Dickson
has been going both ways (DE/TE) for Ocean Springs for the past four seasons.
As
a junior, Richard was equally effective on both sides of the ball, he led the
Greyhounds to a Class 5A Championship appearance. Dickson collected 92 tackles,
15 sacks, and 3 int's on defense and 23 catches for 399 yards and 6 TD's on offense.
Most
colleges are recruiting Richard with tight end in mind, but there are some schools
like Alabama and Florida State who envision Dickson coming off the end.
While
the position has yet to be set in stone, the one thing that we do know for sure
is that Richard is one of the most sought after prospects in the country. Dickson
has over 30 BCS offers in hand which includes all of the SEC programs.
Has
Richard begun to narrow the field?
The following information was
revealed during our interview with Richard Dickson:
How has it
been going? "It has been going as good as it can go considering the Hurricane
(Katrina) and all. I am living with a friend in an apartment with my parents across
the street. Things could be worse. That is for sure. I consider myself to be lucky
to be honest."
How is your season going? "It is going pretty
good. We are 4 - 1 right now. We just beat Moss Point last Friday which was huge
for us. We had never beaten them two times in a row until this season, so we are
proud of that. We lost to Carencro (LA) in our first game after the Hurricane.
We had a bunch of players missing in that game, but they are now all back on the
team. We are on a roll now."
Are you still going both ways? "Yes
sir."
Which position is your best position? "I am probably about
the same. I do not know. Probably the same. I could not name one over the other.
I think I am equally effective on both sides of the ball."
Are
you still being mainly recruited for TE? "Some of them are looking at me
for DE too. Florida State is for sure. But really, mot of them are looking at
me for both."
What would you rather play on the next level? "At
certain schools, I would rather play TE than DE, and some of the schools I would
rather play DE than TE."
Where would you rather play DE? "Alabama
would be a school I would rather play on the defense side of the ball."
Why?
"I just feel real comfortable with their defensive tackle coach."
What
you are saying is that you want to play for the position coach you feel the most
comfortable around? "Yes sir. If I am more comfortable with their tight end
coach, I would rather play tight end for that school. And if I know their defensive
coach better, then I want to play defense."
Who are some of the coaches
that you have built a tight bond with? "I have known Coach Matt Luke from
Ole Miss the longest. They were the first school to offer me a scholarship, and
really, the first school to start showing me a lot of interest. I have narrowed
it down to seven or eight schools, and I feel really close with all of them because
they all call me once a week, and I have gotten to meet most of them on my visits."
Which
seven or eight colleges have made your cut? "LSU, MSU, Ole Miss, Alabama,
Auburn, Tennessee, FSU, and probably Miami."
Have the eight schools
that made your cut all offered you a scholarship? "Yes sir."
Have
you begun to set up your official visits? "No, I was going to do that but
the storm pushed it back. I have been thinking about it a lot lately so I will
probably go ahead and get them lined up pretty soon. I have set up one visit though
and that is to Ole Miss. I am going there when they play LSU (11/18). I wanted
to visit them on that weekend because Nick Stephens (QB/Ole Miss commit) is visiting
on the weekend. Me and him grew up in the same neighborhood together in Dallas
before I moved to Ocean Springs. Nick game me a called the other week, and we
set our dates for the same weekend."
Where else will you most likely
take an official visit to? "I want to meet the Miami staff. That is one of
the schools I would like to see that I have not been to because it is so far away.
The other three visits I am not sure yet."
Where all have you visited
unofficially? "I have visited LSU, MSU, Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn, and Florida
State."
Are you looking at each school's depth chart and how many
players they are bringing in at your position? "I am looking at it a little
bit, but I figure anywhere you go you are going to have to compete."
Would
you have a problem signing with one of your coast rivals, Jonathan Massey? "Big
Jonathan, not at all (laugh). We have actually talked about all of that. He is
always joking around trying to get me to commit before him. We just have fun with
it."
Richard carries a 3.7 GPA and an 18 on the ACT.
.