Jon Sumrall’s staff at Florida is starting to take real shape - and it’s looking more and more like a Georgia Tech reunion.
Just days after officially bringing in Buster Faulkner as offensive coordinator, Sumrall is expected to add three more Yellow Jackets staffers to his team in Gainesville: Emil Ekiyor, Dylan Dockery, and Mike Polly. All three worked under Faulkner at Georgia Tech, and now they’re set to follow him to the Swamp as Sumrall continues building out a staff with familiarity and continuity at its core.
Let’s break down what each of these additions brings to the table - and why this group could be a key piece of Florida’s offensive identity moving forward.
Emil Ekiyor: From the Trenches to the Sideline
Ekiyor is a name SEC fans will recognize. A former standout offensive lineman at Alabama, he was a starter from 2020 to 2022 and earned first-team All-SEC honors in his final season. After wrapping up his playing career, Ekiyor made the jump into coaching and joined Georgia Tech’s staff this past year as an offensive analyst.
Now, he’s expected to reunite with Faulkner and bring his on-field experience to Florida’s staff. For a program looking to reestablish its physicality up front, having a guy like Ekiyor - who’s been in the trenches at the highest level - could be a valuable asset, especially for a young offensive line group that needs both technical coaching and a real-world voice in the room.
Dylan Dockery: The H-Backs Specialist
Dockery has been with Georgia Tech since 2023, initially serving as an offensive analyst before being promoted to H-backs coach in 2024. He’s held that role for the past two seasons, and he’s carved out a niche working with hybrid players - tight ends who can move around the formation, line up in the backfield, and create matchup problems.
That kind of versatility has become increasingly important in modern offenses, and Dockery’s experience developing those types of players should fit well with what Faulkner and Sumrall are looking to build. Expect Dockery to play a key role in shaping Florida’s offensive flexibility, especially if the Gators lean into multiple-tight-end sets or motion-heavy packages.
Mike Polly: A Decade of Experience in the Trenches
Polly rounds out the trio and brings a wealth of experience to Gainesville. He joined Georgia Tech in 2025, but his coaching résumé stretches back over a decade. Before his stint with the Yellow Jackets, Polly spent 10 years at Middle Tennessee, where he coached a variety of offensive positions and served as the special teams coordinator.
That kind of versatility is a big plus for any staff. Polly’s background suggests he’s comfortable developing players across the offensive front, and his special teams experience adds another layer of value. For a Florida program aiming to tighten up fundamentals and execution across the board, Polly’s detail-oriented approach could be a quiet but important addition.
The Bigger Picture: Familiar Faces, Shared Vision
What’s clear in all of this is that Sumrall is prioritizing familiarity - not just with his new offensive coordinator, but with the support staff around him. Bringing in coaches who’ve already worked together under Faulkner gives Florida a head start in installing its new offensive system. There’s already trust, communication, and a shared understanding of the playbook.
That kind of cohesion can’t be overstated, especially in Year 1 of a new regime. It allows the staff to hit the ground running in spring camp, with less time spent on internal alignment and more time focused on player development and scheme implementation.
So while these hires might not grab the headlines the way a coordinator or head coach does, they’re the connective tissue that helps a program function. And with Sumrall pulling in a group that knows how to work together - and has done it at the Power Five level - Florida’s offensive rebuild is starting to look a lot more organized.
The Gators still have a long road ahead, but this staff is coming together with purpose. And that’s the first step toward building something sustainable in Gainesville.