Nakobe Dean Finally Returning to Full Health is Tremendous News for Kirby Smart

You know whats utterly terrifying about No. 3 Georgia's 3-0 start to the 2019 season? The fact that they've only allowed a combined 34 points in those three games, which is good for a mind-boggling 11.3 per-game average, without stud freshman linebacker Nakobe Dean playing his best football.

We know what you're thinking: who is that guy?

Dean, a 4-star 2019 recruit, was drawing a heap of praise inside the Bulldogs preseason camp and was pushing for a starting LB job before suffering an ankle injury that has severely hindered his overall play. He hasn't flaunted the same pop that he did during camp, but Georgia's Week 4 bye has allowed Dean to get fully healthy.

"I do think that the setback held him back some from being able to play every snap and also from getting the reps,” said head coach Kirby Smart on Thursday. “There was a brief time in there that he couldn’t get as many reps, and it probably hurt him there from a mental standpoint. But, he’s picked that back up, and he’s working really hard and (we're) pleased with what he’s doing.”

Dean was a top-25 prospect in the 2019 class before he elected to call Athens his home for the entirety of his collegiate career over Alabama. He has a lot of expectations to live up to at Georgia.

Dean has only recorded three tackles through the first three weeks playing on that hobbled ankle. Now that he's finally back to 100 percent, we can expect Georgia's already-elite defense to add another dynamic playmaker.

Keep a close eye on Nakobe Saturday night when Georgia faces off against Tennessee on the road at Neyland Stadium. Something tells us he's going to be out to prove a point.