PHOTO: USA Today Sports
In early December, Mark Richt said there would be no changes to his defensive staff this off-season. Over the last 48 hours, that has changed quite a bit. On Sunday, Louisville reached into their magic piggy bank and made then Georgia Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham an offer he couldn't refuse. How did Richt respond? He went out and got a replacement fresh off of a National Championship win.
Pruitt comes to Georgia after one year on the job at FSU as their Defensive Coordinator. At FSU he inherited a ton of talent and he put it to full use. Pruitt's Seminoles defense led the Nation in points allowed (12.1 ppg) and were third in the Nation in yards allowed. Prior to FSU, Pruitt served under Nick Saban at Alabama as "Director of Player Development" and then as Defensive Backs coach. As a part of the coaching staff at Alabama and then FSU, Pruitt has helped those schools win three straight National Championships. No matter how you slice it, that's impressive.
One big reason Pruitt may have made the jump, other than getting more money, is that Georgia's offensive line coach, Will Friend, was his roommate in college. Friend probably had a hand in "recruiting" Pruitt but another place Pruitt will pay dividends is on the recruiting trail as he was the #1 ranked recruiter over the last two years by 247 Sports.
The Georgia defense is not lacking in talent but under Todd Grantham they were lacking in discipline and direction. Pruitt certainly pushed all the right buttons at FSU and it will be interesting to see if he can do the same at Georgia and in the SEC as a Defensive Coordinator.
Here's what quote machine Mark Richt had to say about the hire: "I'm ecstatic". And so is the Georgia fanbase.
