Tag: Patrick Toney

Going over Florida DC Austin Armstrong’s contract details

Florida brought in a young, new defensive coordinator after Patrick Toney left for the NFL. Here’s how much Austin Armstrong will be paid.

Billy Napier brought in [autotag]Austin Armstrong[/autotag] to fill the defensive coordinator spot left vacant by [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag], who is now working in the NFL. Armstrong is one of the nation’s youngest defensive coordinators but he doesn’t come cheap.

According to a report from All Gators, Armstrong is set to receive $1,100,000 in his first year at Florida and receive increases of $100,000 in each of the following two seasons. That puts the total value at $3,600,000 over three years.

Armstrong was initially going to serve as Alabama‘s inside linebackers coach this season after two years as Southern Mississippi’s defensive coordinator, but getting the chance to call defensive plays in the SEC is too good to pass up. The money is right, too.

The AllGators report also included the salaries of two new position coaches, tight ends coach [autotag]Russ Callaway[/autotag] and wide receivers coach [autotag]Billy Gonzalez[/autotag]. Callaway is earning $300,000 after moving from his analyst role, and Gonzalez is getting $500,000. Both are on two-year deals through the end of January 2025.

Napier has $7,500,000 to work with for the on-field staff and another $5,000,000 for off-field assistants.

Additionally, a trio of basketball assistants is making a combined $1,120,000. Carlin Hartman, who has a been a key recruiter for the staff on several big-name targets, leads the way with a $565,000 salary, and Korey Gray and Kevin Hovde bring in a reported $365,000 and $190,000, respectively.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1368]

[mm-video type=video id=01gxxeqq2vhjmccteth4 playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gxxeqq2vhjmccteth4/01gxxeqq2vhjmccteth4-2346b84476bb420195db0f813431176e.jpg]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This 4-star safety sets return visit date to Florida in April

After getting a Junior Day offer from Florida, this stand-out safety looks to return to campus next month.

College football recruiting action has heated up in March following the end of the previous dead period and the Florida Gators have put the pedal to the metal in their efforts to field a winning team in the Swamp. Now that the floodgates are open, [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and his staff are working tirelessly while the iron is still hot.

While this month’s schedule is packed to the brim with visitors, those numbers also spill over into April when the Orange and Blue are slated to get four-star safety [autotag]Travaris Banks[/autotag] back on campus. The 6-foot-1-inch, 190-pound defensive back told Swamp247 on Friday that he plans on returning to Gainesville on April 8 after making a stop making a stop back in January.

Following Banks’ Junior Day visit that ended with him receiving a scholarship offer, the high school junior noted that Florida was among his top three schools so far.

“I would say they are one of my top schools,” he told 247Sports. “I would say them (Florida), Florida State, Tennessee are doing a good job with me.

“I liked the environment, the new facility they had, and they went through a lot of things with me. I got to see a demonstration of how things go in their weight room and how they do their meal prep for their players. I got to watch some film of how they do their practices and got to tour places where they do their academics and schoolwork too.”

Former safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] had previously led the charge for the young man’s talents, but now that he has departed for the NFL, assistant head coach and secondary coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] is presumed in charge of his recruitment. The visit in April will give him a chance to acclimate with Raymond as well as new defensive coordinator [autotag]Austin Armstrong[/autotag].

Banks is ranked No. 126 overall and No. 9 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking also has him at Nos. 121 and 12, respectively. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine currently has the Alabama Crimson Tide ahead of the pack for the defensive back’s talents with a 30.3% chance of signing him, while the Ole Miss Rebels, Florida State Seminoles and Auburn Tigers follow behind at 20.1%, 17.2% and 9.7%, respectively.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1368]

[mm-video type=video id=01gv1faq9apf1m96g59b playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gv1faq9apf1m96g59b/01gv1faq9apf1m96g59b-e6b296b0440225d1cbb68929658c50fe.jpg]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Florida football legacy linebacker sets March return visit date

Here’s when Myles Graham plans on making his next stop in Gainesville.

College football recruiting season is back in full swing which is great news for the Gator Nation as [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. look to build on a disappointing debut campaign. Mostly hamstrung by the roster left in the cupboard by departing head coach [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag] in 2022, the new administration is laser-focused on bringing top talent to Gainesville in an attempt to restore the Swamp as a top destination for aspiring gridiron warriors.

While a lion’s share of this month’s visitors are high school prospects who have yet to make verbal commitments with their preferred programs, one 2023 recruit has already given his word to Florida and is planning another trip to Gainesville. Four-star linebacker [autotag]Myles Graham[/autotag], who is the son of Gator great running back [autotag]Earnest Graham[/autotag], is set to return on March 11 to watch some spring practices while also getting some additional time around the coaching staff, according to Swamp247.

Insider linebackers coach [autotag]Jay Bateman[/autotag] has been at the forefront of the legacy athlete’s recruitment. While the loss of former co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] to the NFL shook things up a bit, his connection with Bateman remains strong.

“He’s a great coach, and a really constructive coach,” he previously told 247Sports of Bateman. “I love the way he coaches and he’s a great recruiter as well. He didn’t just recruit me, he made sure he was like another role model for me in my life. He’s a great dude and a great man.”

The 6-foot-1-inch, 212-pound defender has made plenty of previous stops on campus, including a recent one back on Jan. 21.

Graham is ranked No. 43 overall and No. 4 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 42 and 5, respectively.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1368]

[mm-video type=video id=01gtm1kn0wa18y3gatht playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gtm1kn0wa18y3gatht/01gtm1kn0wa18y3gatht-88879a64e8a2bd829f05d6cf8bb07a5a.jpg]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Gators getting this 2025 EDGE on campus this weekend

The Gators are hosting this promising young prospect this weekend.

Things are starting to heat up in Gainesville and it is not entirely due to the changing of the seasons. Rather, the month of March represents a return to the college football recruiting grind as [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and the Gators get set to host a flurry of talented young prospects on campus now that the dead period has expired.

One of several high school prospects set to visit the Swamp on the opening weekend according to Swamp247 is Highland Home (Alabama) edge rusher [autotag]JaKaleb Faulk[/autotag], who will be making his third visit to Hogtown this time around. The 6-foot-2-inch, 200-pound defensive lineman received an offer from the Gators last summer while on campus with his older brother [autotag]Keldric Faulk[/autotag] for his official visit and followed up with a game-day visit in November.

Outside linebackers coach [autotag]Mike Peterson[/autotag] and off-field assistant [autotag]Jamar Chaney[/autotag] have the most time into Faulk’s recruitment, with former defensive coordinator [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] also involved before his departure to the NFL.

The high school sophomore already made a stop with the Auburn Tigers on Wednesday to open up his spring visit schedule, with the Georgia Bulldogs and Tennessee Volunteers also on his itinerary.

Neither 247Sports nor On3 currently have ratings or rankings for Faulk. However, On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has Florida out front for his talents with a 35.6% chance of signing him. The Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Bulldogs and Ole Miss Rebels follow behind at 21.1%, 9.5% and 7.9%, respectively.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1368]

[mm-video type=video id=01gtm1kn0wa18y3gatht playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gtm1kn0wa18y3gatht/01gtm1kn0wa18y3gatht-88879a64e8a2bd829f05d6cf8bb07a5a.jpg]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Corey Raymond coaching entire Florida defensive back corps in 2023

Cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond is stepping into a larger role in 2023 and coaching the entire Florida secondary.

Following the departure of former Florida safeties coach and defensive coordinator [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag], cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] is getting a promotion of sorts.

Raymond will coach the entire Florida secondary in 2023, according to a Gators Online report. The Gators have reportedly landed on former Southern Miss defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong to take over Toney’s playcalling role, but it’s Raymond who will take over the safeties room – a room that he helped build.

Several of Florida’s biggest signings in the Billy Napier era have seen Raymond as the lead recruiter, including five-star IMG Academy safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] and incoming freshman four-star safety [autotag]Dijon Johnson[/autotag]. He knows the position room well and should manage the increased workload just fine. Raymond is considered among the nation’s elite position coaches and has a knack for developing NFL talent.

It won’t be easy for Raymond in Year 1, though. He has to replace both Trey Dean III and Rashad Torrence II’s production next season. Losing two starters is always tough, but Florida also lost some depth to the transfer portal. Wilson is ready to step into a starting role, but Raymond might have to lean on some of Florida’s young talent this season.

Napier could add someone to help Raymond before finalizing his staff, but this move seems like it addresses the team’s needs.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1368]

[mm-video type=video id=01gse5agk1vyyxhvp4h1 playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gse5agk1vyyxhvp4h1/01gse5agk1vyyxhvp4h1-2c138d7bb2195f064f6a8b073f8e58c5.jpg]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Cardinals landing 2 coaches from Florida to add to defensive staff

Florida co-defensive coordinator Patrick Toney will coach safeties for the Cardinals.

The Arizona Cardinals are continuing to fill out their coaching staff under new head coach Jonathan Gannon. Their latest defensive additions come from the college ranks.

They are adding Florida co-defensive coordinator Patrick Toney and tight ends coach William Peagler to their defensive staff, according to ESPN’s Chris Low and Adam Rittenberg.

Peagler will be on the defensive staff and Toney will be coaching safeties.

Toney was the defensive playcaller for the Gators last season.

The 32-year-old coach has been in the college coaching ranks since 2012.

Now he will be the position coach for Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson.

Peagler has been coaching in college since 2006.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbw7fa4ahbvdd03 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Gators tight ends coach William Peagler also headed to NFL

In addition to defensive coordinator Patrick Toney, Florida is losing tight ends coach William Peagler to the NFL.

After news broke that Florida would be losing its defensive coordinator, [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag], to the NFL, word came in that he wouldn’t be the only Gators coach poached by the Arizona Cardinals.

On3’s Matt Zenitz is reporting that Florida tight ends coach [autotag]William Peagler[/autotag] is also making the move from [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s staff to work under Jonathan Gannon in the pros. Peagler spent just one year with the program after spending time at Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana and Michigan State.

Peagler worked his way up the coaching ladder quickly and found himself as one of the premiere assistants in the game while at Michigan State. He helped developed second-round pick Kenneth Walker III while with the Spartans, but Peageler faced a much more challenging task at Florida.

When he got to UF, the Gators had just lost [autotag]Kemore Gamble[/autotag] to the transfer portal and had just one active scholarship tight end on the roster, [autotag]Keon Zipperer[/autotag]. A couple of injuries forced defensive players to switch positions, including [autotag]Dante Zanders[/autotag] who ended up getting some playing time for Florida at tight end.

The position group never truly shined throughout 2022, but Zipperer, Zanders and [autotag]Jonathan Odom[/autotag] are all returning in 2023. Redshirt freshmen [autotag]Arlis Boardingham[/autotag], [autotag]Hayden Hansen[/autotag] and [autotag]Andrew Savaiinaea[/autotag] will also be in the position room under the new coach.

Florida has until March 4 to hire a tight ends coach before the start of spring camp.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1368]

[mm-video type=video id=01gse5agk1vyyxhvp4h1 playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gse5agk1vyyxhvp4h1/01gse5agk1vyyxhvp4h1-2c138d7bb2195f064f6a8b073f8e58c5.jpg]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Florida expected to bring in new DC from Alabama

After losing Patrick Toney to the NFL, Florida has likely found its new defensive coordinator, former Southern Miss DC Austin Armstrong.

Florida is expected to bring in Alabama inside linebackers coach Austin Armstrong as the replacement for former defensive coordinator Patrick Toney, who recently accepted a job with the Arizona Cardinals, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz.

Armstrong never really got settled in his new role with the Crimson Tide after officially joining the program just nine days ago. Nick Saban brought him in after an impressive run as the defensive coordinator for Southern Miss for the past two years. The Golden Eagles ranked third nationally in tackles for loss and were fifth in sacks last season. Perhaps even more impressive, Armstrong was the youngest defensive coordinator in FBS when he was hired.

While Napier can’t officially comment on the hire until it’s public, he did speak in general terms with Gators Online on Wednesday.

“You know, one of the things we’ve been able to do is hire good people, and hopefully we can continue that trend,” Napier said. “I think if you looked at who’s worked for us in the past, they’re spread out and they’re all over. So, this is another example.”

Armstrong and head coach Billy Napier have some history together. He worked under Napier in 2018 and 2020 at Louisiana-Lafayette. He also has some knowledge on how Florida’s biggest foe operates after spending a season working under Kirby Smart at Georgia in 2019.

It’s safe to say that Armstrong is a rising star in the college football coaching ranks, but he’ll be put under a spotlight now that he’s at Florida. The Gators can’t afford to regress on defense next year. At least, Napier said that the new hire should be in town before the start of spring camp.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1368]

[mm-video type=video id=01gse5agk1vyyxhvp4h1 playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gse5agk1vyyxhvp4h1/01gse5agk1vyyxhvp4h1-2c138d7bb2195f064f6a8b073f8e58c5.jpg]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Florida loses defensive coordinator Patrick Toney to NFL

Florida has to replace its defensive coordinator just two weeks out from spring practices following Patrick Toney’s departure.

Florida is losing defensive coordinator [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] to the NFL just two weeks before spring practices begin, according to ESPN’s Chris Low and multiple other sources.

Toney is set to join the Arizona Cardinals as a defensive assistant, and Florida is bringing Alabama assistant [autotag]Austin Armstrong[/autotag] as a replacement just nine days after he agreed to become the Crimson Tide’s inside linebackers coach, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz.

The timing might be the worst part about Toney’s departure. Florida wasn’t necessarily elite on defense last season, but Year 2 in a new system should have produced better results. Instead, returning players will be learning their second or third new playbook in as many years. It also leaves [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] without a clear direction on defense two weeks before spring camp starts.

Toney received praise from fellow coaches and players alike, but Florida’s 2022 defense wasn’t too much better than its 2021 defense, which was historically bad. With several new starters set to take over in 2023, many of which were recruited by Toney, the expectation was for the defense to take a step forward with him at the helm. Now, those players will have to adjust to a new play caller next year.

There’s also the question of what happens with the recruits he was taking the lead on. The scheme shouldn’t change too much, but some kids get attached to a recruiter and back off a school if they leave. Florida’s been talking to a lot of safeties from the class of 2024 and 2025, so it’ll be interesting to see how strong those relationships stay without Toney in Gainesville. Of course, Florida needs to find a new safeties coach as well.

There’s no bad blood between Napier and Toney, though. He spoke to Gators Online about the departure and had only positives to say about his long-time assistant and coordinator.

“He’s been a pivotal piece of our success,” Napier said. “Can’t say enough about what the guy brought to our organization and our teams. Just a very relentless worker and learner, very selfless. I’m just really happy for him. Ever since I met the guy, he’s wanted to go to the NFL.”

The future is still bright for Toney, but Florida’s defense has a few question marks surrounding it.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1368]

[mm-video type=video id=01gse5agk1vyyxhvp4h1 playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gse5agk1vyyxhvp4h1/01gse5agk1vyyxhvp4h1-2c138d7bb2195f064f6a8b073f8e58c5.jpg]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Top 2024 safety planning first-ever visit to Gainesville

The Gators Texas inroads continue, with a top 2024 safety prospect from McKinney expected to make his first visit to Gainesville in the month of March.

The Florida Gators are looking to add more talent to their 2024 recruiting class, with a top defensive back telling 247Sports that he is “zeroing in” on taking his first-ever visit to Gainesville.

[autotag]Xavier Filsaime[/autotag], a four-star safety prospect out of McKinney, Texas, recently talked to 247Sports’ Blake Alderman. In his conversation, Filsaime talks about the offer he received from the Orange and Blue last month and mentions how he would like to visit the Gators’ campus in the near future.

The Gators seem to have made some serious inroads with top 2024 prospects from the state of Texas. The crown jewel of the class is [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag] who according to the 247Sports consensus is a five-star prospect and the No. 3 QB in the 2024 class. He committed to the Orange and Blue last year and has been very vocal about recruiting other top players in the class to join him in Gainesville.

With the recruiting “dead period” to be lifted at the end of February, Filsaime is hoping he can make his first visit to campus in March. Once there, he is expected to spend time with co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag], the man who is spearheading his recruitment. The March visit will be unofficial, but Florida is hoping that he will return over the summer for an official visit.

According to 247Sports composite, Filsaime is considered the No. 57 overall prospect in the 2024 class. In addition to the Gators, he holds offers from other top programs such as Georgia, Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame and Oklahoma, among others.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1368]

[mm-video type=video id=01gsqkrhtvwsf1qtqr39 playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gsqkrhtvwsf1qtqr39/01gsqkrhtvwsf1qtqr39-1f1da82d617ddce3b17ff8a41559cd0b.jpg]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.