VMI’s Tackling Machine: Stephen Dean III Brings Elite Production and Sideline-to-Sideline Juice
In the 2025 season, Stephen Dean III was the heartbeat of VMI’s defense, leading the Keydets and the SoCon with 117 tackles, adding 9 tackles for loss and 62 solo stops while earning All-SoCon Second Team honors. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker plays with captain-level urgency, has a proven nose for the ball, and produced 10-plus tackles five times, including a career-best 17 against Chattanooga. He looks like a fit for teams that want a physical, high-motor, run-stuffing linebacker who can set the tone and rarely comes off empty-handed.
