First-year defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt openly criticized the weight and condition in which he found his new players when he first worked with them during spring practice. The Bulldogs set about to address those concerns during the offseason and Pruitt pronounced himself pleased with the progress he has witnessed as preseason camp opens later this week.
“I think we’re heading in the right direction,” Pruitt said Wednesday. “We have a lot of guys who have changed their bodies over the summer, which is a positive. We have some guys put on some weight and some guys lose some weight. The big thing is their body composition, as far their percentage of body fat. I think a lot of guys did really well in that regard this summer.”
According to Georgia’s roster updated on the team’s website this week, linebacker Amarlo Herrera is downn 13 pounds to 231, defensive end Josh Dawson is down 11 to 266 and defensive tackle Toby Johnson is down to 306 from 312. It’s not reflected on the new roster, but Pruitt said outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins made one of the biggest transformations from 270 pounds to 250.
Others were asked to gain weight. Outside linebacker Leonard Floyd is up to 230 pounds after playing at 220 last season, safety Tramel Terry is up 14 pounds and now weighs 197 and noseguard Mike Thornton is up to 296 from 290.
“All the D-linemen, you look at them and they’re all moving around a lot better,” Pruitt said. “I’d say each one of them has lost at least 10 pounds, some of them a little bit more. Our linebackers, some of our defensive backs, some of those guys have really changed their bodies this summer. I think it’s been positive. I think they feel a little better and I think they’ve got a little more confidence in their ability to do some things. And I think they can sustain and practice a little harder for a longer time.”
Asked what he based his weight assessments on for his charges, Pruitt said he simply “knows what they’re supposed to look like.” Pruitt coached FSU’s defense last year, which finished among the Top 10 in the nation in total defense and won the national championship.
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