According to Sports Illustrated, Mississippi State defensive coordinator Geoff Collins is expected to accept the same position on Jim McElwain’s staff at Florida.
Mississippi State defensive coordinator Geoff Collins is expected to accept the same position at Florida, according to a source.
An agreement has not yet been finalized, per the source.
Collins would be new Florida coach Jim McElwain’s first hire since taking over nearly two weeks ago and a major head-turner in the SEC. Under Collins, Mississippi State’s defense ranks 10th in the FBS in points allowed (19.4 points) this season and was instrumental in the Bulldogs’ rise to the No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings for three weeks earlier this season.
The 43-year-old has been the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State the past two seasons under Mullen, Florida’s former offensive coordinator who won two national titles with Urban Meyer. In Collins’ first season at Mississippi State, his unit was among the SEC’s top five in total defense.
Before the 2013 season, Collins was co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Mississippi State for two seasons. He was the defensive coordinator at Florida International in 2010 and the linebackers coach/recruiting coordinator at UCF from 2008-09.
Collins has produced a solid unit during his stint at Mississippi State, he will have plenty of pieces to work with when he gets to Gainesville and will have lots of talent to choose from in Florida.