One of the most talented sophomores in college football has established himself as a potential early-entry candidate for the NFL draft in Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd.
"I'm always open to it," the Bulldogs pass rusher told si.com.
Floyd added that Georgia's coaches and his mother would be involved in his decision of whether to turn pro early after the season.
College Football 24/7 detailed Floyd's rise to prominence in his second year at UGA, after spending a season at Hargrave Military Academy in 2012. He was also one of CFB 24/7's picks for a breakout season in the SEC. Because he will be three years removed from high school after this year, Floyd would be draft eligible if he declared. After this year, he has as many as two more years of NCAA eligibility at Georgia.
One scouting source compared the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Floyd to the Cleveland Browns' Barkevious Mingo (6-5, 240), who was the sixth pick of the first round in 2012, saying: "He's thin and angular, and you wonder how well he can hold the point of attack on a running play right at him, but as a pass rusher, he's got a quick first step and quick hands and he is a handful."
Floyd recorded two sacks, a forced fumble and six quarterback hurries in UGA's season-opening win over Clemson, doing most of his damage in the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs pulled away, 45-21. He had 6.5 sacks last year as a freshman. New UGA defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt's scheme calls for a pass-rushing linebacker on nearly every down, which could give rise to an even more productive season for Floyd.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread.*
