Nakobe Dean’s technique and block shedding make up for what he lacks in size.
There are two areas in which we question this young man, size and durability. At six-foot-tall and 225 pounds, there have already been several mentions of him being an undersized NFL linebacker (and NFL.com lists him as being five-foot-eleven).
Look at it this way. He’s an inch shorter than A.J. Brown and somewhere around a pound lighter. Make no mistake about it though. What he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in intangibles. Trust and believe that he has many.
NFLDraftBuzz.com calls him quite possibly the most athletically gifted linebacker of the 2022 draft class as he’s able to “attack the edge with speed” while often showcasing the “flexibility to dip low and under the tackle’s reach”.
Athleticism alone won’t make him a regular on the Pro Bowl roster, but it won’t short-circuit his chances either. Nakobe Dean has the physical skill to make volume tackles and highlight-reel plays regularly. He has the intellect and football I.Q. to bail himself out when all else fails. He beats blocks or sheds them with ease.
An academic and on-field all-star, Dean was voted by his Bulldogs teammates as one of four permanent team captains. He earned Associated Press and Coaches’ All-SEC First-Team nods in 2021. Don’t be shocked, after helping elevate the Eagles defense, if he’s perennially in the conversation for some end-of-season awards at the professional level as well.
An academic and on-field all-star, Dean was voted by his Bulldogs teammates as one of four permanent team captains. He earned Associated Press and Coaches’ All-SEC First-Team nods in 2021. Don’t be shocked, after helping elevate the Eagles defense, if he’s perennially in the conversation for some end-of-season awards at the professional level as well.
We see no reason to believe any arguments that state he isn’t one-hundred percent capable of seeing those dreams materialize. His teammate at Georgia and with the Eagles, Jordan Davis believes he’ll be one of the all-time greats once his playing days are over. As we wait on those playing days to begin, it’s hard to temper the excitement. Philly most certainly got a steal here.