Former Blazer Larry Dean on Pro Bowl ballot

Larry Dean

Former Valdosta State football player Larry Dean is on this year's Pro Bowl ballot and fans are encouraged to cast their vote for him, sending him to his first-ever professional all-star game.

Dean, a graduate of Tift County High School and a current Minnesota Viking, is a second-string linebacker special teams player for the Vikings. He is on the Pro Bowl ballot for the first time in his two-year NFL career.

Fans can vote for Dean by visiting http://www.vikings.com/team/pro-bowl-ballot.html.

Dean is in the midst of his second year of his three-year contract with the Vikings, which he signed as a free agent prior to the start of training camp in 2011. Dean set the Valdosta State career record for tackles (368) during his senior season in 2010, passing former Blazer and Atlanta Falcon great Jessie Tuggle, who finished his career in 1986 with 340 career tackles.

— Follow me on Twitter at @Ed_Hooper.