Senior fullback B.J. Dean hails from Tuscaloosa, Ala. Growing up in Alabama, Dean was just like most natives of the south.
Dean chose Florida State in the fall of 2001 over Alabama and LSU.
"I am an Alabama fan but my momma and I thought that it would be best if I got out of there and we decided on Florida State," Dean said.
When Dean came to Florida State he was expecting to play a position he was familiar with. Due to a crowd of other players at linebacker and a lack of depth at full-back, he was asked to make the transition.
"I could play earlier at fullback and possibly even start at fullback," Dean said, but that would not come as easy to him as he thought. "It was a tough adjustment because of learning how to block and how to catch a ball. I never played a position where I just had to catch a ball. The plays are a whole lot different.
The move has been a successful one for Dean. He has started 23 games in his career at Florida State.
He helped lead a rushing attack that ranked at the top of the ACC last season.
Dean has the nickname to go with the position. Many of his teammates and coaches call him Bulldog.
said that I looked like I bulldog when I run," Dean said.
Every time he runs with the football something positive comes out of it. Dean has never in his career been dropped for a loss of yards. That would include 30 career attempts that resulted in three touchdowns.
Bulldog has always been a team player.
team won the ACC and he wants to win another title.
"Just doing my part, whatever the coaches require of me to do," Dean said. "Trying to help motivate my teammates and help push them in practice. Help get my teammates and myself better everyday.
Doing whatever the coaches ask of me.
You can tell Dean has won over his teammates and his coaches not only with his play on the field but also with his leadership ability.
"He just has a great spirit. He is a very physical player that gives everything he has got," running backs coach Billy Sexton said.
That is just what it is going to take from the senior in order to get his Florida State team back not only to the top of the ACC but the nation's elite as well.