Georgia's hiring of defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt moved the Bulldogs up to No. 8 in ESPN.com's "Way-Too-Early Preseason Top 25."
It's the second edition of the rankings for ESPN, which made adjustments based on coaching changes and underclassmen delaring for the NFL. Georgia was No. 11 in the first rankings.
Two SEC West teams are above the Bulldogs in the newest rankings: No. 3 Auburn and No. 4 Alabama. LSU slipped from No. 10 to No. 12 in the rankings as the Tigers’ exodus of underclassmen to the NFL continued.
Here’s ESPN’s take on Georgia:
After the Bulldogs suffered myriad injuries and limped through an 8-5 campaign in 2013, they might be poised to become one of the country's most improved teams this coming season. Bulldogs coach Mark Richt pulled off a major coup by luring Pruitt to Athens. Pruitt replaces former UGA defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who left for Louisville, and inherits a defense that might bring back 10 starters. The Bulldogs will have to replace three starting offensive linemen and record-setting quarterback Aaron Murray. But rising senior Hutson Mason played pretty well in the last two games of 2013, after Murray suffered a season-ending knee injury. UGA's offense might be even more explosive after getting back injured receivers Malcolm Mitchell and Justin Scott-Wesley and tailback Keith Marshall. Rising junior tailback Todd Gurley also is coming back after running for 989 yards with 10 touchdowns, while playing much of this past season with a high ankle sprain
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