2022 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch: Kentucky vs. Georgia

Georgia LB Nakobe Dean

Nakobe Dean might play the same position as Adam Anderson, but he couldn’t be more different as a player. Dean is a bit undersized for an inside linebacker at 6’0” 225, but his blazing speed and sure tackling skills more than make up for it.

The junior linebacker’s size and propensity for tackling brought to mind former NFL linebacker London Fletcher as a player comp. The main difference here is that London Fletcher was an undrafted linebacker out of Division III John Carroll University, and Nakobe Dean is a five-star recruit that every school in the country wanted, and he has a chance to go in the first two rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Nakobe Dean is a big reason that Georgia is 4th in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game at 64.2. He’ll likely be meeting Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. in the holes on Saturday, in addition to shadowing him in the passing game. Dean’s blazing speed makes him a versatile player as he can cover when asked to and is adept at flying up to the line of scrimmage to plug gaps in the running game.

He’s already helped his 2022 NFL Draft stock this season, as he’s notched 3.5 sacks and an interception in six games. If the physical traits weren’t enough, Nakobe Dean is a smart player as well and should have no problem heading up an NFL defense. He’s quick to diagnose plays and this along with his natural quickness helps him play faster than most linebackers.

The only knock on Nakobe Dean is that he’s a little bit light for an inside linebacker, and this becomes evident when he tries to rush the passer through the middle and is swallowed up by bigger offensive linemen. Though it’s possible that Dean could add 10-15 pounds of muscle or improve his functional strength ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft.