The Gator Nation welcomes Florida’s new defensive coordinator, Geoff Collins to the football program.
Collins is coming off of a great year in 2014 as Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator/ linebackers coach. He has 21 years of coaching experience and proven success in the SEC and those are some of the reasons new Florida coach Jim McElwain brought him on board.
Collins and McElwain are no strangers and Collins explains that he is excited to get the opportunity to work with Florida’s new head man.
“Coach Mac and I have known each other since my first year at Alabama and he came in as I was going out at UCF. We’ve just kept in contact and been good friends and now there’s an opportunity to work with him.”
In 2014 Mississippi State’s defense, under Collins, produced the second-most sacks (37) in the SEC and was the nation’s top red zone defense. Collins also helped lead Mississippi State to its first 10-win season since 1999.
Collins recognizes the talent that former UF defensive coordinator DJ Durkin has put together on the defensive side of the ball and hopes to take Gator football to the next level.
“I’m big on not being a swag stealer,” says Collins. “I want to create our own energy, create our own branding.”
Although Collins is coming from an established defensive team at Mississippi State, he is looking to tailor the defensive strategy to the skills on the Florida team.
“It’s about the players,” Collins says. “Whatever the players can do, that’s what you better do. It depends on, as we go through, what we have on the roster which we’ve been able to see a little bit of it, and then what we are able to sign in this class.”
We’ll see what the defense will do under Collins starting this spring.
For full audio on Geoff Collins click below:
Collins’ respect for Will Muschamp and DJ Durkin
Says he wants to create a new brand of defense
The players have responsibility to adjust