hanging up his cleats, Harris embarked on his coaching career in 2019 as a graduate assistant at FIU. He gained further experience at Florida State in 2020 as a defensive assistant before returning to FIU to coach cornerbacks.
At 35 years old, Harris has deep Florida roots. He attended Booker T. Washington High School in Miami, where he was named the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year in 2007. His father, Tim Harris Sr., is a legendary high school coach, and his older brother, Treon Harris, was a quarterback for the Gators from 2014 to 2015.
Sumrall is building an impressive coaching team, with Harris being the fifth assistant coach to join. Other notable hires include OC Buster Faulkner, DC Brad White, defensive line coach Gerald Chatman, and offensive line coach Phil Trautwein.
Meanwhile, Gators Online reported that veteran SEC assistant coach Derrick Nix interviewed for the running backs coach position at Florida. Nix's recent experience as the offensive coordinator at Auburn, along with reported interest from Alabama and Ole Miss, makes him a highly sought-after candidate.
So, what does this mean for the Gators' future? Will Harris' expertise and local connections bring a new era of success to the team? And what impact will the other coaching hires have? The anticipation is building, and the Gators community is buzzing with excitement. Stay tuned as the team's journey unfolds!
