After ranking 87th in points allowed per game and 91st in yards allowed per game a year ago, the Gators’ defense will look to make significant strides under newly hired defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong in 2023.
When Armstrong was officially hired by Florida on February 27th, 2023, the 29-year-old became the youngest power five defensive coordinator in college football. Not only did the Gators get a new face in the building after Patrick Toney’s departure to the NFL, but a newfound energy on the football field.
“Both coaches are very special I mean, always, for me personally, I need the energy, so, Coach Armstrong, he tells me to bring the juice and I really appreciate that,” defensive tackle Chris McClellan said on the main difference between Austin Armstrong and Patrick Toney.
Edge rusher Princely Umanmielen is entering his fourth season in Gainesville under his third different defensive coordinator.
“Coach Armstrong’s energy is different,” Umanmielen noted. “He’s a real high energy guy. He’s on 10 at all times. PT [Patrick Toney] was a little, like, he wasn’t too high energy. He would just talk to you. Coach Armstrong, he’s always yelling and screaming ‘let’s go.’”
During the offseason, Umanmielen switched from defensive end to outside linebacker, where he feels his skillset is better suited.
“I love it,” Umanmielen said on switching to OLB. “I always felt like my body type and how I play football, I was going to end up being an outside linebacker, even though these past years I was playing four eyes and hand in the dirt and things, but yeah, I think his defense is great to how I play. And it’s not very different from Coach PT’s defense, I’m just at a new position.”
Armstrong and the rest of the Gators’ staff have made it clear that they want to put players in a position to succeed rather than moving them around in order to temporarily provide depth at a different position.
“I remember the other day, I think he said, ‘players are more important than the scheme,” Umanmielen said on Armstrong’s scheme. “He does a good job of putting players in positions to the best of their abilities rather than just firmly relying on the scheme.”
One noticeable difference in the Gators’ defense this season is the energy level at practice. Loud music blasts through the speakers while the team is changing drills and the defensive staff is much more animated.
“Just when he steps in, he has high, high energy,” cornerback Jason Marshall said on what Austin Armstrong is like at practice. “Bouncing off the walls, you can see him running from this sideline to the other sideline.”
“Definitely his energy stands out,” cornerback Devin Moore said on Armstrong. “Just coming into the meeting, he’s got music playing and everybody’s turnt up. Also, we all shake each other’s hand. Then we lock in and it’s time to go. He likes to play deny the ball defense, so it’s a lot of press man and things of that nature. And just making it hard for the offense to run any third downs or any down on the field really.”
Armstrong has preached aggressiveness and getting after the ball carrier since arriving in Gainesville, an area the Gators have been lacking in for the past few years.
“I would say just being aggressive and running to that ball,” cornerback Jaydon Hill said on the biggest difference in the defense. “That’s probably the most intimidating thing. All 11 to the ball at one time is like — it’s a scary sight. Everybody is just celebrating together after a play.”
Armstrong’s high energy defense will look to make a positive impact on the Florida Gators during the 2023 season.