When Nakobe Dean was being recruited to @GeorgiaFootball, he met all sorts of important people. 21 overall, but if he does, Bill Belichick and Co. will need to strongly consider using their first-round selection on him. Dean could miss the entire 2022 season, but the risk was worth the reward for the Eagles. The day of the watch party, while Dean was busy with practice and film sessions, Neketta was cooking up her own plan, trying to figure out how they could squeeze every bit out of their resources. A number of athletes around the country have taken their NIL opportunities and flip them into impact beyond their own. He thrives off a regimented schedule and loves to learn. At 8 years old, he was already thinking in percentages. As the hum of machines settles into the backdrop of pipes and giant vats set the scene, Dean studies samples of biodegradable straws and asks one of the company's founders questions about the process. After all, the junior linebacker has a 3.5 GPA while majoring in mechanical engineering for a reason. His reward was the Butkus Award as the best linebacker in college football. "Some kids mature early and they're physically ready, but there's no way they can handle the playbook and the calls and all the things that are going on," Boyette says. Schumann returning to Georgia, Georgia's Nakobe Dean, Jordan Davis can transform Eagles' defense, Barnwell: Georgia just produced the most valuable college draft class ever. The 2021 Butkus Award winner, All-America first team linebacker, and captain of the AFCA Good Works Team now has a big NFL draft decision to make. Dean had a 3.5 GPA at Georgia in mechanical engineering, but he remains about two semesters shy of his degree, which he has said he intends to complete. . "Nakobe is 20 and has no kids," Neketta said. Dean stopped short of seeing how his studies in mechanical engineering may afford him unique insight into picking apart what opposing offenses are trying to do, but having such a demanding major has helped develop his mind to process so much information and manage everything that goes into staying on top of his game. Uiagalelei thanks God for challenges: Jesus put me in this position, Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba praises God after record-setting Rose Bowl, North Carolina QB Sam Howell declares for NFL draft: [Life is] about living for Jesus, Heisman finalist C.J. "Words can't describe how proud I am, just coming where I come from, growing up that's all we talked about, being able to make it out and then come back and give back to my community so I do look forward to going back whenever I can," he says. General Manager. Design/Web/Multimedia. Nakobe Dean has a 3.55 GPA in mechanical engineering at Georgia. LB Nakobe Dean Before he was drafted 83rd by the Eagles in the 2022 NFL Draft, Nakobe Dean was a student-athlete, maintaining both an impressive 3.55 GPA in mechanical engineering and a reputation as college football's best linebacker. Open up the Wikipedia page of his birth city Horn Lake and atop a seven-person list of 'notable people' is Nakobe Dean, recipient of the Butkus Award, which recognises the top linebacker in the nation, and College Football National Champion with Georgia. First-round defensive tackle Jordan Davis will wear No. It just symbolises the hard work I put in, but reminds me that it's not over, it's just getting started, I've got a lot more work to put in, the chip on my shoulder has done nothing but grow and I just got a lot of work to put in.". Within that, there would well be at least five first-rounders. This seeming omnipresence has been there from the beginning, and it's easy for Dean and those around him to draw a line from the way his brain works in the classroom to how it does on the field. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. It was kind of my thing. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. Instead, it was like a one-yard gain.. Yeah, I can sense hes all ball all the time, whether we are in a meeting or on the field, hes locked in, Sirianni said. The Georgia Bulldogs have been nothing short of magnificent on the defensive side of the ball this season. "Canned food drives, I've done about a thousand of them. Second-round center Cam Jurgens will wear No. He smiles. . I always had a little passion for it. Dean, who is a mechanical engineering major, slips on . Those who know Dean best expect him to do just that in the NFL. "All the physical things are on film, you can watch that and work me out. Mechanical engineering emerged as the winner. Theres still a chance I might pursue a pre-med [degree] depending on if I feel like doing chemistry and everything when I get back to school. Dean was the only player in the nation with five sacks (had six sacks), two forced fumbles, and two interceptions in 2021. It's unmatched not just on the field, but in life. As a 15-year-old, he could hang with 18-year-olds physically and gain an edge mentally with the way he viewed the game. NFL You have to remember, he didnt even go through spring ball with us this past year because of injury. "You gotta be committed and you gotta do it selflessly.". The defense that ranked first in the country in points allowed (9.5) and second in the nation in yards allowed (253.9) held the reigning national champs to just one touchdown. No matter what kind of resources their family had, her grandmother used to make them donate their time, at the very least. She won in the assistant professor category. He definitely showed that today, and he showed that yesterday in our meetings., Former UGA teammates Nakobe Dean and Jordan Davis arrive together for their first Eagles practice, (via @DZangaroNBCS) pic.twitter.com/OdgNu3Nwcj. "So I used that, I actually wanted to go into the field of prosthetics with it. He got a grand tour of the program this weekend by non-other than Derek Karr, the dean of the University of Alabama . Magnificent Malan ton steers England to victory in tense chase, Sterling's camp dismiss reports of Chelsea unrest amid Arsenal links, Nakobe Dean interview: On becoming a doctor, mechanical engineering and winning a National Championship with Georgia, Due to your consent preferences, youre not able to view this, Exclusive: Meet the NFL Draft quarterback who owes his grandma new windows. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. There, she stood not just handing things out but talking to people about whatever was going on in their lives. Joined Dec 31, 2020 Messages 3,637 Reactions 23,611 5,537 2,839 Alleybux 1,004,023,593 Today at 9:47 AM #1 Smart, strong and handsome! Ever since the NCAA approved name, image and likeness deals for college athletes in June, the money has been moving in broad daylight. ", Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. His closing speed is tremendous. I used to see veterans who lost limbs and everything. Those who have known Dean since he was just a kid growing up in Horn Lake, Mississippi, would argue it has always been in him. I suspect it'll be pretty high. It was a tall task, but the Bulldogs' chances rode on their top . Were constantly reminding each other every day that this is all just a blessing from God, Neketta told Dawg Nation in 2018. From providing food to the homeless, to street cleanups and more, Georgia LB Nakobe Dean, with the help of his mother, has made it a priority to give back to Athens and his hometown of Horn Lake, MS. Giving back has always been something near and dear to me.@sportsiren pic.twitter.com/YU4wwIM4rA, ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 10, 2022. On3 is a registered trademark of On3 Media, Inc. Georgia stifled Alabama and Heisman-winning quarterback Bryce Young, collecting a 33-18 victory for Georgias first football national championship since 1980. That defense is led by junior inside linebacker Nakobe Dean, whos a team captain and the winner of the 2021 Butkus Award, given to the nations top linebacker. Dean has the potential to be the best linebacker to wear midnight green since Jeremiah Trotter. Dean shares how the experience of interviewing with teams has gone and what those teams are saying to him about what they envision his role will be in the league. Stakes are higher. "But towards the end of my senior year (in high school) I wasn't leaning towards being a doctor as much as I was engineering, because that was numbers and math and putting things together, things like that. Flashes of quick feet and closing speed are elite. Greaves: I was relieved to lose after 70-match win streak! Life is busier. It's going to mean a lot. Dean enrolled early in Athens and had an outstanding freshman season, despite being part of a deep linebacker corps. Editor's note: This story originally published on Dec. 29, 2021. Join the Heavy on Eagles newsletter here! I had great people around me and we were able to execute a plan," former Oregon defensive lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux tells ESPN. He was inspired and wanted to help make prosthetics for veterans in need. Head coach Nick Sirianni only got see Dean for a few snaps on Friday. As a Disabled Vet and Eagle fan . Scout after scout raved about his instinctive play at the second level, which allowed him to move a tick faster than most to the ball. Georgia junior inside linebacker Nakobe Dean was the surprise recipient of the 37th Butkus Award on Sunday. Dean, who was projected as a first-round pick, fell amid concerns of the linebacker declining surgery on a severe pectoral strain while working out this offseason. Linebacker Nakobe Dean is one of the primary reasons the Georgia defense has been a brick wall. 51; third-round linebacker Nakobe Dean gets No. Rankings for the 2023 NFL draft: Top prospects at every position from Kiper, McShay, Miller, Reid, Kiper's new Big Board rankings for the 2023 NFL draft: Top 25 prospects, Syracuse QB Shrader to miss spring practice, Sources: Asst. Both his parents are Gulf War vets, he. "I feel like my mindset is second to none, unmatched. Georgia's Nakobe Dean breaks up a pass, Jan. 10, 2022. Associated Press, Walter Camp, AFCA, Sporting News, USA Today, ESPN, The Athletic, CBS ***. Not even the gargantuan demands of a NFL career. Youre running and hitting for two or three hours. "That's Kobe Dean," she tells him. It's not necessarily going to be a 'phewww, I finally did it' type thing, but more for me like 'okay, now it's time to get to work'.". On the field, Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean is having himself a career-defining season. Listing for: L3Harris. Thats also a credit to Coach (Glenn) Schumann. . Dean, a mechanical engineering major with a 3.5 GPA, was the first name . He last received a B in his eighth-grade typing class. Afterward, Boyette asked him what led him to make the move. He has been privy to the evolution of the off-ball linebacker and the added necessity to be able to join the line of scrimmage, operate off the edge, or retreat into coverage. Dean's performance on the field is All-American worthy. Also in the new episode: Perrybreaks down what makes Dean so special and what hed bring to the Patriots' defense. The jump from no compensation to millions was, at times, a culture shock. Third year Mechanical Engineering student at The University of Georgia Memphis Metropolitan Area. Dean recorded 71 tackles and 1.5 sacks last season. Georgia coaches have known just how special Dean is from the first day he arrived on campus. "I got the trophy the day after we lost the SEC Championship so it was kind of like a bittersweet feeling," he said. Coach Lanning used to always say, if youre good enough, youre old enough, Dean said. Nakobe is both of those, said former Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning, now Oregons head coach. Academic standout. "I took my education just as serious as I took my sports," Dean said. Its no wonder the permanent team captain for the Bulldogs was so adept at reading opposing offenses in the middle of a stingy national championship defense. 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