GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) Florida has hired Austin Armstrong as its defensive coordinator, poaching a member of Nick Saban's Alabama staff after less than two months on the job.

The 29-year-old Armstrong replaces Patrick Toney, who left Gainesville after one subpar season to become a defensive assistant with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals.

Gators coach Billy Napier turned to Armstrong to fill the position, making him the youngest defensive coordinator in Power Five football. Armstrong, who spent the last two seasons as Southern Mississippi's defensive coordinator, was Napier's inside linebackers coach at Louisiana-Lafayette in 2020.