Mark Richt has not lost his fastball. Not even 48 hours after losing defensive coordinator Todd Grantham to Louisville, Richt has hired white-hot defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt away from Florida State, multiple outlets reported Tuesday afternoon.
One season removed from coaching defensive backs at Alabama, Pruitt is fresh off a Broyles Award nomination, a FootballScoop Defensive Backs Coach of the Year win and, obviously and most importantly, a national championship.
A longtime Alabama high school coach, Pruitt got his first full-time job in college football as Alabama's director of player development in 2007. He has a personal record of 82-13 with three national championships in seven seasons.
This is a massive hire for Richt in every sense of the word. After falling back to 8-5 this season following a 22-6 run from 2011-12, the top 'Dog will reinvigorate his program with one of the hottest and most respected names in the Southeast - and all of college football. Pruitt was named the National Recruiter of the Year in 2012 by 247Sports.
As for Florida State? The Seminoles should be fine. Jimbo Fisher has quickly turned Tallahassee into Fort Knox for defensive football talent, and has a proven his eye for coaching talent is as sharp as anyone in this business.