2019 UGA Freshman Faces: Nakobe Dean

We continue our signature series Freshman Faces today with the 5-star linebacker Nakobe Dean from Horn Lake, Mississippi. Dean enrolled early and made 5 tackles in the spring game.

The University of Georgia has plenty of talent across the board, and as the recruiting success continues, the depth is starting to build. However, that being said, there is room for a young inside linebacker to step up and get playing time. 

Well, the young man from Horn Lake shows elite short area quickness that will allow him to make plays early in the SEC. The far to often overused term nowadays is "sideline to sideline" linebacker, Dean is the next in line. 

He's an extremely instinctive player which will benefit him early in Dan Lanning and Kirby Smart's defense, a defense that requires it's two inside linebackers to hold it down inside while the "Jack" linebacker oftentimes acts as a fifth rusher. 

Enough with the technical talk, yes this defensive backfield is truly one of the nation's best. You'd be hard pressed to find a better safety combination in the country than J.R. Reed and Richard LeCounte. But outside of Monty Rice at the Will position, there isn't a "locked up" starter at the linebacking positions. 

Of course, he will have to beat out redshirt senior Tae Crowder, but Kirby Smart hasn't shown any signs of fear when it comes to playing true freshman.