Big Ten program expected to hire Florida A&M co-DC Brandon Sharp

Purdue is expected to hire Florida A&M co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Brandon Sharp in a defensive off-field role, sources tell On3.

Sharp has been at Florida A&M since 2018 and helped the Rattlers finish 9-3 with an FCS playoff berth last season. Aided by Sharp, Florida A&M ranked 10th in the FCS in total defense and 17th in pass defense.

He coached Dallas Cowboys rookie safety Markquese Bell, who was one of the top safeties in the FCS in each of the Rattlers’ last two seasons.

Sharp, a former All-Big East defensive back at Louisville under Bobby Petrino, previously worked at the FBS level as a graduate assistant at Arkansas (2009-11) and as a defensive backs coach at UAB (2012-13). Prior to being hired at Florida A&M, he was pass game coordinator and safeties coach at FCS Prairie View A&M (2015-17) after a season as the outside linebackers coach at Division II Henderson State (2014).

At UAB, Sharp worked under current Purdue quarterbacks coach Garrick McGee, who was the Blazers’ head coach in 2012 and 2013.