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Ranking the top ten defensive coaches in college football

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Apr 18, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Kirby Smart talks to linebacker Walker Jones (35) during the A-day game at Bryant Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Kirby Smart talks to linebacker Walker Jones (35) during the A-day game at Bryant Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt yells out from the sidelines during the second quarter against the Louisville Cardinals in the Belk Bowl held at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt yells out from the sidelines during the second quarter against the Louisville Cardinals in the Belk Bowl held at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

Georgia head football coach Mark Richt found himself in an odd position after the 2013 season. Unpopular Bulldogs defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was offered roughly $1 million to become the new DC at Louisville, and Richt was able to hire away Jeremy Pruitt from Florida State, who had just led the Seminoles to a national No. 1 ranking in total defense (12.1 points per game), and top-three spots in team efficiency defense (93.77, second) and total defense (281.4 yards per game, third). Of course, he also helped the Seminoles capture the BCS National Championship.

In the two years prior to that, Pruitt won national titles with Alabama as the defensive backs coach for the Crimson Tide under head coach Nick Saban and DC Kirby Smart. He joined the Alabama staff in 2007 in an off the field role after coaching at national powerhouse Hoover High School.

Pruitt employs multiple fronts, often shifting between three and four down linemen. It worked well as Pruitt’s first Georgia defense allowed 337.2 yards per game, which ranked sixth in the SEC and 17th nationally. Most importantly, the Bulldogs cut their points per game average from 29 in 2013 to 20.7 last year, which ranked 16th in the country. Georgia also ranked in the nation’s top 20 with 29 turnovers.

Just 40 years old, Pruitt has quickly moved up the ranks from high school assistant (though his first college job came as the DB coach at West Alabama in 1999) to national champion as a college assistant and coordinator. Expect Pruitt to be the head coach of a Power Five school at some point in the next five years – perhaps even at Georgia should Richt retire in the next few years.

Next: 9. Dave Aranda

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