MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2022 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Jackson (11th), Barrett, McMahan, Jordan, Simmons (13th), Norwood, McLendon, McCaughn, Thomas, Frazier, Horhn, Branning, Chassaniol, Hickman, Butler (36th), Polk, Barnett
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING NAKOBE DEAN, OUTSIDE LINEBACKER FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPION UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA "BULLDOGS" FOOTBALL TEAM FROM HORN LAKE HIGH SCHOOL, FOR HIS OUTSTANDING COLLEGE FOOTBALL CAREER.
WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi was well represented on the National Champion University of Georgia "Bulldogs" Football Team. Nakobe Dean is the six-foot, 215-pound Outside Linebacker of the National Champions from Horn Lake High School in Horn Lake, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Dean, who won the 2021 Butkus Award, given to the nation's best linebacker, completed his junior year with 168 total tackles and 7.5 sacks. He also earned First-Team All-SEC Honors in 2021. It remains to be seen if Dean will return to Georgia for his senior year, or declare for the 2022 NFL Draft; and
WHEREAS, Georgia defeated Alabama 33-18 in the College Football National Championship Game, Georgia's first National Title in football since the 1980 season. It's Georgia's first win against Alabama since 2007, making Dean part of a historic college football event; and
WHEREAS, on October 22, 2021, Dean returned to his alma mater, Horn Lake, Mississippi, to present a check for $10,000.00 to Hope Community Center, Inc., as part of the 2021 Allstate Good Works Team. He is one of 22 players, and one of four players from the Southeast Conference (SEC), to be nominated. The American Football Coaches Association recognizes a select group of players each year based on their commitment to serving their communities. Dean said it means a lot to him to be able to give back to Horn Lake. The Hope Community Center, Inc., of North Mississippi provides a variety of safe, fun and exciting after-school activities and events for youth of all ages; and
WHEREAS, Dean has also given his time to "Dawgs for Pups," which has raised $200,000.00 to help local youth in the Athens/Clarke County area; visited Camp Sunshine, which provides recreational, educational and support programs for children with cancer; led an effort that raised $100,000.00 for Wi-Fi hotspots; served on a team that collected 27,000 pounds of food for the Northeast Georgia Food Bank; participated in the Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer Golf Tournament; collected 437 new and gently used coats for the Boys & Girls Club of Athens; and read to students as part of Read Across America; and
WHEREAS, Nakobe Dean has a 3.53 GPA in Mechanical Engineering in the classroom. On the field, prior to the National Championship Game, he had 30 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one interception. He was Georgia's leading tackler in 2020 with 71 stops, which was 19 more than the closest Bulldog defender, with 1.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries. As a freshman in 2019, Dean had 25 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a forced fumble; and
WHEREAS, at Horn Lake, Dean was part of the team that won the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) 6A State Football Championship and was the recipient of the Dick Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker in 2018. He was also named Mississippi Mr. 6A Football and played in the Under Armour All-American Football Game; and
WHEREAS, analysts say Dean has been an impactful player and was the unquestioned leader of the Bulldogs, whose defense is ranked number one, allowing only 297.1 total yards per game, and only 5.5 points per game; and
WHEREAS, Horn Lake Football Head Coach Mitchell Harville, who first coached Dean in the seventh and eighth grade, said he is pleased to see Dean excelling at such a high level at Georgia. "It's been exciting watching him his entire time at Georgia," Harville said. "From the time he got there as a freshman, he has been able to do so much." Harville explained it was clear early on that Dean was a special player; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize a very special Mississippi athlete who has brought honor to his home town, his high school and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Nakobe Dean, Outside Linebacker for the National Champions Georgia "Bulldogs" Football Team from Horn Lake High School, for his outstanding college football career, and extend our best wishes to Nakobe Dean and his family as he transitions from the highest level of college football into the NFL.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Nakobe Dean, forwarded to Horn Lake High School Football Coach Mitchell Harville for the team, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.