Former Rutgers, Georgia Tech LB Austin Dean returns to Scarlet Knights
Rutgers Football is welcoming back a familiar face.
Former linebacker Austin Dean has returned to the program, a source confirmed to The Knight Report. Dean returns for his final season of eligibility.
Dean spent his first two seasons at Rutgers in 2021 and 2022, before transferring to Georgia Tech. A native of Tampa, Florida, Dean originally committed to the Scarlet Knights during the COVID-19 pandemic in May of 2020 as part of Rutgers’ 2021 recruiting class out of Berkeley Prep.
“I love the culture that they’re building and the system looks like one I can be successful in,” he told TKR at the time of his commitment out of high school. “Coach Schiano called me on Thursday and we talked about a couple things. My coach and my parents had a couple serious conversations and we decided that I was going to commit. The timing and fit is right for me.”
As a freshman in 2021, Dean appeared in eight games, playing mostly on special teams. He made his collegiate debut against Michigan State, and appeared in the team’s Gator Bowl loss to Wake Forest.
In his sophomore campaign, Dean got some more playing time appearing in all 12 games. He recorded 19 total tackles on the year – four solo and 15 assisted – and earned his first career start in the season’s penultimate game against Penn State.
Following the season, Dean entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining. He landed with the Yellow Jackets, and redshirted his first season in 2023.
Last season as a redshirt junior, Dean appeared in five games and recorded six total tackles. Georgia Tech had a strong season, finishing 7-6 but with multiple marquee matchups against ranked teams.
Dean entered the portal for a second time during the spring transfer window in April, eventually returning to Rutgers for his final season of eligibility. He adds some depth to a relatively thin linebacker room with multiple years of Power Four experience.
