Recruiting Roundup: Dean Deleone, DE

The first JC Transfer of the bunch.

Dean Deleone
DE, 6'3, 255 LBS
Jr. Park City, Utah (Orange Coast College)

Overview

A 2008 graduate of Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California. He signed with ASU in December as a midyear transfer and will participate in spring drills. He is one of four midyear enrollees and one of two junior college transfers among ASU’s 2009 class. He played both DE and OLB at OCC. He spent 4 years in the Coast Guard after high school and joins the Sun Devils as a 25-year-old junior. He is eligible to play two seasons in three years at ASU. His father, Tom Deleone, played football at Ohio State University and is a member of their Hall of Fame. After college his father was selected in the 5th round by the Cincinnati Bengals. He played for the Bengals for 2 seasons and then 11 for the Cleveland Browns. He was a two-time Pro Bowler.

Scouting Report

A tremendously talented speed pass rush specialist who will compete to replace departed two-year starter Luis Vasquez, who also joined the Sun Devils from the JC ranks. At his ASU workout, he did 27 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench, and boasted a 36-inch vertical leap. Incredibly speedy, and at 245 pounds he clocked a 4.44 40-yard dash time.

Accolades

Rated as the No. 84 overall JC transfer player in the nation by Rivals.com and was named the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year for the Southern California Football Association (SCFA) National Division Southern Conference (Hah..Pac-10 will be easier for him to tell his friends about.) Is tied for 3^rd on the career SCFA sack list, tied for 7^th in total tackles-for-loss, and is ranked 9^th in total tackles

Junior College Career

124 total tackles (64 solo), 18 TFL, 13.5 sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR. 37.7 career KR avg. with a TD. Coached by Mike Taylor at Orange Coast College.

Sophomore

Led the Pirates with 78 total tackles (32 solo), tackles-for-loss at 15.5, sacks 9.5, and hurries 7. Led OCC with a 37.7 average on kickoff returns, had a 97-yard TD return and added 23 total rushing yards. Tied for the team lead with 5 pass breakups and added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Freshman

Second on the team with 46 tackles (32 solo), while tying for second on the squad with 4 sacks and a forced fumble.

The Decision

“I had a great visit (to ASU),” says Deleone. “(I) really liked the coaching staff, especially (defensive line) coach Grady Stretz, my position coach. He talked a lot about their scheme and how he saw me fitting in and it really impressed me.” He chose ASU over Oregon and was also persued by Arizona, Boise State, BYU, California, and Kansas State. He committed to ASU on December 17, 2008.

Commentary

A relative unknown, with not much said about him by Scouts, Inc or Scout.com. Even Rivals.com did not have a whole lot to say about the guy. The measurables don't lie though - this is a (slightly) undersized guy who can play DE or OLB and runs in the 4.4s. The guy returned kicks weighing nearly 250 pounds. He is a grown ass man at 25 and I would not be surprised if he makes an impact next year. His maturity and development are pretty much complete and the guy is going to have a strength and ability that can't be matched by 18 and 19 year olds. I am excited to see what he can do out there.