Dean thinking of future while inking with Hogs

NWA Media/Michael Woods --08/06/2014-- w @NWAMICHAELW... Fort Smith Northside football player Daytrieon Dean

When Fort Smith Northside defensive end Daytrieon Dean signed an athletic financial aid agreement with Arkansas on Tuesday, he wasn’t just thinking of himself.

“I was really thinking about my family ands my future,” Dean said. “How I can better myself and better my family by me going to college and graduating with a degree and hopefully playing in the NFL. I was really thinking about the future of my family.”

Dean, 6-3, 255, 4.89 seconds in the 40 yard dash, inked with the Hogs over scholarship offers from Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and Arkansas State. He was named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Preseason All Arkansas team on Sunday.

CBS Sports Network national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming rates Dean a 4-star prospect.

“Daytrieon impresses you with his explosive moves and relentless drive to the quarterback,” Lemming said. “He gets excellent leverage and shows good hand placement, which he uses to play off defenders and then find the ball. He’s very good in pursuit, he uses hands and leverage quickly to disengage. He shows a very good closing burst.”

Dean, who recorded 50 tackles, 6 sacks and 1 tackle for a loss last year while missing most of two games due to an ankle injury, plans to go after recruits for the Razorbacks.

“Just try and recruit with players like Will Gragg and K.J. Hill,” Dean said. “How special our class can be if we keep working it. Me, Zach and Ty coming in early is going to help us and the team.”