Georgia's Floyd adjusting to altered role

Friday, April 4, 2014

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Leonard Floyd excelled in the old Georgia defense and appears to be thriving in the new one as well.

Floyd finished last season with a flurry as an outside linebacker, collecting a sack and a forced fumble against Kentucky, six tackles against Georgia Tech and eight against Nebraska in the Gator Bowl. He was named to the Southeastern Conference all-freshman team and is being used under new coordinator Jeremy Pruitt as both a defensive end and a strongside linebacker.

"It's a harder role, because I'm in the trenches more and in a three-point stance more than I was last year," Floyd told reporters following Thursday's two-hour practice. "Yet I don't have to think as much. All I have to think about is rushing the quarterback."

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound sophomore from Eastman, Ga., was a pleasant surprise on a defense last season that endured its share of youthful miscues. He started eight of the 13 games and racked up 55 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

Floyd has received praise throughout this spring and had four tackles in last Saturday's scrimmage.

"I have high expectations to be the best at my position," Floyd said. "If you're not competing, then it's the next man up."

So far, so Gurley

Bulldogs offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said before spring practice that he wanted soft-spoken junior tailback Todd Gurley to lead by example. Nine practices in, Bobo is liking what he's seeing.

"Todd has done a good job," Bobo said. "He's been practicing like a great player should. He did a nice job today, breaking a long run at the end of practice. When he practices hard, it does a lot for our football team.

"It shows leadership, and he's been doing a really good job of that in the first nine practices."

Bostick leaving

Redshirt freshman linebacker Paris Bostick has decided to transfer, head coach Mark Richt announced Thursday.

"After discussing the situation with Paris, we mutually agreed this is a good decision," Richt said in a released statement. "He has a positive future in football, and we wish him all the best in attaining his goals in football and in education."

The 6-1, 217-pound former safety prospect from Tampa redshirted last season after toe surgery in the summer. He had been limited to running this spring due to a hyperextended knee.

Following Thursday's practice, Pruitt told reporters that Bostick's departure was about playing time.

Odds and ends

The Bulldogs will practice again Saturday morning, when they scrimmage for a second time. ... Bobo reiterated what Richt said last weekend in that Hutson Mason is the clear-cut starting quarterback and the others are battling behind him. ... Pruitt said there is no depth chart right now on defense.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.