Nakobe Dean, Georgia LB, receives high NFL praise from Sam Acho and Chris Mortensen

Nakobe Dean, the former Georgia linebacker, is turning heads in the NFL as the draft approaches, and the likes of ESPN’s Sam Acho and Chris Mortensen have promoted Dean as a player to watch.

During a SportsCenter segment on Monday morning, Acho listed all the ways Dean excels as a linebacker as he talked over highlights from last season.

“It doesn’t matter how many guys you put on Nakobe Dean, he’s going to make a play,” Acho said. “He’s a sideline to sideline linebacker … Nakobe Dean can do it all.”

Mortensen picked up on those comments, and added some of his own, including a comparison to Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis. Mortensen called Dean the best player on a great defense, and he’s one reason why Georgia will dominate the NFL Draft.

Mortensen called him an undersized off-ball linebacker, and not a workout warrior. Lewis, similarly, was an undersized linebacker ultimately picked late in the first round.

Nakobe Dean being talked up by @TheSamAcho on @SportsCenter. Sam knows. A consensus from a handful of veteran personnel people: Georgia will dominate the #NFLDaft with several defenders but that good teams get back to the film. Dean was the best player on a great defense.

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) April 18, 2022

@NakobeDean is not a “workout warrior.” He bypassed running the 40. He’s standing on his film. He’s undersized and off-ball linebacker.
Remember the 1996 draft. Ray Lewis was undersized LB and ran two 40’s in the 4.6 range. He was the 26th pick by @Ravens in that draft.

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) April 18, 2022