ESPN.com - Snapshot: OLB Leonard Floyd

ESPN.com: Georgia Bulldogs

Monday, December 17, 2012
Snapshot: OLB Leonard Floyd

By Radi Nabulsi

To gear up for 2013 national signing day, DawgNation's Radi Nabulsi is breaking down every commitment in the Bulldogs' 2013 recruiting class.

Vitals: Outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, Eastman, Ga./Hargrave Military | 6-foot-4, 220 pounds

Committed: April 28, 2012

ESPN.com grade: Four-star prospect.

Picked Georgia over: Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, Purdue, Mississippi State and others.

State of the position: All-American Jarvis Jones is expected to head to the NFL instead of returning for his senior year. Cornelius Washington graduated Friday. Chase Vasser is rehabbing his left shoulder after surgery to repair a torn labrum. Freshman Jordan Jenkins started six games this season and is expected to hold onto one of the starting spots next year. The other spot could go to Vasser or rising sophomores Josh Dawson or James DeLoach, both of whom saw a good bit of action as freshmen. Speedy junior T.J. Stripling will try to live up the potential he displayed his freshman year before suffering a knee injury.

Pros: “Floyd is a pretty versatile football player and could project to a trio of positions at the college level. He has good height and while he still needs to add more size and improve overall strength he has good length and looks to be fairly well put-together. He is a bit straight-lined and needs to build speed, but has long strides and can cover ground. ” -- ESPN scouting report

Cons: “He does need to improve strength and generate more power when engaging blockers to help him hold his ground and not just get hands on and catch blockers as he can at times. He can run and be a factor in pursuit, but displays a little more than adequate ability to quickly change directions.” -- ESPN scouting report

Similar to/potential role: Vasser. Floyd could duplicate Vasser’s role on defense, providing containment and the occasional pass rush.

Expected impact: 2014. Floyd is raw talent and needs a year to fill out and develop before he will be an impact player. He could easily see playing time on special teams as his natural athleticism will be an asset on kick coverage and punt coverage. Floyd is thin but quickly adding muscle onto his 6-foot-4 frame. A year of tutelage from Todd Grantham could see Floyd with an arsenal full of moves that make him into a serious pass rusher.