UGA names Jeremy Pruitt as next DC

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Florida State defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt will leave the Seminoles to take the same position at Georgia, the school announced Tuesday afternoon.

"This is an outstanding professional and personal opportunity," said Pruitt in the schools' release. "I'm looking forward to meeting the current players and getting on the road to visit with recruits."

Pruitt spent one year in Tallahassee, arriving after Mark Stoops left to become head coach at Kentucky. He served as defensive backs coach at Alabama from 2010-12, but Florida State was his first job as a defensive coordinator at the college level.

FSU led the country in scoring defense in 2013, allowing just 12.1 points per game on the way to the national championship. The Seminoles ranked first nationally in passing yards per game, 18th in rushing yards per game and were third in the country in total defense.

"I'm ecstatic," said Georgia head coach Mark Richt.

ESPN's Mark Schlabach reported Pruitt will be paid $850,000 annually at Georgia. His salary in 2013 at FSU was $500,000, but he was expected to receive a raise this offseason.

Florida State did not immediately name a successor to Pruitt, nor is there any indication whether FSU would pursue external candidates for the job or hire internally. Both defensive ends coach Sal Sunseri and linebackers/special teams coach Charles Kelly have experience as defensive coordinators in their careers.

Pruitt had been director of player development at Alabama from 2007-09. He was defensive coordinator at Hoover High School in Alabama from 2005-06 before joining the Crimson Tide.

Pruitt's hire puts pressure on FSU with the end of the recruiting dead period on Wednesday. National Signing Day is three weeks away on Feb. 5. Pruitt was instrumental in bringing together FSU's 2013 signing class, acting as a major influence on players like Jalen Ramsey, Nate Andrews and Demarcus Walker among others. FSU currently has the No. 4-ranked recruiting class behind Alabama, Ohio State and Tennessee.