Brewster remained on Mullen’s radar
GAINESVILLE — When Tim Brewster moved on after one season at Mississippi State, head coach Dan Mullen kept his phone number, just in case.
Mullen, now entering Year 3 with the Florida Gators, was glad he had Brewster’s digits when tight ends coach Larry Scott left last month to become head coach at Howard University.
“You have your list of if this guy leaves, these are the guys that are on my call list,” Mullen said of Brewster. “So he’s always been a guy that’s been on my call list.”
Mullen and Brewster have kept in touch over the years, but the UF head coach was especially glad this time to hear his former assistant’s voice.
Brewster soon accepted the chance to step in for Scott, in the process bringing boundless experience and energy to both the field and the recruiting trail for the Gators.
Brewster is the former head coach at Minnesota and has served as an assistant coach in both the NFL and Power 5 level, including five seasons at Florida State. During three seasons (2002-04) with the San Diego Chargers, Brewster oversaw the rapid ascent of Antonio Gates from undrafted free agent to a first-team All-Pro.
“A wealth of knowledge and experience as a position coach,” Mullen said. “Great personality that I already knew about because I’ve been in, and it’s a great fit with the staff. I think that’s something that’s critical of how a guy fits in with the personality of the staff.”
The 59-year-old Brewster’s winning personality still translates well in recruiting teenagers and should be a major asset for the Gators.
“He takes over the room,” Mullen said. “I don’t think he has ever walked into a room and not left with more friends than he walked into. I think in recruiting that certainly has.”
Brewster quickly made a favorable impression on all-SEC tight end Kyle Pitts, the Gators’ top returning playmaker on offense.
“Coach Brewster is a high-energy guy,” Pitts said. “He has a great history with tight ends he produced in the NFL. We’re just soaking in knowledge that he’s bringing.”
Pitts will get his first chance to work with Brewster on the field Monday when the Gators are scheduled to open spring practices. helps that personality that he
Better late than never
Linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. could be a difference-maker for a Gators defense looking to replace sack leader Jon Greenard, top cornerback CJ Henderson, leading tackler David Reese and NFL Combine star Jabari Zuniga.
The 6-foot-4, 247-pound Cox, a Georgia transfer, is a former five-star recruit able to rush the passer, drop into coverage and play the run sideline to sideline.
“We expect a lot from him,” Mullen said. “I know he’s a talented player. It’s good to have him.”
Mullen wishes it had been sooner, but the NCAA denied Cox’s eligibility waiver and forced him to sit out the 2019 season.
Entering last season, Mullen said he was confident Cox would be allowed to play. On Monday, UF’s coach said he hopes more clear-cut rules are put in place to determine the eligibility of transfers.
“Hopefully, they get some of those rules fixed up,” Mullen said. “It looks like they’re talking about those rules so at least there’s consistency in college football that way. One of his teammates, same exact almost identical situations, and one is allowed to play and one’s not. I mean, I don’t know.”
The NCAA seeks to standardize eligibility rules, too. The governing body of college sports is weighing whether to allow players the chance to transfer once and compete immediately at another school.
Mullen did not share his preference but reiterated the need for one rule that applies to all transfers.
“I could make arguments; all the arguments for both sides,” he said. “I just think it would be much cleaner for everyone if it was, here’s the rule. You’re immediately eligible and you can play, you get the onetime transfer waiver or you’re not and there’s no waiver process to create kids to make things up or one kid gets it and one kid doesn’t.
“I think there should be just a consistency within the rule, whichever one that everyone decides on.”
In Cox’s case, it is a moot point. Mullen is just happy to have him now.
Cox practiced last fall, impressing teammates and coaches.
“We expect him to have a great spring,” Mullen said. “He’s worked hard, had a great attitude, been really positive in everything he’s done and I want to see him continue to do that moving forward.
Brown elected to Hall of Fame
Former University of Florida offensive tackle Lomas Brown has been named to the College Football Hall of Fame 2020 class.
A consensus first-team All-American in 1984, the Miami native anchored a unit known as “The Great Wall of Florida” that opened holes for Neal Anderson, John L. Williams and Lorenzo Hampton. Brown becomes the ninth UF player to enter the College Football Hall of Fame.
“I didn’t know how I would react because I don’t think you know how you are going to react to an honor like this,” said Brown, 56. “But I tell you what, it’s been overwhelming and it’s amazing.”
Selected by the Detroit Lions with the sixth pick in the 1985 NFL Draft, Brown played 18 NFL seasons.