Nakobe Dean explains where intimidating manner comes from, passion for football

On3 imageby:Steve Samra05/22/22

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Part of what makes Nakobe Dean special is the attitude he plays with. On Twitter, you may say that “he’s got that dawg in him” — a huge compliment, if you’re confused.

Still, the former Georgia star fell in the 2022 NFL Draft, but the Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t be happier to have landed him. In an interview with his team, Dean explained where his intimidating manor on the field comes from.

“When it comes to football, yes,” Dean responded, when asked if his personality comes natural on the field. “As far as the intensity I bring, it’s just me being passionate. Passionate about the game. When I’m passionate about it, it’s easy for me to be high energy.”

As you can see, on the football field the energy just oozes out of Dean. Not all players take the field with the same intensity as the former Georgia star, but Dean doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with that — just don’t impede his vision.

“I wouldn’t say blow my mind,” Dean started, when asked why he believes some players don’t play with as much passion as he does. “Different strokes for different folks. For me, I feel like the game is supposed to be played with passion. Supposed to play going 100 miles per hour, supposed to play with passions, supposed to celebrate. That’s the only way you make it fun.

“The day that they have me stop playing with passion and celebrating, celebrating my teammates and what they do, is the day I stop playing.”

Georgia faithful knows Nakobe Dean is an incredible leader, but now the folks in Philadelphia are already learning for themselves. There’s no doubt that the third round pick will be out to prove the NFL world wrong for passing on him throughout his career.

More on Nakobe Dean, Philadelphia Eagles

Continuing, the Philadelphia Eagles are banking on Georgia product Nakobe Dean to come in and transform their linebacking corps. He did it with style throughout his time in Athens, and the former Bulldogs linebacker will be expected to do the same in his NFL career. That’s why — after a long wait — the Eagles took him off the board early in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Friday night, picking him No. 83 overall.

In his four seasons with the Bulldogs, Dean elevated his game consistently, leading an exceptional Georgia defense as one of the top linebackers in the entire nation. Last season, Dean realized his dream of bringing a championship to Georgia, helping to end a drought that spanned over 40 years when the Bulldogs defeated Alabama in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Additionally, the star linebacker was the recipient of the Butkus Award, presented annually to the top linebackers in college football.

Most importantly to the Eagles, Dean has potential to become one of the top linebackers in the entire NFL. He was dominant at Georgia, showing fantastic traits in both his playing style, football intelligence and leadership ability.

former five-star recruit in the class of 2019, Dean was the No. 4 linebacker in the nation per the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. The former Georgia star played his high school football at Horn Lake in Horn Lake, Mississippi, where he was rewarded with the Gatorade State High School Football Player Award his senior season. Dean’s been a star at every level of his football career, and there’s no reason to think that will change in the NFL.