What kind of defense will Jon Sumrall bring to Florida football?

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Former Tulane coach Jon Sumrall is Florida football's first defensive-oriented head coaching hire since Will Muschamp in 2011.

Sumrall will bring a 3-4 defensive scheme to the Florida Gators, one that's proven successful in stopping the run and rushing the quarterback. The Green Wave rank second in the American Conference in run defense (120.3 yards per game allowed) and second in sacks (29.0).

It's a more aggressive scheme than the one employed by current UF defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, which is a creeper scheme that relies on simulated pressures from linebackers and defensive backs. In Sumrall's scheme, the outside linebackers are in attack mode throughout the game.

That could benefit Florida, especially if Sumrall can convince UF's deep linebacker room to stay with him. Former Under Armour All-American linebackers Myles Graham (76 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks) and Aaron Chiles (52 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, half a sack) had breakout sophomore seasons for the Gators, along with junior linebacker Jaden Robinson (50 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks). Two more promising freshman linebackers − Ty Jackson and Myles Johnson − could be the mix for more playing time next season if both come back to UF.

Sumrall's defenses at Tulane also have been adept at forcing turnovers, ranking tied for third in the American with 19 takeaways (12 interceptions, 7 fumble recoveries). Tulane recorded four interceptions in its 23-3 win over Northwestern on Aug. 30 and six sacks in its 38-32 win over Memphis on Nov. 7.

Sumrall's defensive mentors include Rich Brooks, whom he played for as a linebacker at Kentucky from 2001-04, and Mark Stoops, whom he coached linebackers for at Kentucky from 2019-20. Under Brooks, Sumrall led the Wildcats in tackles in 2004 before his college career was cut short due to a spinal cord condition.

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: New Florida football coach Jon Sumrall employs attacking defensive scheme

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