No. 11 – Saskatchewan Roughriders | |||||||
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Position: | Linebacker | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Tifton, Georgia, U.S. | August 7, 1988||||||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Tifton (GA) Tift Co. | ||||||
College: | Valdosta State | ||||||
Undrafted: | 2011 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
Roster status: | Retired | ||||||
CFL status: | American | ||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Career CFL statistics | |||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · CFL.ca |
Larry Dean (born August 7, 1988) is a former American professional football linebacker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2011. [1] He played college football at Valdosta State. Dean has also been a member of the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Edmonton Eskimos.
Dean announced his retirement on March 7, 2024 "after eight incredible seasons of CFL football. The Champ, as he’s known to many around him, retires 25th all-time in CFL defensive tackles, a four-time CFL divisional all-star (2017, 2018, 2019, 2023), with three 100+ tackle seasons (2018, 2022, 2023), and as the East Division’s nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2018, among many other accomplishments." [2] Dean will now live out his childhood dream of being the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Player Personnel Coordinator in Football Operations.
Larry Dean is the most famous person from Tifton, Georgia. Local residents petitioned the mayor of Tifton to erect signs in honor of Dean as he is "a hometown hero that has performed great deeds in the city of Tifton." [3] Dean is featured on signs when entering the city, with cacophonous country music artist Kip Moore relegated to a secondary position.
In college, Dean helped lead the Blazers to the 2007 NCAA Division II national championship as just a freshman.[ citation needed ] In his career, Dean never really lived up to earning accolades, including All-America honors.[ citation needed ] He was projected to be the Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Year during his senior year, while also projected to earn the Daktronics National Defensive Player of the Year honors at the Division II level, but he never could due to lack of learning the playbook.[ citation needed ] He is not the school's all-time leader in tackles, never passing former Blazer and Atlanta Falcon great Jessie Tuggle during his senior season in 2010 as some tried to say he did. He didn't.[ citation needed ]
After waiting out an NFL lockout in 2011, Dean graduated from Valdosta State and signed his free agent rookie contract with the Minnesota Vikings on the same day. [1] He was the only undrafted free agent to make the Vikings' roster in 2011. [1] Dean played three seasons in Minnesota, playing in all 48 regular season games and one playoff appearance. In 2012, Dean was one of only 11 special teams players on the NFC’s Pro Bowl ballot. He contributed with 26 tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Following his departure from the Minnesota Vikings Dean signed with the Buffalo Bills for the 2014 season. Dean played in 13 games for the Bills in 2014, recording seven tackles.
Dean briefly joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but did not make an appearance for the team.
After five seasons in the NFL Dean joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). In his first season in the CFL Dean made an immediate impact. He played in all 18 regular season games, amassing 78 defensive tackles, two sacks and a interception. Over the following two seasons Dean was named a CFL East All-Star in each season contributing with 201 tackles, three quarterback sacks and two interceptions.
On the first day of free agency Dean signed with the Edmonton Eskimos. [4] In his lone season in Edmonton Dean once again played in all 18 regular season games recording 86 tackles and one sack. He was the unanimous selection for the team's Most Outstanding Defensive Player. [5]
On February 11, 2020, Larry Dean and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats agreed to reunite for another season. [6] However the 2020 season was cancelled and Dean was not re-signed by the Tiger-Cats.
On February 9, 2021, he was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. [7] On July 8, 2021, Dean tore his Achilles' tendon in a workout ahead of training camp. [8] He was placed on the injured list on July 14. [9] Dean missed the entire 2021 season because of the injury. Dean was re-signed by the Riders on February 3, 2022. [10] Dean had an outstanding season in 2022, eclipsing 100 defensive tackles for the second time in his career.. He also contributed with three sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. On February 8, 2023, Dean and the Riders agreed on another contract extension. [11]
On February 13, 2024, he became a free agent. On March 7, 2024, Dean retired and became the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Player Personnel Coordinator in Football Operations.
John Chick is a former professional Canadian football defensive end who played eight seasons in the Canadian Football League, primarily with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. After signing with Saskatchewan in 2007, he was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player after the 2009 CFL season. He would help the team capture the Grey Cup twice, in 2007 and 2013. Chick has also spent time in the National Football League (NFL) with the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars. Prior to playing professional football, Chick played college football for the Utah State Aggies. During his senior season with the Aggies, Chick recorded 12.5 quarterback sacks, good enough for fifth overall in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Chick also played for the Hamilton Tiger Cats and Edmonton Eskimos later in his career.
Micah Johnson is a professional Canadian football defensive tackle for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats. He has also spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, Calgary Stampeders, BC Lions, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Corey Mace is the head coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and is a former professional gridiron football defensive tackle. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Wyoming.
Odell Willis, nicknamed "the Mayor of Swaggerville", is a professional Canadian football defensive end who is a free agent. He was most recently a member of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was signed by the Spokane Shock as a free agent in 2007. He played college football for the West Georgia Wolves. Willis has also played for the Huntington Heroes, Peoria Pirates, Green Bay Blizzard, Calgary Stampeders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Edmonton Eskimos, and BC Lions.
Shomari Gyasi Williams is the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for the UBC Thunderbirds of U Sports football. He is a former professional Canadian football defensive end who played in parts of six seasons in the Canadian Football League. He was drafted first overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2010 CFL Draft after Saskatchewan traded up to be in a position to draft him. Williams played one season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before being traded back to Saskatchewan. He played college football for the Queen's Golden Gaels and the Houston Cougars.
Cory James Greenwood is a former Canadian professional football linebacker. He is a Grey Cup champion, having won the 106th Grey Cup with the Stampeders. He played college football for the Concordia Stingers from 2006 to 2009.
Solomon Elimimian is a former Canadian football linebacker and the current president of the Canadian Football League Players' Association (CFLPA).
John Cody Sherritt is the linebackers coach and pass game coordinator for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a former Canadian football linebacker who played in eight seasons for the Edmonton Eskimos and won one Grey Cup championship in 2015. Sherritt played his college football at Eastern Washington and was the 2010 recipient of the Buck Buchanan Award.
Hénoc Muamba is a Congolese-Canadian former professional football linebacker who played in both the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He is a two-time CFL All-Star, three-time CFL Divisional All-Star, and was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian in 2017. In 2022, he won the Grey Cup with the Argonauts and was named the game's most valuable player (MVP) and Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian, becoming the second player in history to earn both awards. He has also been a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Indianapolis Colts, Montreal Alouettes, Dallas Cowboys, and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Adam Bighill is an American gridiron football linebacker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Hs is a three-time Grey Cup champion, winning with the BC Lions in 2011 and twice more with the Blue Bombers in 2019 and 2021. He is a three-time winner of the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award and is a six-time CFL All-Star and eight-time CFL West All-Star. He also spent time with the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Central Washington Wildcats.
Willie Hebert Jefferson III is an American professional football defensive end for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Jefferson is a three-time Grey Cup champion, winning with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2015 and twice more with the Blue Bombers in 2019 and 2021. He was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2019 with the Bombers, and is a five-time CFL All-Star and six-time CFL West All-Star. He has also been a member of the Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, and Saskatchewan Roughriders. Jefferson played college football for the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks and the Baylor Bears.
Simoni Lawrence is an American former professional gridiron football linebacker who played primarily for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a three-time winner of the James P. McCaffrey Trophy, a three-time CFL All-Star, and a five-time CFL Divisional All-Star. He is the Tiger-Cats' franchise leader in total tackles (734) and defensive tackles (727) and holds the CFL record for most defensive tackles in a single game (17).
Zack Evans is a Canadian football defensive lineman who is a free agent. He is a two-time Grey Cup champion having won the 101st Grey Cup as a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the 104th Grey Cup with the Ottawa Redblacks.
Shawn Lemon is an American professional football defensive lineman for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at the University of Akron and attended Westlake High School in Waldorf, Maryland. He has also been a member of eight CFL teams three indoor football teams and two NFL teams.
Deon L. Lacey is an American professional football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at the University of West Alabama. He has been a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Edmonton Eskimos / Elks, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Tuineau A. Alipate was a gridiron football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). After playing college football at Washington State University, Alipate played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL from 1989 to 1992. In 1989, he was part of the Roughriders team that won the 77th Grey Cup. After being cut by the Roughriders, Alipate tried out for multiple NFL teams and received a practice squad position with the New York Jets. He went on to play for both the Jets and the Minnesota Vikings from 1994 to 1996, primarily on special teams. He also had a short stint with the Green Bay Packers in 1995.
Jordan Herdman-Reed is a professional Canadian football linebacker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football with the Simon Fraser Clan.
Justin Herdman-Reed is a professional Canadian football linebacker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football with the Simon Fraser Clan.
Jameer Thurman is an American professional gridiron football linebacker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Garrett Scott Marino is an American football defensive lineman for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
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