Watch all three days of the 2022 NFL Draft unfold on Sky Sports NFL, April 28-30, starting with live build-up to day one from 9pm on Thursday, April 28, with the first picks expected to be made just after 1am. Mechanical engineering emerged as the winner. Dean was a five-star recruit out of Horn Lake High School in Horn Lake, Mississippi. . Deans presence is critical for Georgias defense. My mom is a big Belichick fan," Dean said. @NakobeDean decided to to study engineering in college after visiting VA hospitals with his mother, who is a veteran. After all, the junior linebacker has a 3.5 GPA while majoring in mechanical engineering for a reason. The 21-year-old is a natural born leader and a guy who eats, lives, and breathes football. As the TV crew breaks down Tom Brady highlights -- the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are playing the New York Giants, who have two Georgia alums, J.R. Reed and Tae Crowder -- Dean watches intently. "I think it's great what they're doing, but it's worth noting that we're now counting on these 21-year-olds who are making sometimes tens of thousands of dollars to be the ones that are giving back and doing good," Soskin says. Full Time position. 10:57 pm ET, NFL combine burning questions: Young's size and more, C.J. She won in the assistant professor category. You can adjust all of your cookie settings by navigating the tabs on the left hand side. He'll be reunited with defensive tackle Jordan Davis in Philadelphia, who the Eagles selected at No. Before he does that, he figures to make a big impact on his new team. "None of this would have been possible or as impactful without the five to 10 NIL deals he has," Neketta says. It's why he eventually wants to start a scholarship at his high school, and use his engineering degree to make prosthetics for athletes who need them. "I know. Dean has great instincts and speed, but he missed Georgias spring practice in 2021 with a torn labrum. The man smiles. Even though the purpose of this trip is for Dean to show the kids a little more about engineering in hopes of one day improving diversity in the field, it's Dean who is the kid in a candy shop. According to ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr, he's also been climbing NFL Draft boards and currently sits as a top-15 prospect. Anytime somebody asks me that I kind of just talk about the passion I have for the game. It was kind of my thing. Entering Mondays College Football Playoff National Championship Gamein Indianapolis, Georgia had a former walk-on at quarterback while Alabama was led by the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. "I didn't think the safety would remember that was coming," Dean told Boyette. Where is Georgia? Dean, Channing Tindall, Trezmen Marshall, Rian Davis and Mekhail Sherman are Georgias returning inside linebackers. "The visit was great," Dean said. Upon arriving at Georgia to focus on football he majored in mechanical engineering. Ever since the NCAA approved name, image and likeness deals for college athletes in June, the money has been moving in broad daylight. "I have had no D1 athletes on that side of my family, nobody go to school or college to play sport so it was all education growing up, it was never the thought of getting school paid for through sports. "I feel like we set the bar, and now there's going to be more opportunities, athletes are going to be more confident taking them. Dean will fall below some of the size thresholds that certain teams have at linebacker, especially with a linebacker in the first round, but his key, read and flow skills are outstanding with the open-field instincts to impact the game in different ways, said The Athletics NFL draft analyst Dane Brugler. Copyright University of Georgia Wire 2023. "Nakobe is 20 and has no kids," Neketta said. "All the physical things are on film, you can watch that and work me out. Those who know Dean best expect him to do just that in the NFL. Hes an absolute monster, man, one college offensive coordinator who played Georgia late in the season told The Athletic. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Listing for: L3Harris. I had to thank God, he said in his postgame press conference. currently has a 3.55 grade-point average in mechanical engineering at . I dont think Im going to go in and be looked at as a leader. All Rights Reserved. It was a unique situation where you felt like he could handle the cerebral piece as well as whats on paper, but it also translated to the field because hes very instinctual. Dean finished 2019 with 25 total tackles and played in all 14 games. Dean has the potential to be the best linebacker to wear midnight green since Jeremiah Trotter. Ten Hag: Too soon to decide Weghorst, Sabitzer futures, How Spanish football is failing elite talent Vinicius Jr. Lewis Hamilton's race against time: Is eighth title dream still alive? Dean became the first ninth-grader Boyette ever started on varsity. ", "For 99.9% of these kids, it's not necessarily like life-changing money, so they have to understand they need to put half of it away for taxes," says Zach Soskin, who founded a management company that facilitates NIL deals for college athletes. Bruce has covered college football nationally for more than 20 years and is the author of numerous books on the topic, including "Swing Your Sword: Leading The Charge in Football and Life" with Mike Leach and most recently "The QB: The Making of Modern Quarterbacks." "I feel like in high school they kind of asked that of me, to be able to cover running backs, to be able to cover receivers and stop the run and things of that sort, so when I got to college I got the same thing, but amplified, and I feel like in the league it will be the same thing," he said. I feel like I bring that winning mentality and that leadership to whatever team, and that passion and that energy that I play with.". On the field, Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean is having himself a career-defining season. The Georgia Bulldogs have been nothing short of magnificent on the defensive side of the ball this season. Powered by. Along with turkeys donated by Trader Joe's and Athens Market through another NIL partnership and a $100 shopping gift card coming directly from Dean's NIL earnings, they'll make a package that will be donated to a dozen families in need in the area. Young threw for 369 yards and a touchdown, but he also tossed two interceptions his first collegiate game with multiple picks the second of which was returned 79 yards for a touchdown to seal the victory for the Bulldogs. It is a message that Dean, whose love for football began at the recreation centre where his mother worked in Mississippi, passes on to those in the position he once was. Because of the NCAA's sudden decision to allow NIL deals, the educational aspect has been done on the fly. He smiles. And fast. Next Pats Podcast:Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean explains why he'd thrive with the Patriots |Listen & Follow|Watch on YouTube, "Growing up, my mother's team was the Patriots. But things are indeed different now. Coach Lanning used to always say, if youre good enough, youre old enough, Dean said. 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. "We were at the forefront of it. 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. I always tell them I want them to be better than me, not like me, better than me. He is expected to return for the start of summer practice and the 2021 season. There's a chance he may not slide all the way down to the Patriots at No. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Entering Monday's College Football Playoff National Championship Game in Indianapolis, Georgia had a former walk-on at quarterback while Alabama was led by the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. Every step of the way, I thanked Him for putting me in this position, putting my team in this position, and I just thank Him for everything.. Dean explains how he developed as a leader while at Georgia and how will he adapt to the NFL with his smaller size for a linebacker. Dean has been recognized for his performance as a Butkus Award semifinalist and a midseason All-American by ESPN and CBS Sports. Life is busier. Georgia junior inside linebacker Nakobe Dean was the surprise recipient of the 37th Butkus Award on Sunday. His goal? . Feldman: Nakobe Dean didn't work out at the NFL combine, but NFL coaches love the 'super bright' linebacker. He narrowed his choices to engineering and pre-med because of his interest in prosthetics. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. His performance in the classroom is valedictorian worthy. Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean is expected to go in the first-round of the Draft on Thursday night, Nakobe Dean and mother, Neketta Dean, left, during Georgia's Pro Day. A day later, another NFL coach gushed about Dean, describing him as everyone youre looking for mentally in a linebacker., You can tell hes really been well-coached, said the coach, but you can also tell hes just a super bright kid, and it really translates on the field for him. "But as far as everything in the classroom translating to everything on the field, I feel like the study habits and retaining information helps me because it's just like me trying to study certain equations and everything or how to do a certain problem. After the game ended, Dean took a knee and bowed his head on the field. or 'Why did you do that?'" On the field, he has been one of the best defenders in the country, winner of the Butkus award, two games away from a national championship and a likely first-round selection in the upcoming NFL draft. "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. Dean was a Mechanical Engineering major at the University of Georgia with a 3.55 GPA. But it looks like he has some bigger work to do during / once all of thats done.Apparently, nothing is going to stop him. Neketta Dean, Nakobe's mother, rewarded him $100 each semester for every perfect transcript. Job specializations: Engineering. With the help of scholarships, students can cut their tuition and other expenses.Newcastle upon Tyne, where Newcastle University is located, has a superb quality of life, and it is easy to find affordable accommodation. "They were community service kids," she says. He was inspired and wanted to help make prosthetics for veterans in need. "That's Kobe Dean," she tells him. 15 on the USA Today pre-season Chosen 25247Sports.com five-star prospectranked as the #1 ILB nationally, #14 overall prospect nationally and the #1 prospect in MississippiPrepStar Magazine four-star prospect, #13 nationally and a member of the Top 150 Dream TeamRivals.com five-star prospect, ranked #19 nationally, #1 ILB and #1 in MississippiESPN.com four-star prospect, #23 nationally, #3 OLB, #11 in the Southeast and #1 in MississippiLed Horn Lake to a 15-0 season, No. Georgia's Nakobe Dean breaks up a pass, Jan. 10, 2022. Once she had kids of her own and had to raise them as a single mom, Neketta worked long hours as the director of community affairs in Tunica County, Mississippi. Dean enrolled early in Athens and had an outstanding freshman season, despite being part of a deep linebacker corps. But what many people didnt hear a lot about was his classroom smarts. Nakobe Dean took his official visit to the University of Alabama this weekend and was thoroughly impressed. On Monday, he took a knee on the field after the game and bowed his head. North Carolina QB Sam Howell declares for NFL draft: [Life is] about living for Jesus That was enough to know what kind of player he has in his locker room. "We can't be giving that to people. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. And the money from other smaller deals or matching by companies, including his agency, have allowed Neketta to also do what she does best: more. Dean sizzled in a Georgia defense arguably consisting of seven or eight first-round-worthy prospects last season as he collected 72 tackles, a team-high 10.5 tackles for loss, a second-most six sacks, 31 quarterback hurries, six pass breakups and a second-most two interceptions. Philadelphia Eagles rookie linebacker Nakobe Dean was a mechanical engineer major at the University of Georgia. 2023 On3 Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The Monday night game in late November is on every screen, but tonight Dean's the main event, the reason everyone is there, wearing Georgia red, dropping off canned goods at the front of the store before coming up to say hello and take a picture. The 6-foot, 225-pounder also was a Mechanical Engineering major at Georgia. "That instinct is just in me now.". 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. (Dean) ran with him stride for stride and then makes the tackle in open space. Deans measurables in Indianapolis were modest by NFL linebacker standards: 5-foot-11, 229 pounds with 31 7/8-inch arms, but his film is elite. Follow Bruce on Twitter @BruceFeldmanCFB. Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours) at Newcastle University is affordable for international students. The Eagles announced the jersey numbers for their five rookies prior on the first day of minicamp. Looks like I have a new favorite player . The Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parsons has become a modern beacon in that respect as he play-wrecked primarily as an edge rusher in his Defensive Rookie of the Year-winning campaign. I want to get into designing prosthetics, he said, but I am open because I know there are a lot of avenues you can get into with mechanical engineering.. No matter what kind of resources their family had, her grandmother used to make them donate their time, at the very least. | Ahmed El Bannany . "Being a football player here, it's kind of hard to figure out internships or co-ops if you want to do something else besides play," Dean says. Much of Deans values were instilled by his mother, Neketta, who served for many years as a director of community affairs for the Tunica County sheriffs department near his hometown of Horn Lake, Mississippi. He had a script out there every day, wearing his helmet and shoulder pads. I'd get his exams back and it would be 27 out of 27 correct. "It's. Job in Carlsbad - San Diego County - CA California - USA , 92002. Dean archives bits and pieces from the games of current NFL linebackers, from the Tennessee Titans' Zach Cunningham and the way he takes on blocks, to Roquan Smith's open-field tackling with the Chicago Bears and how Indianapolis Colts star Darius Leonard is able to dispossess ball-carriers. The 6-foot, 225-pounder also was a Mechanical Engineering major at Georgia. News, Interviews, Comment & Analysis @ch_skysports. Kayvon Thibodeaux's NFL fate is a mystery - but why? Thats also a credit to Coach (Glenn) Schumann. He boasts the best speed among linebackers in the 2022 class, and that's a quality New England certainly could use on the defensive side of the ball. "I feel good about it just because I always knew I wanted to establish myself as the best linebacker in college football, it was one of my goals for the season. The latest Eagles news straight to your inbox! He goes where the ball goes, and the defense goes as he goes. Fresh off football practice and film sessions, the Georgia linebacker is in the middle of Pauley's, a loud restaurant in downtown Athens. Dean underwent surgery for his labrum injury following the Peach Bowl in early January. With your DawgsHQ membership, youll not only have access to the goings on in Athens, but youll be able to peruse other fan sites within the On3 network to hear just how rivals are feeling about the Dawgs, as well. In case youre wondering, the hardest class hes taken so far in his major is either thermal dynamics or machine design, but he knows both will help with what he plans to do beyond football. "We know all the hard work we put in, we're living our dream, being able to make it to the NFL. 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