In his NFL preseason debut, former Auburn CB Jamel Dean recorded his first pro interception.

Dean’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers were taking on the Miami Dolphins Friday night. It’s just preseason, but Dean had a key play in Tampa Bay’s 16-14 victory. The Dolphins were close to scoring in the fourth quarter when Dean hauled in an interception in the end zone.

Dean, a third-round selection for Tampa Bay in the 2019 NFL Draft, was playing determined to make up for an earlier dropped interception.

“I feel like a weight was off my shoulders, ’cause I was really beating myself up on the sideline, knowing I dropped something. And then I kept looking at the score of the game, like, ‘I could have had an impact on this,'” he told reporters after the game.

The rookie from Auburn! 🔸🔹🦅

Jamel Dean (@jmd0074) gets a pick in his first NFL game! #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/BlD1ZwNXB5

— Auburn Tigers | AL.com (@aldotcomTigers) August 17, 2019

#Bucs CB Jamel Dean on his first game in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/jNCIlWxcBr

— PewterReport (@PewterReport) August 17, 2019

#Bucs CB Jamel Dean said his teammates gave him, "a whole lot of crap" for dropping a pick early, but said he'd make up for it. We asked if he had anything to say when he got back to the sideline after his interception. pic.twitter.com/hRS4Yr7Ccb

— PewterReport (@PewterReport) August 17, 2019

Jamel Dean (@jmd0074) on notching an interception after dropping one earlier in the game: "I feel like a weight was off my shoulders, cuz I was really beating myself up on the sideline, knowing I dropped something. And then I… https://t.co/FEoragcZrT pic.twitter.com/uzOptZZZRA

— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) August 17, 2019

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.