Football and family have been the two most important things in Brandon Harris’ life.
Tim Sr. , the father of the Miami native Harris and his two brothers, Tim Jr. and Treon, became one of the best high school coaches in the state and the country, while the boys all grew up playing the game.
Tim Jr. competed for the University of Miami’s track team and is now a coach at Florida State. The Gators’ quarterback was Treon. The middle kid, Brandon, however, followed in his older brother’s footsteps by playing as a defensive back for Miami. Prior to moving into coaching, he had 42 NFL games under his belt.
Since then, Harris has served as a coach for FSU, Central Florida, Florida Atlantic, and Florida International. He is now in Florida, his sixth in-state stop in eight years.
“Since I have truly worked at every D1 school in the state, all the guys give me a hard time,” Harris said on Monday. “It’s still a dream to me. The Swamp is a fantastic place to stroll around in, as is the stadium. It exudes a very high level of excitement.
Rarely did Harris’s Florida journey come to an end. The rumors that Harris would rejoin the FSU staff after a fantastic 2025 season as UCF’s defensive backs coach were widespread.
Florida head coach Jon Sumrall and defensive coordinator Brad White, on the other hand, viewed Harris as essential to Florida’s future success and seized the chance. Harris was persuaded by the combination of that and the high reputation of the Southeastern Conference.
“You hear about it all the time, you watch it on TV, you want to be able to coach with the best and against some of the best talent out there,” Harris said about being able to coach in the SEC.
The Gators have a significant edge in the talented area because of Harris’s knowledge of recruiting the South Florida area and his reputation as a top-tier coach. Additionally, his experience as a well-publicized local DB gives him a distinct viewpoint on what it takes to succeed in college and make it to the NFL.
“I will say this, the children that come from that area in general, they get introduced to playing with a lot of pressure and a lot of high stakes at a young age,” Harris said. “That’s something that when guys come to college and play in a big college program, they don’t shy away from that spotlight, they almost embrace it and look for it because they learned how to play with that amount of pressure and that amount of accountability early on in their career. “
Harris now leads a skilled squad of cornerbacks. Redshirt juniors Dijon Johnson and Cormani McClain are in charge of the space. When healthy last year, both athletes were essential to UF’s secondary, but they both sustained season-ending lower-body injuries.
Prior to suffering a knee injury against Miami on September 20, Johnson played four games in 2025, during which he had an interception and a pass breakup. Harris, however, has been incredibly upbeat about his progress and said he has excelled at taking on a leadership position.
“Me and him have been spending a lot of time together, me and him, just teaching him how to be a leader and how to interact with different guys in different ways,” Harris stated. With that group, he’s had a really, really, really big impact thus far.
In contrast, during his sophomore year, McClain improved significantly, playing 10 games and getting an interception. However, the Colorado transfer suffered an injury in the game against Tennessee on November 22, bringing his season to a conclusion. But he escaped a serious injury and is now completely prepared for the 2026 campaign.
“Cormani is amazing, dude. “He’s outstanding,” Harris remarked. “He doesn’t speak much and isn’t very outspoken. However, this guy is fascinating to talk to. He’s quite interesting. And he’s thrilled. The possibilities that lie ahead of him fill him with excitement.
In addition, Ben Hanks III and J’Vari Flowers displayed glimpses of brilliance during their rookie campaigns, and it is anticipated that both will improve and become key contributors to the team in 2026.
However, Harris is no stranger to Hanks and flowers. Both have lengthy connections with the coach, which was crucial to their retention throughout the offseason.
Flowers’ “aura” convinced Harris that he would be a great player in the future, according to Harris, who first witnessed him play in middle school.
Additionally, the Harris and Hanks families have a rich past. Tim Harris Sr. trained Ben Hanks, the father of the present UF cornerback, in high school, and their bond has continued to grow. Harris’s closest friend is Devon Johnson, Ben’s older brother. Ben’s godmother is Harris’ mother.
Flowers and Hanks are now Harris’s students.
Regarding the pair, Harris stated, “You cannot utter one without the other. ” “They will always be together whenever you see them. ” They are in the same recruiting class and hail from the same region.
The experience, however, has come full circle for Harris. He has arrived at his destination. Gainesville now has the definitive “Florida Man. “
“I’m really thrilled to be here, sharing a locker room with this group of men and sporting this logo,” he stated.
