Florida Grad Assistant Takes On-Field Role at West Georgia

Photo: Florida head coach Billy Napier; Credit: Alex Shepherd

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida special teams graduate assistant Brandon Taylor has accepted the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coaching positions at West Georgia, according to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic.

The Wolves are transitioning to Division I FCS across all athletics this year, moving up from the Division II level.

Taylor joined Florida as a graduate assistant capacity in 2022, one of the initial hires to Billy Napier's army of off-field coaches upon his hiring as the Gators' head coach. Taylor served under "GameChanger Coordinator" Chris Couch, who oversaw UF's special teams over the past two seasons, in the role.

Before he arrived in Gainesville, Taylor operated in a similar function as a graduate assistant at LSU from 2020-21.

He previously occupied the functions of defensive analyst at Jacksonville State in 2019, defensive graduate assistant (linebackers) at Florida International in 2018, defensive assistant (linebackers) at Louisiana Tech in 2017 and offensive assistant (offensive line/tight ends) at Southern University in 2016.

A five-year college football player, Taylor attended Florida International from 2011-15 and appeared in 35 games as the Panthers' long snapper.

Couch returns to Florida for the 2024 season and will be joined by recently hired senior analyst Joe Houston in supervising the Gators' special teams units moving forward. The duo will also lead UF's situational football department, according to Napier.

Florida Hiring New England's Joe Houston to Oversee Special Teams

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