Georgia Bulldogs LB Nakobe Dean Drafted No. 83 Overall by the Eagles
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ATHENS - Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Nakobe Dean was drafted No. 83 Overall by the Eagles overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The former five-star prospect was a part of the Georgia Bulldogs 2021 national championship. Dean was consensus All-American in 2021, captain for the Dawgs in 2021, member of the 2021 AFCA Good Works Team and the 2021 Butkus Award Winner. He ended his career at UGA with 168 tackles, two interceptions, 10 passes defended, three forced fumbles and 7.5 sacks.
Dean had a pick six that ended the game with the Gators in 2021 near the end of the first half.
The former picked Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs over Ole Miss and Alabama.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper said earlier this month that he didn’t think Dean would escape the first round.
“I really think Nakobe Dean is not getting out of the first round. Don’t buy into this ‘the measurables’”, Kiper said. “Bottom line: he’s a football player. I think you know what you’re getting there. Are you getting a combination of Jonathan Vilma and Lavonte David with Nakobe Dean? If you are - you are going to be pretty happy. David was a second-round pick. Jonathan Vilma was a mid-first.”
ESPN’s Todd McShay agreed with his college on Twitter.
“I’m gonna die on the Nakobe Dean hill, and I’m just fine with it”
Kirby Smart added in the leadup to the NFL Draft on ESPN's First Take that Dean skeptics will be sorry.
"I would say look at the NFL linebacker right now, and all the free-release game that teams do to throw the ball out of the backfield (to the Christian) McCaffreys, the Dalvin Cooks and all these guys. Who's got to cover that guy? (Dean) does," Smart said of his linebacker. "You better have a guy that can run, change the direction and cover. He faced offenses like that. He went against James Cook every day in practice. That's the kind of backs you have to face every day in the NFL, and he's perfect for it."