The first major domino of the post-Mark Stoops era has fallen, and it has landed squarely in enemy territory.
Florida is expected to hire Kentucky’s Brad White as its defensive coordinator, sources tell @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 2, 2025
Led the way for four Kentucky defenses that ranked in the top-25 nationally during his seven seasons as the team’s DC. pic.twitter.com/JP98m8cTly
According to a report from Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White is expected to join the staff at Florida. The move will reunite White with newly hired Gators head coach and former Kentucky assistant, Jon Sumrall.
For Big Blue Nation, this isn't just a standard coaching departure; it is a future scheduling nightmare. With the SEC’s permanent opponent model, Kentucky is now guaranteed to face its former defensive architect every single year.
Brad White crossing enemy lines with Jon Sumrall to Florida
The connection between White and Sumrall is undeniable. The two overlapped in Lexington, helping to build the physical, blue-collar defensive identity that defined the Stoops era.
Sumrall has always spoken highly of his time at Kentucky, but now that he is tasked with rebuilding Florida, he is weaponizing that familiarity against the Wildcats. He isn't just hiring a coordinator; he is hiring the guy who knows Kentucky's personnel better than anyone else.
White’s contract was set to expire, making him a free agent just as incoming head coach Will Stein begins to overhaul the program.
A complicated legacy
White leaves Lexington with a resume that commands respect, even if the ending was bumpy.
Despite a statistical dip in 2024 and 2025 where the unit struggled to get off the field, White consistently punched above his weight class.
He had consistent elite production where he engineered four separate top-25 defenses during his seven-year tenure.
The tactical disadvantage
The real sting of this news isn't the past, but the future.
When Will Stein brings his high-octane "PS5 Offense" to The Swamp next season, he won't be facing a generic defense. He will be scheming against a coordinator who knows the weaknesses of Kentucky's returning offensive linemen and the tendencies of the locker room, if any of the players end up staying anyway.
The chess match between Kentucky’s new future and its defensive past is now set for every single season.