Report: Nakobe Dean impressing early at the NFL Combine

The NFL Combine is underway in Indianapolis, and there are already some prospects that are sticking out from the pack, according to reports. One in particular is former Georgia Bulldog Nakobe Dean.

“One of the freak athletes here in Indy who’s really shined in the interview process: UGA LB Nakobe Dean (a mechanical engineering major with a 3.5 GPA) who was the first name mentioned when I asked one coach for the most impressive interview he’s done,” FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman tweeted.

One of the anchors of the head-hunting Bulldog defense last season, Dean doesn’t have great size — 5-11 1/2, 225 pounds — but he’s a monster on the field. Some coaches believe he’ll run the 40-yard-dash in the 4.4s and should have really quick shuttle times for his position.

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Dean was a five-star recruit, according to the On3 Consensus coming out of Horn Lake, Miss. His senior year was one for the history books. He led Horn Lake High to its first Class 6A state title, a 15-0 record and No. 1 state ranking. He had 175 tackles and won Gatorade State High School Football Player, Mississippi Mr. Football for Class 6A and the 2018 High School Butkus Award winner.

He followed that up with a fantastic career in Athens. He ended his junior with 72 total tackles (36 solo), six sacks, two forced fumbles and two more interceptions, Dean fell two tackles short of the team’s leaderboard. He trailed only Lewis Cine (73), another Georgia defender that has entered the NFL Draft this season. He amassed 168 tackles in his three seasons at Georgia.

“You can tell me all the things that he can’t do ,and we’re going to hear all about that at the combine,” Todd McShay said prior to the combine. “He’s not big enough, doesn’t have long enough arms, doesn’t have a great 40 time. I’m going to trust the tape. The tape is sensational.”

Overall, Georgia has 14 athletes in Indianapolis for the 2022 NFL Combine alone, and has as many as eight Georgia players could hear their name called off the board in the first round, according to some of the latest mock draft projections. Dean, Cine, Travon Walker, Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt, Quay Walker, George Pickens and Derion Kendrick have all been projected as first-round picks by at least one mock draft within the last month, according to the NFL Mock Draft Database.