EVANSTON-It is clear from talking to Garrett Dickerson that he can barely contain his enthusiasm for the upcoming season. In fact, he has been actively visualizing the pregame moment that never ceases to give him goose bumps.
When asked to describe this moment, a huge smile stretched across the junior's face. Immediately he went into a long, detailed description of precisely what he was looking forward to. By the end of it, the reporter felt as if he had just been through the experience himself.
“We already did warm-ups, we are back in the locker room listening to (head coach Pat Fitzgerald’s) speech, and then we are in the tunnel ready to run out and see all the fans, hear the fight song and get ready for the national anthem. That is probably what gets me going the most. That is really what I look forward to because it is like, ‘Wow, we are really here, it’s game time now, this is what we’ve been working for.’”
After playing behind one of Northwestern’s most successful superbacks of all time in Dan Vitale, Dickerson has been busy this offseason mentally and physically preparing to be “the guy”, both inside and outside the locker room.
The shoes he has to fill are rather large. Vitale finished his four-year career with 1,427 yards and 11 touchdowns, but numbers don’t do him justice. He also was a consistent run blocker, a strong leadership presence in the locker room and the guy the Wildcats often looked to when they needed a big play.
That being said, Dickerson is not shying away from the challenge. In fact, he is well aware of the role he is being asked to play.
“In terms of preparation, I have to step up as the guy now. I was preparing that way last year, but even more so now with Danny being gone. I have to step up and be a vocal leader and fill those roles that Danny was doing last year and take over now.”
There has been a large amount of hype surrounding Dickerson since he arrived on campus back in 2014. As a four-star defensive end/tight end recruit out of national powerhouse Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic, he was ranked as the No. 10 recruit in the Garden State. Before choosing Northwestern, he received offers from Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan, Michigan State, Florida State and Stanford.
Though he played as a true freshman and has seen action in 24 of 25 games over the past two years, Dickerson has only recorded 168 receiving yards and he has yet to score his first collegiate touchdown. He hopes that the work he has put in on all facets of his game will lead to become a bigger part of the offense this season.
“Good enough is never good enough. I’ve just been trying to work on all aspects of my game,” he said. “Whether it be on my blocking, my pass catching, or my route running. I’m just trying to work on every single thing that I can.”
Though Dickerson has always mentally prepared as a starter, he recognizes that without Vitale, he has to assume a leadership role. This involves him holding teammates accountable and being vocal in practice.
“From a mental point, I wouldn’t say (Vitale leaving) changed too much. I know I need to be a leader in that room through my actions along with my words.”
Fortunately for Garrett, being vocal runs in the family. His brother, former NU receiver Cam Dickerson, was one of the loudest voices heard at practice, a player that teammates took to calling “the juice man” for the energy he brought to the team.
Garrett may not be as natural as his brother, but it is clear that he loves to talk, especially about football.
A communication studies major, Dickerson believes that his efforts to build a rapport with quarterback Clayton Thorson off the field should also lead to an improved performance on it.
“Clayton and I talk extensively, just about everyday,” he told me “Whether it be about our offense, a connection that we had during practice, or just talking about life. Clayton and I talk a lot.”
Garrett says this step up in communication started this spring when Dickerson assumed the role as leader of the superback group. Both Thorson and Dickerson recognized that this was an important relationship to foster.
In addition to communication, however, Dickerson and Thorson have made an effort to put in work together in the offseason outside of practice. Dickerson hopes the extra time and effort will result in him becoming a trusted target of the second-year quarterback, both on and off the field.
“He and I were really working over the summer to get on the same page, whether it be running routes where he’s throwing the ball or watching film together. We really knew that we needed to be on the same page for our offense.”
Whether this extra work pays off with in game results remains to be seen. However, it is clear that the 6-foot-3, 245-pound superback has made extensive efforts to improve his production this year in a position that often gets overlooked or underutilized in Northwestern offense. He maintains contact with Vitale and has aspirations for a pro career himself someday.
In the meantime, he is just excited to run down the tunnel and play football again.
“I’m happy that football is back.”
