Georgia defense begins to move on without Jeremy Pruitt leading the way

ATHENS -- Life without Jeremy Pruitt has begun for Georgia's defense.

And it was tough for some of the players Pruitt recruited, especially considering the fact that the defense made plenty of strides statistically under his watch.

Georgia finished the 2015 regular season ranked eighth in total defense at 298 yards per game. Compare that to the 375.5 yards per game Georgia allowed in Todd Grantham's final season, and the improvements on the defensive side of the ball are apparent.

When Pruitt told the defensive backs last week that he was leaving to take the defensive coordinator position at Alabama, it upset those who grew close to him during his two years at Georgia.

"Disappointment. No anger," sophomore safety Dominick Sanders said. "A lot of people were down. In my head, I'm thinking, 'I really have to continue doing what I have to do.' He's one heck of a coach. He's the reason I came here, the reason I had a chance to play at Georgia."

According to a source and confirmed by Sanders, Pruitt told the players he wanted to stay at Georgia but that he wasn't going to be retained by new head coach Kirby Smart. Players weren't receptive to the news when Pruitt revealed it but since have moved on.

Sanders said he's excited to see what brand of football Smart will bring to the program and that he believes there will still be plenty of energy. Sanders also said that at this time, he's not expecting any of his teammates to transfer.

Of course that could change between the time the TaxSlayer Bowl ends and Georgia's offseason program begins.

Senior outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins, who was recruited by Grantham and saw him take the same position at Louisville after the 2013 season, said he understands what the younger players attached to Pruitt are going through.

"There were a lot of young guys where Coach Pruitt was their guy, he was their guy, and he expected them to stay," Jenkins said. "I guess they may feel emotional about it. It's definitely a learning experience and something that will mature those guys as well."

Sanders said the defensive backs, who Pruitt was responsible for in addition to his job as a defensive coordinator, were hit hard by the news of his departure. Up until the end, they were hopeful Pruitt would be able to stick around on the new staff.

"I know it's all business, but being in that atmosphere with him was a blessing," Sanders said. "I know there are a lot of things I took on just by him leading. It's hard right now but at the same time, we still have to do what we have to do to prepare for Penn State and get ready for Coach Smart."

Smart has yet to hire a defensive coordinator at Georgia, and a timetable for such a move hasn't been established. Smart is back at Alabama finishing his time as the Crimson Tide's defensive coordinator in this year's College Football Playoff. For now, he's pulling double duty as Georgia's head coach and as an Alabama assistant.

As Sanders waits on his new defensive coordinator, he was able to reflect on what he learned from his previous coach.

"He was hard on you all the time, making sure you're standing up as a man, making sure you're handling issues as a man and what you have to do to succeed in life -- not just football," Sanders said. "That really stood out to me."

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 5:45 PM with the headline "Georgia defense begins to move on without Jeremy Pruitt leading the way ."