Big dog
Nakobe Dean was exceptional, on and off the field, during his time at the University of Georgia.
The five-star prospect from Mississippi committed to the Bulldogs and immediately made an impact as a freshman, playing in 14 games en route to a 12-2 season and a Sugar Bowl victory over Baylor. With 25 total tackles and two pass deflections, he was the co-recipient of the team's Defensive Newcomer of the Year award.
He became a household name in college football by his junior season, with 10.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, six pass deflections and two interceptions in 2021. That season, he won the Butkus Award, given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football, while also being named First-Team All-SEC and an unanimous All-American. Additionally, he helped lead the Bulldogs to their first national championship since 1980 with a 33-18 victory over Alabama.
He was also a top scholar at Georgia, as the mechanical engineering major was named the 2022 Arthur Ashe Jr. Male Sports Scholar of the Year. He was also a recipient of the Ramsey Scholarship for Academic & Athletic Excellence.