Georgia Football: 5 players trending up after spring 2019

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: Brian Herrien #35 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates a touchdown during the first half of the Allstate Sugar Bowl against the Texas Longhorns at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: Brian Herrien #35 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates a touchdown during the first half of the Allstate Sugar Bowl against the Texas Longhorns at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 01: Kirby Smart, head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs talks with Richard LeCounte #2 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 01: Kirby Smart, head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs talks with Richard LeCounte #2 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Are you as high on Nakobe Dean as the rest of college football’s experts? The highly-touted five-star linebacker from Horn Lake, Miss., enrolled early and has had an immediate impact on the Bulldogs’ reloading defense.

Dean got reps with the first-team defense in the Bulldogs’ G-Day Game along with Nolan Smith and looked more than serviceable. Kirby Smart admitted that it was more to get these guys reps, but he had to be keeping a close eye on how they fit with the first-teamers, and they did more than hold their own.

According to Mike Griffith of DawgNation, Smart hasn’t ruled out the notion of Dean competing for a starting job at one of the inside linebacker spots, which shouldn’t be much of a surprise after watching him during the spring game.

In fact, Dean finished with five tackles and a pass breakup, looking rather comfortable in coverage as well as against the run.

This kid is just getting started and his potential is through the roof.