Florida is expected to make another key addition to its growing Georgia Tech pipeline, this time hiring Cody Collins as the Gators’ new director of scouting. Collins, who currently holds that same title at Georgia Tech, is set to bring his extensive personnel background to Gainesville - and he’s not the first Yellow Jacket to make the move.
Before joining Georgia Tech in 2024, Collins spent four years at Georgia as a player personnel analyst, helping shape one of the most talented rosters in college football. His experience in evaluating talent at both the high school and college levels makes him a valuable asset for Florida as it continues to retool under head coach Jon Sumrall.
This move is part of a broader trend under Sumrall, who has leaned heavily on Georgia Tech connections to build out his staff and, increasingly, his roster. Florida has already brought in Buster Faulkner - formerly Georgia Tech’s offensive coordinator - to run the offense in Gainesville. Alongside Faulkner came wide receivers coach Trent McKnight, giving the Gators a strong foundation of coaches familiar with each other and with the personnel they’ve worked with previously.
The off-field staff has also seen a Yellow Jacket infusion. Florida has added several former Georgia Tech coaches as analysts and assistants, including A.J.
Erdely (assistant QBs), Emil Ekiyor (offensive analyst), Dylan Dockery (assistant H-backs), and Mike Polly (assistant offensive line). That continuity is no accident - it’s part of a strategic effort to build a cohesive, aligned program from the ground up.
And it’s already paying dividends in the transfer portal. Florida has landed multiple former Georgia Tech players this offseason, including quarterback Aaron Philo, who is in the mix to be the Gators’ starter in 2026. Philo isn’t arriving alone - wide receiver Bailey Stockton, a former high school teammate of Philo’s, and offensive lineman Harrison Moore have also made the jump from Atlanta to Gainesville.
Philo, in particular, is generating buzz. As a redshirt freshman last season, he completed 21-of-28 passes for 373 yards, a touchdown, and one interception - a small sample size, but one that showcased his efficiency and poise. Head coach Jon Sumrall clearly sees something special in him.
“I think Buster had extreme confidence in him,” Sumrall said recently. “As I did my homework, the place he was at didn’t want him to leave.
A lot of people there felt like he was ready to be the starter. I trust our offensive coordinator to make the call.”
Sumrall also pointed to Philo’s demeanor and leadership as key traits, noting that he’d followed the quarterback since his high school days. That familiarity, combined with Faulkner’s firsthand experience coaching him at Georgia Tech, gives Florida a unique edge in evaluating and developing Philo.
As a true freshman, Philo appeared in four games, completing 38-of-74 passes (51.4%) for 565 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. While those numbers may not jump off the page, context matters - seven of those incompletions were drops, and Pro Football Focus gave him an adjusted completion percentage of 64.3%. That’s a solid foundation for a young quarterback stepping into the SEC spotlight.
Sumrall isn’t shying away from the challenge of potentially starting a young, relatively untested quarterback. He referenced his first year at Tulane, where he started Darian Mensah despite the quarterback never having taken a collegiate snap.
“Now, I got it - this is the American Conference, not the SEC, right? So they’re a little bit different,” Sumrall said.
“But, man, if you got the right guy - sometimes I think experience can be oversold. There’s a lot of guys that are experienced that aren’t very good.”
That’s the kind of conviction Florida fans will want to hear. It’s not just about experience - it’s about fit, confidence, and the belief in a player’s ability to lead. With Collins now expected to join the fold, the Gators continue to double down on a clear vision: build a staff and roster with shared experience, aligned philosophies, and the talent to compete in the SEC.
The Georgia Tech connection isn’t just a coincidence - it’s becoming the backbone of Florida’s new era.