Peach Tree Times

Georgia junior linebacker Nakobe Dean has been named the 2021 recipient of the Butkus Award, the university said in a Dec. 5 statement.

A UGA-issued press release said that the 20-year-old Horn Lake, Mississippi native is the second Bulldog to win the award, which is presented by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando to the best linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football.

Roquan Smith, now with the Chicago Bears, was Georgia’s first Butkus Award winner in 2017.

"Nakobe Dean is a playmaker with a special combination of strength, coverage ability, playmaking flair and leadership skill," the award selection committee said in a release. "He consistently makes his presence felt on the field and in the community, elevates the defense with his command and is a complete linebacker who has made a tremendous impact on Georgia's program."

Dean won the high school version of the Butkus Award, joining Manti Te'o and Jaylon Smith as the only players to earn the accolade at the prep and collegiate levels.

The website DawgNation.com reported that Dean garnered 52% of the first-place votes to beat finalists Devin Lloyd, of Utah; Leo Chenal, of Wisconsin; Damone Clark, of LSU; Darrian Beavers, of Cincinnati; and Cha Muma, of Wyoming.

He is coming off a 2021 season, which saw him record a career-high four quarterback pressures against Cincinnati and his first career interception against Auburn.

According to the release, Dean is a member of the 2021 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy who is tied for the team lead with 61 stops, including a team-high 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks, and has two forced fumbles.

In the SEC title game which Georgia lost to Alabama 41-24, Dean collected four tackles, including an assist.

Despite the loss, Georgia is in the College Football Playoff, taking on Michigan in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 31.