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What are the Gators getting in new DC Austin Armstrong?

Untitled designby:Nick de la Torre•02/24/23•

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Florida
James Gilbert/Getty Images

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Billy Napier worked quickly to replace co-defensive coordinator Patrick Toney. The Florida Gators are set to announce Austin Armstrong as the new co-defensive coordinator this week. Armstrong will share the defensive coordinator title with defensive line coach Sean Spencer, who was Co-DC with Toney in 2022.

When Armstrong takes the field with the Gators he will be the youngest defensive coordinator at a Power 5 school. At just 29 years old, Armstrong was a hot name this offseason. The Southern Miss defensive coordinator had interest from a number of schools including Oregon and Georgia before taking a job with Nick Saban at Alabama.

“Growing up in West Alabama the opportunity to coach at The University of Alabama is a dream come true,” Armstrong said in a press release shortly after his hiring at Alabama was announced. “I have admired what Coach Saban has built in Tuscaloosa and the long history of tradition and success this program has enjoyed. I am excited to get to work as we continue the legacy of success that is synonymous with Alabama football.”

His stay in Tuscaloosa didn’t last long — just eight days. Napier offered a promotion and Armstrong jumped at it. The two have crossed paths before. Armstrong joined Louisiana’s staff in 2017 and was retained by Napier when he assumed the head coaching job.

Armstrong spent a year on Kirby Smart’s staff at Georgia as a quality control assistant before returning to Louisiana in 2020 as Napier’s inside linebackers coach. He would only be in Lafayette for one more season before getting the defensive coordinator job at Southern Miss.

“We’re extremely excited for Austin, a bright, young coach who’s done a terrific job for us here this year,” Napier told The Daily Advertiser in Lafayette after Armstrong accepted the defensive coordinator position at Southern Mississippi. “Really, those (inside linebackers) have played well. He’s had good relationships with the players. They’ve responded to him well.”

Armstrong worked under Patrick Toney and has a similar, aggressive style of defense. Watch him breakdown film below.

Watch Armstrong break down film

Southern Miss defense

Here’s a look by the numbers:

  • In two seasons (2021-22) at Southern Mis, his defense ranked top-50 national in total defense
  • Seven Southern Miss defenders earned All-Sun Belt recognition last year
  • Gave up third down conversions 37.7% of the time (54th nationally)
  • 3.9 yards per rushing attempt (40th nationally)
  • 7.6 yards per passing attempt (87th nationally)
  • 5.3 yards per play (51st nationally)
  • 1.7 turnovers per game (31st nationally)
  • 0.39 points per play (39th nationally)
  • Sacked opposing QBs on 9.7% of passing attempts (7th nationally)

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