A few years ago, Oregon was in a similar position to right now. The team was preparing for a low-stakes bowl game with a roster significantly weakened by several starters opting out to head to the NFL.
We always talk about this sort of scenario acting as a perfect breeding ground for breakout performances as young players get an opportunity to show what they can do on a big stage. In that 2021 Alamo Bowl game against Oklahoma, true freshman wide receiver Troy Franklin seized the opportunity, bursting onto the scene with 4 catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, all career highs at that time.
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Franklin went on to become arguably the greatest wide receiver in Oregon school history over the next couple of years. Duck fans are probably hoping true freshman WR Jurrion Dickey can follow a similar trajectory.
It has been a tough road so far for the five-star prospect from Northern California, the same neck of the woods as Franklin. He signed with Oregon as the second-highest-rated receiver in program history — the No. 2 WR in the 2023 class — but did not have the instant impact many expected. Much of that had to do with a knee injury (torn meniscus) he suffered in the first game of his senior season at Menlo-Atherton High School. Much of his freshman season in Oregon was spent rehabilitating and getting up to speed physically instead of getting on the field.
“I feel like I’m 100% right now,” Dickey said on Thursday.
Dickey said it wasn’t until about a month ago that he felt as though he returned to his pre-injury level of health. But he believes the process of growing was important for him, not only by becoming a stronger player, but a stronger person off the field.
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“It was frustrating but you’ve just gotta go through it,” Dickey said. “Sometimes things hit you and you’ve just gotta bounce back from it. I learned a lot of things that I wouldn’t actually pay attention to if I wasn’t injured.”
It wasn’t just things about the game Dickey focused on during his time off the field. He said he learned more about himself as a person.
“It just allowed me to develop outside of football.”
Now, Dickey is healthy and ready to go. He’s also ready for a bigger stage and the opportunity to display what made him such a highly rated player coming into college. On Jan. 1, the Oregon Ducks will take on the Liberty Flames in the Fiesta Bowl, and many eyes will tune in to see what the next potential Oregon WR great has in store.
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“It gives me an opportunity to actually grow, and see how I am on the college level on the football field and in the game situation,” Dickey said.
That’s something that Duck fans have been anxious to see for about a year, ever since Dickey signed on Dec. 21, 2022. In just 10 days, they will finally get the opportunity.
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