Cedric Dicke, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior from Cannon Falls, was recently named the Red Wing Republican-Eagle Player of the Year. The versatile player has received a preferred walk-on offer from Minnesota and is hearing from many Midwest programs. GopherHole.com recently caught up with Dicke to learn the latest on his recruitment and his senior season.
Dicke played both sides of the field as well as handling punting duties and returning kicks and punts this year for the Bombers.
Dicke rushed for 773 yards and seven touchdowns and caught 21 passes for 323 yards and two scores this year. He started three games at quarterback and completed 11 of 26 passes for 184 yards with one touchdown.
Dicke, who had 16 total touchdowns, finished with three interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, two forced fumbles, three sacks and 52 tackles.
Dicke had two punt return touchdowns and two kick return touchdowns. He had a 90-yard kick return against Goodhue in a 30-29 loss and against fifth-ranked Stewartville, Dicke returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown.
Dicke had two defensive touchdowns in a 31-28 win over then No. 6 Kasson-Mantorville. He returned an interception (one of two pickoffs) 38 yards and had a fumble recovery for a score.
Dicke showed off his receiving skills with a season-best 11 catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns against La Crescent
Dicke rushed 16 times for 264 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-29 win over Pine Island.
He also returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown in the victory.
Dicke led the Bombers to a 4-5 record, losing to defending state champion Rochester Lourdes in the first round of the Section 1AAA playoffs.
GopherHole.com recently caught up with Dicke to learn the latest on his recruitment and his senior season.
GH: You were recently named the Red Wing Republican-Eagle Player of the Year. When did you find out about that honor?
Cedric Dicke: About a week ago, I had to take some pictures and then he called me on the phone and did an interview, so I knew then.
GH: What is the latest on your recruitment? North Dakota State and Minnesota have both offered you a preferred- walk on status.
Cedric Dicke: I have been in contact with those two along with South Dakota State, Northern Iowa and south Dakota. Those are my top ones right now.
GH: Have you had a chance to go to many college football game this year?
Cedric Dicke: We have been to a lot actually. We’ve been to NDSU, South Dakota State, Minnesota, Iowa State and Northern Iowa.
GH: What Gopher game did you attend?
Cedric Dicke: We went to the Wisconsin game.
GH: What position are most of the schools looking at you playing in college? I know that you played quite a few different spots this year.
Cedric Dicke: They mostly see me as an outside backer or safety. Some schools are thinking wide receiver, but I don’t think too many are looking at me there.
GH: Do you have a preference of linebacker or defensive back?
Cedric Dicke: No, it doesn’t really matter. I’ll play either.
GH: What are you hearing from the Gophers?
Cedric Dicke: Now that their season is done, I think that they are going to wait and look at my film and see what Coach Kill thinks. If he likes me, I’ll go up there and talk to him some more and go from there.
GH: You went to one of their summer camps, right?
Cedric Dicke: It was fun. I had kind of a bad day, but it was fun to go out there with the coaches and run around and play some football.
GH: You also went to the Wisconsin, North Dakota State, South Dakota and Iowa State camps as well.
Cedric Dicke: Yes, we went there, too.
GH: Are any of the other school looking at you as a preferred walk-on status?
Cedric Dicke: No, I haven’t gotten anything else from anyone else.
GH: Has anyone talked to you about a scholarship at a D1 or D2 level?
Cedric Dicke: I have got official visit offers from Northern State and Southwest State. South Dakota State mentioned one.
GH: Do you have a preference of playing at a D1 level or a D2 level or does that matter?
Cedric Dicke: I would like to play at the highest level I can. I think that I can play Division I. I would like to play there.
GH: You open the basketball season Friday night. What are the expectations for the upcoming year?
Cedric Dicke: We had a really young team last year, so we have a lot of guys returning. I think that we should definitely be better than last year and hopefully, build from that and play well.
GH: What was feeling on your senior football season?
Cedric Dicke: I thought it was good. It was a fun season. I wish that we could have won a few more games and it ended a little bit soon, but it was good. I thought that we did some good things and it was a fun season.
GH: How about your own individual play?
Cedric Dicke: I thought it was good. In the games, I notice more of what I do wrong than what I do right, so there is definitely things that I could have done better, but I think that I did well. I’m happy with my season.
GH: You played running back, wide receiver and even a few games at quarterback. Do you like being that versatile player who can play multiple positions rather than someone who plays just one spot?
Cedric Dicke: Definitely. It makes me feel like I can do more and contribute to the team more.
GH: Do you also think that your versatility helps you in your recruitment because you can play multiple spots?
Cedric Dicke: Yes, I think so, too, because even if they (colleges) don’t know what position I’ll play, they’ll think that I am a good athlete and get me into school and camp and find a spot for me.
GH: Have you thought much about a possible college major?
Cedric Dicke: I am undecided on that right now. I’m not really sure.
GH: What is your GPA?
Cedric Dicke: 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
GH: Do you take the SAT or ACT?
Cedric Dicke: I took ACT. I got a 24 on it.
GH: Army was a school that you were looking at for awhile. Are you still looking at them?
Cedric Dicke: A little bit, but I don’t know if that is really for me. I looked more into it and it would be really tough to do that, but I’m still interested a little bit.
GH: Are you going to try to visit some schools or is it a little bit harder with basketball starting?
Cedric Dicke: It is definitely harder because of basketball, but I still think that we are going to try to get out to some more schools whenever we have an open weekend.
GH: Do you play any spring sports?
Cedric Dicke: I play baseball. I play shortstop mostly and pitch, too. We have a legion team in town and I played on that, too.