By: Grambling State Athletics
GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State University head football coach
Mickey Joseph announced the addition of Brandon Varner to staff as the Defensive Ends coach.
Varner comes to GSU after spending time at Holmes Community College Bulldogs as defensive line coach and strength and conditioning coach. In his first year he helped develop an All-Conference player in the MACJC (Trey Pettway).
Varner also coached Mississippi Valley State University, where he served as defensive line coach. Coach Varner also coached high school ball at Peabody Magnet & Bossier High School where both teams both played in the playoffs.
The 2026 season marks Varner's eighth as a coach with two of those years as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, Grambling State University.
Varner was a four-year player for the Tigers with one year as an Offensive Lineman and three years as a Defensive Lineman and earned two SWAC Championships and one HBCU Black College Football National Championship.
During his four-year career at GSU from 2015-18, Varner amassed 68 total tackles, including 41 solo stops. He had 17.5 tackles for a loss of 73 yards, including 9.5 sacks for a loss of 43 yards. In addition, the Atlanta, Ga. native recorded six quarterback hurries, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Varner earned SWAC Preseason First Team Honors and Phil Steele Preseason First Team honors during senior season and was named to the All-SWAC All Conference First Team in 2017.
Prior to attending Grambling State, Varner played four years of football and one year of basketball at Kipp Atlanta Collegiate High School in Atlanta, Ga.
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