Gators’ Jon Sumrall brings offensive coordinator Joe Craddock from Tulane to coach quarterbacks
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
GAINESVILLE — Tulane offensive coordinator Joe Craddock will join UF coach Jon Sumrall, a source confirmed, to coach quarterbacks and work with new offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner to revive an offense that averaged an SEC-low 21.6 points.
As offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Tulane, Craddock helped develop Darrian Mensah into a top quarterback as a redshirt freshman at Tulane before he transferred to Duke, where he threw for 30 touchdowns in 2025. BYU transfer Jake Retzlaff had solid season, leading the Green Wave to the American Conference title and a berth in the CFP. But No. 6 Ole Miss routed Tulane 41-10 Saturday as Retzlaff was 20-of-35 for 306 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Craddock will help Faulkner develop Trammel Jones Jr., who will compete for the starting job as a redshirt freshman, and 4-star prospect Will Griffin after a record-setting career at Tampa Jesuit. UF is expected to add another quarterback from the transfer portal, potentially Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo after two seasons working with Faulkner as a backup.
Craddock also served as Sumrall’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022-23 at Troy, winners of the 2022 and 2023 Sun Belt Conference titles. Quarterback Gunnar Watson threw 27 touchdown passes and just six interceptions in 2023 after recording 14 touchdown throws and 12 picks in 2022.
Prior to Troy, Craddock was tight ends coach at UAB (2020-21) after he was the SEC’s youngest offensive coordinator and coached quarterbacks at Arkansas under Chad Morris. Morris gave Craddock the same position at SMU (2015-17). Sophomore Ben Hicks threw for 33 touchdowns in 2017.
Craddock followed Morris from Clemson after two seasons as a graduate assistant (2013-14). Tajh Boyd passed for 34 touchdowns in 2013. In 2014, freshman Deshaun Watson threw for 14 scores and just two interceptions as a backup to Cole Stoudt.
In 2012, Craddock was an offensive player development coach for Dabo Swinney. The job was Craddock’s first at the college level after he got his start as a coach in 2010-11 at Briarwood Christian School, his alma mater in Birmingham, Alabama.
Craddock spent two seasons in the Italian Football League with the Parma Panthers after two seasons as a starter at Middle Tennessee State, where he spent four seasons (2004-08).
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos