ACQUIRED: Signed with the Riders in 2021; signed extension in February 2022.

YEARS WITH ROUGHRIDERS: 3

YEARS IN CFL: 7

2022: Played in all 18 regular season games and finished second in the CFL with 108 total tackles (101 defensive tackles and 7 special teams). He added four tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and three pass knockdowns. His 122 defensive plays were the second highest total in the league.

PRO: Prior to coming to the Riders, he spent his first three years in the CFL (2016-18) with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and he spent the 2019 season with the Edmonton Elks. Dean has played in 90 CFL games over a career that has spanned six seasons and earned 446 defensive tackles, 15 special teams tackles, 17 tackles for loss, nine sacks, five interceptions, 19 pass knockdowns, seven forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, and a defensive touchdown. He’s also played in five playoff games.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• Division All-Star: 2017, 2018, 2019
• East Divison Most Outstanding Defensive Player: 2018
• Edmonton’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player: 2019
• Made CFL debut June 23/16

COLLEGE: Attended Valdosta State from 2007-2010. Led the Blazers in tackles for three years and ranks second all-time in VSU history with 358 career tackles. In his senior season, he averaged 11.1 tackles per game. Named Daktronics National Defensive Player of the Year, the South Region Defensive Player of the Year, the Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Year and The Valdosta Daily Times’ Defensive Player of the Year. Was inducted into his college’s Hall of Fame in 2020.