The Gophers have received a commitment from four-star Omaha, Nebraska cornerback Avante Dickerson. He held offers from Nebraska, Oregon, Georgia, Iowa, LSU, Ohio State, Texas and others.
Dickerson, a four-star prospect, is the top recruit in Nebraska, according to 24/7 Sports. He becomes the program’s second-highest rated commit (0.9609) of the internet era, per 24/7 Sports data. Dickerson is the No. 6 cornerback in the nation and joins four-star Arizona defensive back Steven Ortiz Jr. in the 2021 class. P.J. Fleck and his staff continue to raise the bar in recruiting. When everything is complete, the 2021 class is shaping up to be the best in school history.
Dickerson posted 21 tackles, 11 pass breakups and four interceptions last season. He also ran a blistering 4.16 shuttle, according to The Opening Regional’s data. You see all of this agility and quickness within his film clips. He moves really well and changes direction on a dime. Dickerson has a knack for finding the football and gets into passing lanes. His transition quickness from backpedal to opening his hips is excellent. I pulled the clips below to show how well he uses his speed/agility to recover and break up the pass. Dickerson is a very smooth player and will be a cornerstone of Minnesota’s secondary.
Dickerson is also a versatile offensive player and thrived at both running back and wide receiver.
The Gophers are quickly building a dominant secondary. With Dickerson on the perimeter and Ortiz Jr. playing the slot, teams will have trouble passing on Minnesota.
Here’s a look at his film: