Who: Ed Dickson, the former University of Oregon tight end
What: Living the dream
Where: NFL Scouting Combine and Draft
2009 NCAA Stats:
School: Oregon
Receptions: 42
Yards: 551
Touchdowns: 6
Overall Draft Rank: 61
Position Draft Rank: 5
Standing 6 feet 4 inches and weighing in at a solid 244 pounds, Ed Dickson is about to live every college athlete’s dream of going pro. In preparation for the NFL Combine, Dickson is currently living and training in Los Angeles, Calif. where he eats, sleeps, and breathes football.
Every February in Indianapolis, Ind., over 300 of the very best college football players are invited to perform physical and mental tests in front of NFL coaches, general managers and scouts at the NFL Scouting Combine. Over a period of four days, these athletes experience an intense job interview that is the vital steps to achieving their dream career of playing in the NFL.
The tight end from Long Beach, Calif. took the first step to pursue his football career by receiving an athletic scholarship at University of Oregon. But football isn’t where his impressive athletic talent started. While attending Bellflower High School in California, Dickson utilized his skills on the basketball court all four years and received the All-American Athlete Award his senior year in 2005.
What changed his direction to football? “I loved basketball, but because of my size and speed I saw more options with a future in football. Plus, I love the physical contact in football” said Dickson.
His quick feet and skills he developed on the basketball court is what set him apart from any other tight end.
Redshirting his freshman year in 2005, Dickson earned Scout Teams offensive-player-of-the-week on 5 different occasions.
In 2006, his natural athletic talent allowed him to be shifted to the defensive line where he was the second-leading tackler and had his career-best three stops in the season opening game against Stanford. In the last four games of the 2006 season Dickson was shifted back to the offensive line where he played wide receiver.
In 2007, Dickson continued to standout as he received more yards than any other programs tight ends in the past 3 years.
During the 2008 season, Dickson became physically and mentally stronger at the game and was second team All-Pac-10.
Entering his last season as a Duck in 2009, Dickson was on the John Mackey Award Watch List as the nation’s top tight end.
Football wasn’t the only important thing in his life. “I came to Oregon to play football, but I came to college to get an education and graduate” said Dickson.
After graduating last spring with a degree in Family and Human Services, Dickson received an invitation to the Senior Bowl and is now working hard to pursue a tight end position on an NFL team.
“I lived the best 5 years of my life while playing college football. Now to be given the opportunity to continue doing it as my career still seems surreal” said Dickson.
Along with preparing for the Combine and NFL draft, come a lot of decisions. When asked how he went about picking his agent, Dickson commented “What they have to offer all looks the same on paper. I wanted someone who could provide me with options but at the same time who was doing it out of the good of their heart. I chose Jeff Sperbeck to represent me because when we met, we just hung out, played pool, and got to know each other. It was like we had been friends for years and were just catching up on old times.”
Staying at a hotel as he awaits for the Combine, Dickson is currently living in Los Angeles, Calif. where he follows a strict day-by-day training schedule.
“I wake up, follow a detailed meal plan, go to training, interviews, and sleep” said Dickson.
With the little time he finds to himself, being back in L.A. gives him the opportunity to spend time with family.
Dickson commented, “Being close to my family has always been my number one priority. I grew up being raised by my mom and two sisters, without them I wouldn’t be the man I am today.”
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