KFBCA Top 11: Landon Dean

The Kansas Football Coaches Association picked their All-State teams December 5th and 6th, including their Top 11. Kansas Pregame is providing capsules for each of the Top 11 selections. Check out Frontenac offensive and defensive lineman Landon Dean's capsule below and check back for more capsules throughout the week.

Landon Dean, OL/DL, 6-5, 245, Frontenac

Frontenac made it all the way to the 3A State Championship game before falling victim to an Andale team in the midst of a historic run of success.

The Raiders were among the most physical teams in the state during their determined path to the championship game, and a big part of that was senior Landon Dean, a 6-5, 245 pound defensive end who also made the shift from tight end to offensive line to fill a team need this season.

“This year we had an incredible season,” Dean said. “We unfortunately came up one game short to a very talented team, but I made good memories this year, and am very proud of what my team and I accomplished.”

Dean was a force defensively as a senior with 75 tackles, 12.5 tackles-for-loss, 11.5 sacks, and was part of an overpowering front consisting of fellow seniors Lane Franklin, Cruz Blair, and Collin McCartney. Prior to their loss in the championship, the Raiders defense only allowed 12.5 points per game.

After spending most of his career as a tight end on the offensive side of the ball, this season Dean developed into a pivotal member of the offensive line. Raider coach Mark Smith felt the O-line needed some restructuring after the preseason jamboree, and he targeted his big tight end for the job.

“We were short-handed on the offensive line, so the week we opened up the season, I moved to offensive tackle to try and make our team the best we could be,” Dean said.

Dean’s move clearly worked, Frontenac finished the season averaging 298.5 yards of offense per game, with three different offensive players rushing for at least 750 yards and quarterback Collin McCartney throwing for over 1,000 more en route to their state title game appearance.

Dean’s size and natural ability made the move seem simple enough, but coach Smith also credits his offseason work for his versatility.

“Landon worked extremely hard over the offseason to gain a lot of size, strength and confidence for the football season,” Smith said. “He was playing so physical and with so much confidence all year, that it makes his teammates do the same. We had a senior heavy team that had played a lot together, and they knew they had to work really hard to reach their high expectations going into the season. Landon, as always, loved the weight room, he has always loved football, and he is a great teammate. “

While Dean switched to O-line for the benefit of the team, defensive end is where he will likely play when he attends Oklahoma State University next fall to continue his education and begin his college football career, an opportunity he says he “can’t wait for!”

“Landon‘s greatest strength is his work ethic and his football IQ,” coach Smith said. “He will have to get stronger and gain some weight at Oklahoma State, but he is excited for the challenge ahead. I know that he will work hard every day to be the best football player he can be to help the team. He is going to a great program with great coaches, and we are looking forward to seeing the impact that Landon can have to help the team win. The future is very bright for Landon Dean!”

The KFBCA Top 11 and All-State selections consist of seniors from the Class of 2022 nominated and voted on by members of the Kansas Football Coaches Association. For more info about the KFBCA find them online at www.kfbca.com.