Florida to hire Brandon Harris as defensive backs coach under Jon Sumrall, Brad White

Image Credit: @GatorsFB / Twitter

Incoming head football coach Jon Sumrall continues to build out his initial Florida Gators staff while simultaneously leading the Tulane Green Wave in the 2025-26 College Football Playoff. Sumrall doubled down on new hires Friday, sniping away Brandon Harris as defensive backs coach from UCF, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.

Harris, who was being hotly pursued by numerous other Power Four programs, was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Florida when he signed to play cornerback at Miami (FL) from 2008-10. He was selected in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans and also played for the Tennessee Titans across his five NFL seasons.

Following in his father’s footsteps by moving into coaching, Harris has spent the entire second half of his professional football career in the Sunshine State. After off-the-field assistant roles at FIU (2019) and Florida State (2020), he returned to the Panthers as cornerbacks coach in 2020 before quickly moving to FAU where he coached cornerbacks (2022) and served as co-defensive coordinator (2023-24).

The 2025 campaign was his lone year with the Knights, which allowed just 185.1 yards passing per game and 13 total touchdowns through the air. UCF ranked third in the Big 12 and 25th nationally in yards passing allowed.

Many believed Harris was set to move to FSU this offseason as his brother, Tim Harris Jr., is the Seminoles’ passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. (His other brother, Treon Harris, played quarterback for the Gators.)

Harris’ father, Tim “Ice” Harris Sr., was the legendary coach of Booker T. Washington Senior High School in Miami. As such, his recruiting ties likely run deep within the state, making up for what he may lack in top-level experience as he moves into the SEC. Grade: B

Florida Gators coaching staff, 2026

Florida to hire Brandon Harris as defensive backs coach under Jon Sumrall, Brad White

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