Story by
Former Georgia edge rusher granted fifth season of eligibility
- Story by
- Former Georgia edge rusher granted fifth season of eligibility
A former Georgia Bulldogs edge rusher is getting the chance to play his fifth season in college football. UAB Blazers edge rusher Marlin Dean had his NCAA waiver approved to play the 2026 season, according to Pete Nakos of On3 . Dean will play for the Blazers this season.
Dean has been in college football since 2021. He signed with the Georgia Bulldogs on Dec. 16, 2020, after committing in March 2020, de-committing in July 2020, and re-committing in Sept. 2020. He was a three-star from Elbert County High School, where he played for his first three years of high school before transferring to IMG Academy.
Advertisement
At Georgia, Dean appeared in a game and recorded two tackles before redshirting. He didn't play a down of football in the 2022 season , and he decided to go to the JUCO route in the 2023 offseason.
He went to Butler Community College in 2023, and through nine games, he had 25 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and seven sacks. Dean became a member of the first-team All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference.
That juiced his stock again to the point he returned to major college football. The Utah State Aggies earned a commitment from Dean in 2024, and he didn't quite have the same production with the Aggies. He had six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. He entered the transfer portal again over the 2024 offseason.
His next destination would be a somewhat familiar place for him. He transferred to the Georgia State Panthers under former Georgia running backs coach Dell McGee on Jan. 10, 2025. Dean's play improved significantly, with 21 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack. He also earned a safety in the home opener against the Memphis Tigers.
Advertisement
Dean entered the transfer portal one more time, intending to earn another year of college eligibility. Now that he has, he will play the 2026 season with the UAB Blazers . He continues a long college football career.
Follow UGA Wire on Instagram , Facebook , X or Threads for more Georgia football coverage!
This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Former UGA edge rusher approved for fifth season of eligibility
