Sophomore tight end Ed Dickson has shown the versatility to do anything the team needs him to do in his two years as a Duck.
As a freshman last season, he saw action in 13 games on special teams as well as at defensive end, wide receiver and tight end as the team’s needs dictated.
Now he is at tight end to stay, where that versatility allows him to utilize his speed and athleticism to separate from defenders and make big catches.
“He kind of has to be a jack-of-all-trades, if you will,” said Oregon tight ends and special teams coach Tom Osborne. “He’s not a 260-pound line-of-scrimmage guy that can block the end every play but those guys can’t run downfield like Ed can, so Ed gives us some advantages in the passing game because of his speed and athleticism that maybe those bigger tight ends don’t give you.”
As a versatile offensive threat, Dickson seems perfectly suited to contribute to the success of the Ducks’ multi-faceted spread offense. Since the injury to Jeremiah Johnson, coach Mike Bellotti has said repeatedly that the Ducks will try to spread the ball around to the tight ends and receivers on some rushing plays. Aside from a 12-yard gain on an option pitch at Washington, Dickson hasn’t received the call to run the ball yet, but his athletic build makes him a prime candidate to do so.
“He’s athletic and he can change directions and he’s shown to be able to secure the ball pretty well,” said Osborne. “We’ve been trying to mix up a combination of a lot of guys but Ed can do it because he can run with it a little bit.”

“Our offense is made versatile so anyone can run the ball,” said Dickson. “I can’t be limited to playing one position, you might see me in the backfield.”
Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has already made Dickson a big part of the aerial attack this season, and Dickson has responded to the tune of 24 catches for 324 yards and two touchdowns. He is the team’s second leading receiver behind junior wide receiver Jaison Williams.
“(Kelly) gives me opportunities to get one-on-one with guys, make plays, and take advantage of it,” said Dickson. “I feel like I’m doing pretty good right now. I’m contributing to the team and that’s a big part of what I wanted to do going into the season is contribute.”
Dickson said he knew coming into the year that he would be seeing a lot of action, and he said that the addition of Kelly as offensive coordinator has been a great thing for the tight end position.
“He puts an emphasis on throwing to the tight end because we’re the big target in the middle, making moves,” said Dickson. “With tight ends now, our ability to get vertical and get in and out of breaks, we’re open like 90 percent of the time.”
Getting matchups against linebackers is the key to his ability to get open as much as he does, Dickson said.
“It’s great getting (linebackers) instead of corners trying to guard me because the smaller guys are quicker,” he said. “I get linebackers trying to guard me and I can use my feet in the open field up the middle.”
And with Oregon’s injury problems on offense, Dickson said he and everyone else on the offense knew they were going to need to contribute even more.
“It’s an opportunity to make plays, for everybody,” he said. “Nobody panicked or nothing like that, everybody just said ‘Okay, it’s time to go make plays.’”
Over the last decade, Oregon football fans have seen plenty of big plays from the tight end spot and not only has the position been productive for the Oregon offense, it has also become fertile ground for growing NFL-quality talent.
Oregon ‘s last four starting tight ends have all gone pro. Justin Peelle is one of the few bright spots on the Miami Dolphins’ offense and George Wrighster followed up his remarkable career for the Ducks by signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he has been a solid presence for the last four years. Tim Day and Dante Rosario have gone on to roster spots with the Cincinnati Bengals and Carolina Panthers, respectively.
Dickson, at 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, is built in the same athletic mold as his agile predecessors at the position and his potential is unlimited, according to Osborne.
“He has no idea how good he can be,” Osborne said. “He’s still a young player but he’s got great speed and athleticism and there’s no substitute for that.”
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