The defense for the Florida Gators has been inconsistent in the Billy Napier era.
Ahead of the 2023 season, Napier hired Armstrong to be the defensive coordinator. He was viewed as a wunderkind at just 28 years old when Napier hired him to take over for the departing Patrick Toney.
This offseason, Armstrong decided to leave the Gators for the Houston Cougars defensive coordinator position after veteran coach Ron Roberts was given playcalling duties. The defense took a step forward in the second half of the year, which was a major factor in the Gators’ eight wins.
Gators hire Jacksonville State assistant Vinnie Sunseri
To replace Armstrong, Napier didn’t have to travel too far over to the state of Alabama. Gators Online reported that they have hired Jacksonville State defensive coordinator Vinnie Sunseri to be their co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach.
Gators Online also initially reported Sunseri’s arrival in Gainesville on Thursday night and he interviewed with Napier on Friday. He’s had a meteoric rise in the coaching ranks after spending three seasons in the National Football League after being selected in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Since retiring from the NFL, Sunseri has been coaching since 2019 when he started as a graduate assistant for Alabama. He then spent four seasons with the New England Patriots before following now North Carolina defensive coordinator Steve Belichick to Washington in 2024.
Sunseri was hired to be the Jacksonville State defensive coordinator this offseason by new head coach Charles Kelly on January 2nd. It was a very intriguing move for the Gamecocks, as Sunseri is viewed as a very talented young football coach.
For the Gators, this is a great addition, especially with all the youth that got a lot of playing time this past season. He will be able to help nurture them and develop a secondary that was once considered DBU.
Having a great defense is going to be huge in lifting up DJ Lagway as he continues to grow as the Gators’ starting quarterback.
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