After going 5-7 this season and finishing on a five-game losing streak, Florida coach Billy Napier has begun making some big staff changes. The Gators fired co-defensive coordinator/defensive-line coach Sean Spencer and secondary coach Corey Raymond, two of the most prominent members of his staff, program sources confirmed Monday.
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Florida ranked No. 122 in yards per play allowed under first-year defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong. The Gators’ pass defense also allowed 18 touchdowns and picked off just three passes. They were No. 12 in sacks with 22, 11th in tackles for loss with 39 and No. 11 in run defense.
The 54-year-old Raymond, who has been a long-time SEC coach, has a big reputation for recruiting and developing defensive backs. At LSU, he mentored seven first-team All-Americans, including Jamal Adams, Derek Stingley. Jr, Tre’Davious White and Eric Reed — all first-round picks as well as Tyrann Mathieu.
Spencer is a former NFL assistant with the New York Giants who had previously been at Penn State, among other programs. Napier is now 11-14 in his two seasons at Florida and 6-10 in SEC play.
(Photo: Stephen Lew / USA Today)
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