Freshman Leonard Floyd making mark at UGA

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It's been a nice three days for Georgia outside linebacker Leonard Floyd.

After making four tackles and a tackle for loss in Wednesday night's scrimmage, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound freshman drew praise Thursday from defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. Friday, the praise came from head coach Mark Richt, and it occurred without prompting after practice.

"Leonard Floyd just practices so hard and is relentless," Richt said. "His head is still spinning while he is learning, but he has really impressed me with how hard he practices on a daily basis. He is going to get better and better because of it.

"He has been standing out to me for a while."

Floyd was Rivals.com's No. 13 weakside defensive end nationally in the 2012 signing class but failed to qualify academically and spent last season at Hargrave (Va.) Military. His first camp in Athens was sidetracked by a broken left hand during the fifth workout, but he returned within 10 days and performed well Wednesday with his hand in a club.

Sophomore James DeLoach, who had six tackles and a sack during the G-Day spring game, is the projected starter at strongside linebacker, but Floyd is expected to get some significant time as well.

"We're always going to play guys who produce," Grantham told reporters Thursday, "so if you make plays in scrimmages, you're going to end up playing. I think Leonard has shown flashes of being a playmaker. I think James has the ability to do those things, too.

"There is nothing wrong with having more than one."

Remember Bowman?

Redshirt sophomore cornerback and former Ridgeland High standout Devin Bowman has not received the same amount of kudos this month when compared to starters Damian Swann and Sheldon Dawson or even newcomers Shaq Wiggins, Brendan Langley and Kennar Johnson. Bowman played in 13 games last season and made one start.

Coaches denied a Times Free Press interview request for Bowman on Friday night, which is the first time that has occurred since he enrolled in 2011.

Odds and ends

The Bulldogs worked out for 90 minutes in full pads Friday and will hold a quick practice today in full pads before Picture Day festivities. ... Richt said Friday that freshman Reggie Carter would be the backup at either inside linebacker spot behind Amarlo Herrera and Ramik Wilson. ... Left tackle Kenarious Gates has a neck strain, but Richt said it is not serious. ... Richt said he did not know when junior safety Corey Moore (knee sprain) would return to practice.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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