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FSU Turns To Tide For New Defensive Coordinator

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) – Florida State University head coach Jimbo Fisher decided if he had to replace his defensive coordinator, he may as well pull from the best defense in the country at the University of Alabama.

Alabama secondary coach Jeremy Pruitt was hired Thursday to replace Mark Stoops, who left FSU to take the head coaching job at the University of Kentucky.

Pruitt is a tireless recruiter and helped build defensive backfields in Tuscaloosa that are second-to-none. Over the past three seasons, all of Alabama's defensive backfields have been ranked in the top 15 in pass defense.

This year, the Crimson Tide was ranked sixth in pass defense, allowing just 166.23 yards per game during the regular season.

Pruitt is also from the Nick Saban coaching tree, just like head coach Jimbo Fisher, who was Saban's offensive coordinator at LSU.

Pruitt will be only the third person to serve as defensive coordinator at Florida State in the last 28 years, following Stoops and Mickey Andrews.

(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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