Georgia football: 30 greatest players of the Mark Richt era

• 17.0 quarterback sacks
• 26.5 tackles for a loss of yardage
• 182 total tackles

While he may not have the accolades of other Georgia greats, it was an absolute pleasure to watch linebacker Leonard Floyd go to work in the Dawgs’ front-seven. He was both insanely productive and a pass-rushing freak. No wonder he was a top-10 pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Floyd’s path to Athens was an interesting one. While he starred on both sides of the ball at Dodge High School, Floyd would have to attend Hargrave Military Academy in 2012 before he could have the grades to suit up for the Dawgs.

But as a true freshman in 2013, Dawg Nation just knew that this guy was something special. He started in eight of 13 games for Georgia as a true freshman. Floyd had 55 total tackles, 9.5 for a loss of yardage, 6.5 quarterback sacks and two forced fumbles that fall.

That would be the standard for Floyd during his entire three-year stint in Athens. As a true sophomore in 2014, Floyd had again 55 total tackles, 8.5 for a loss of yardage and 6.0 quarterback sacks. He would also have three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

With 12.5 sacks as an underclassman, it was easy to see why many had Floyd was on many awards watch list entering his junior year in 2015. Georgia was formidable in the pass rush that fall with guys like Jordan Jenkins, Lorenzo Carter and Davin Bellamy also getting after the passer like Floyd.

However, 2015 would be a strange year for Floyd and the Dawgs to say the least. Floyd might have set a career high with 72 tackles, but only managed 4.5 sacks during what was his final year in school. Part of this had to do with him playing the linebacker/safety hybrid position of STAR due to his athleticism to aid in pass coverage. Part of this probably had to due with the Dawgs disappointing in October, which led to Mark Richt’s firing Thanksgiving Weekend.

After Richt was fired, Floyd announced that he would leave school a year early and enter the NFL Draft. It was the right move for him, as the Bears took him No. 9 overall in 2016. Overall, Floyd finished with 182 total tackles, 26.5 for a loss of yardage, 17.0 quarterback sacks, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Looking back on Floyd’s time with the Dawgs, it wasn’t about his on-field productivity as much as the fear he struck in SEC quarterbacks minds. Floyd almost always found a way into the backfield. This led to him either make plays for himself or set up his teammates to wreak havoc against the opposition.