The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Dean Named American Conference Defensive Player of the Week
9/28/2026 10:00:00 AM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB defensive lineman Marlin Dean has been named the American Conference Defensive Player of the Week following a dominant performance in the Blazers' 24-20 victory over Navy.
Dean was a disruptive force throughout the night, finishing with 12 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. Two of those forced fumbles were recovered by UAB, helping the Blazers create the turnovers they needed to secure their first American Conference-opening victory since joining the league in 2023.
The performance marked career highs for Dean in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and forced fumbles. His three forced fumbles also moved him among the national leaders in the category, while his 4.5 tackles for loss helped headline a UAB defense that recorded 10 tackles for loss and six sacks against the Midshipmen.
Dean is now the second UAB player to earn American Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors this season, joining defensive back Ike Esonwune. Prior to 2026, the Blazers had never had a player receive the league's weekly defensive honor.
Through four games, Dean has totaled 18 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
UAB returns to action Saturday, Oct. 3, when the Blazers host Samford at Protective Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT.
