Patrick Toney set leave Gators for NFL job, target Austin Armstrong
Florida Gators’ co-defensive coordinator and play-caller Patrick Toney is looking to move on to the NFL, per ESPN’s Chris Low. Toney is set join the Arizona Cardinals as a defensive assistant. Toney isn’t the only Florida coach to make the jump to the NFL, as tight ends coach William Peagler will follow Toney to the desert.
Gators Online’s Zach Abolverdi has confirmed the report.
Low also mentioned that Florida has a replacement in mind if Toney were to accept the NFL jump.
Toney moves on to NFL after struggling in 2022
Although Toney was a promising hire last offseason, things did not work out in Gainesville. Before his arrival in Gainesville, many in college football circles were raving about the hire.
After inheriting one of the worst defenses in school history, Florida’s defense failed to improve in 2022 after a 6-7 campaign in 2021.
Last season, Florida finished 97th in total defense, giving up 5.92 yards per play and 411 yards per game. The Gators were third-worst in the NCAA on third-down, as opposing teams converted 49.7% of the time in 2022.
Now, Toney looks to jump to the league at 32 years old, an awe-inspiring young mind who has an intense grasp on the defensive side of the ball.
Gators target a new defensive coordinator
Billy Napier moved quickly to replace Toney and keep his staff whole. According to the ESPN report, Billy Napier is targeting Austin Armstrong, a former Louisiana assistant under Napier in 2020. Armstrong, a newly hired Alabama assistant, may join the Gators as a replacement for Toney. In January, Nick Saban and Alabama poached Armstrong from Southern Miss to coach inside linebackers.
During his time in 2021 and 2022 at Southern Mississippi, Armstrong was the youngest coordinator in the NCAA. In 2022, Armstrong’s Southern Miss defense ranked 57th in total defense, giving up 372.2 yards per game and 5.4 yards per play. On third down, the Golden Eagles only saw opposing teams convert 36.4% of the time, good enough for 50th in the NCAA. Southern Miss tied for fourth in nation in total defensive touchdowns at four, including three pick-sixes and one scoop-and-score.
Napier and Armstrong’s connection goes back to 2017 and 2018 when Armstrong served as a graduate assistant under Napier at UL.
In 2019, Armstrong was a defensive quality control coach at Georgia before returning back to Lafayette in 2020.
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier celebrates with Florida Gators wide receiver Aidan Mizell (11) after a touchdown during the first half at the Orange and Blue spring football game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/04/13155133/Untitled-design-65-2.png)
