Leonard Floyd Declares for NFL Draft Amidst Richt News
Star linebacker Leonard Floyd declared for the NFL Draft Sunday after hearing of the decision to let Georgia football head coach Mark Richt go.
Related: Georgia Football Coaching Rumors
The untraditional ways of the 21st Century have struck again. Information is disseminated at a rapid pace, and breaking news is 100 percent breaking news. Finding out about a recruits college decision or a player’s declaration to the NFL Draft can be found on the web less than five minutes (or less) after it happens.
Junior linebacker Leonard Floyd, one of the best defensive players in the country, declared for the NFL draft Sunday quickly after finding out head coach Mark Richt was not coming back next year. His method of choice to tell this life-changing news: Twitter.
I'm leaving
— L8F4➰➰ (@Leonard90Flo) November 30, 2015
Coach Richt probably was the only one that could of convinced me to stay just a sad day for me as a Dawg
— L8F4➰➰ (@Leonard90Flo) November 30, 2015
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This news is not shocking to the Dawg Nation considering he should be a first round draft selection. The shocking part is his reaction to the firing of the head coach. Floyd gives some inkling that he may have stuck around for his final year in Athens had Richt still been the coach.
Regardless, a school should never make a coaching decision based on the status of an incoming recruit or a current player. Still, it begs the question of should Georgia given Richt one more year?
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According to Rob Rang of CBS Sports, Floyd projects as the 21st overall prospect and the third best linebacker in the draft. His pass-rushing ability at outside linebacker mixed with his 6’3’’, 232-pound frame make him a threat on the edge and in coverage.
In his three years in Athens, he totaled 176 tackles, 17 sacks, and 26.5 tackles for loss. He was named to the Freshman All-SEC Team in 2013, an honorable mention All-SEC selection in 2014 and is a finalist for the Butkus Award this year given to the nation’s top linebacker.