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David Dean Is Relishing His Role In The Middle Of UVa's Defense S By Brad Franklin urrounded by reporters following Virginia's spring game in April, defensive tackle David Dean sounded like someone at the start of a significant journey. Through the training camp and now into the 2013 season, he appears to be well on his way. That day in the spring, Dean was very mindful of the opportunity in front of him, not just in those 15 practices but also in the 2013 season ahead. "I looked forward to coming in and showing what I was capable of," Dean said. It appears that same drive held strong over the last four months. The 6-1, 290-pound redshirt second-year, who had a coming out party this spring, looked like a key cog for the Cavaliers in the first week of camp and played that way in UVa's 19‑16 comeback win over BYU Aug. 31. After redshirting in 2011, he played in 11 of 12 games last season. But it's safe to say his 83 plays and three tackles prior to this season will increase mightily. Already, he's increased his production. In the win over the Cougars, he was credited with seven tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and one pass broken up. The following week against Oregon, he recorded four tackles, one stop behind the line of scrimmage and a forced fumble. Dean's offseason was as much about getting his body ready for the grind of the season and games like the one against BYU as it was learning UVa's new scheme under defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta. "I feel a lot more comfortable now than I did in the spring," Dean said during training camp. "I took a lot of the summer to focus on learning the plays even better, to make sure any time I hear something that I know it right away. I just worked on becoming a faster, stronger football player." Virginia's situation at defensive tackle may hold the key to just how good the Wahoos can be defensively this season. Gone are Will Hill, who started every game last season as a fourth-year, and Justin Renfrow, who wasn't asked to return for his fifth year. Head coach Mike London had hoped the solid season Chris Brathwaite had at defensive tackle last year would carry over, but an academic suspension will force him to sit out a year. That leaves fourth-year Brent Urban and Dean as the two mainstays in the heart of a defensive line that Tenuta hopes will get after the quarterback early and often. Dean is sporting a new number in 2013 (changing from No. 64 to No. 55), but he'll still be playing next to Urban. The two partnered for much of the summer, and Dean said that meant a great deal to him. "Urb definitely helped me a lot," Dean explained. "He has that experience, he's been here longer than me, and he's helped me improve as a player and as a student of the game. Having him back next to me, it's a big help." In UVa's first two games this season, Dean was credited with 11 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Photo by Pete Emerson/courtesy UVa