Alabama Linebackers Coach Austin Armstrong Being Pursued by SEC Rival

Armstrong was officially added to the staff as the new inside linebackers coach on February 13.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It's only been nine days since Austin Armstrong was officially added to the Alabama football staff, but the former Southern Mississippi defensive coordinator is already being considered for a job elsewhere.

Specifically, he's reportedly being pursued by Florida. Former Crimson Tide assistant coach Billy Napier appears to be close to losing co-defensive coordinator Patrick Toney to the NFL. 

Patrick Toney, @GatorsFB's co-DC and play-caller last season, is in negotiations to join the NFL's Arizona Cardinals as a defensive assistant, sources tell ESPN, and Florida's Billy Napier is targeting newly hired @AlabamaFTBL assistant Austin Armstrong as Toney's replacement.

— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) February 22, 2023

Armstrong was hired as the new inside linebackers coach for Alabama after serving as the youngest defensive coordinator in the Football Bowl Subdivision at Southern Miss.

Last season, the Gators defense was among the bottom of the Southeastern Conference in points allowed, rushing yards allowed and passing yards allowed per game. 

With Toney heading elsewhere, Napier is looking for a replacement who might revitalize the defense.

The development is interesting on two fronts:

On one hand, Armstrong could potentially be a defensive coordinator in arguably the best conference in college football. He also would be joining a program that is kind of in a rebuild while competing in a division that's only getting tougher with the two-time reigning national champions along with revitalized former power in Tennessee.    

However, Armstrong was just hired less than two weeks ago. There is a chance he's barely unpacked, and another move might be too abrupt. There's also the fact that if there is a program where someone would choose to be a position coach over being a defensive coordinator, Alabama would be one of those programs.

Let's not forget that Alabama brought in one of the most talented recruiting classes ever, which any coach would be excited to get his hands on. 

How this story plays out is anyone's guess, but the idea of Armstrong abruptly leaving Alabama for Florida is one that can get fans talking.

Ironically, Napier himself once pulled a move like this as an assistant coach. He had been a Crimson Tide analyst when he followed Jim McElwain to Colorado State, and from there Jimbo Fisher hired him in January 2013 to be the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida State. However, roughly three weeks later Saban brought him back to Alabama to replace Mike Groh as the wide receivers coach.   

See also: Brandon Miller 'Not in any Type of Trouble' in Darius Miles Case

Nate Oats Releases a Statement Clarifying His Comments Related to The Darius Miles Case

If Nick Pringle Continues to Improve, He Could Be Alabama Basketball's X-Factor