The Texas Longhorn coaching staff has proven that it will leave no stone unturned in its search for top football talent. If there was any doubters left, it's time to introduce fans to the Longhorns' newest commitment … Australian punter Michael Dickson.
A product of Prokick Australia, an extremely successful kicking academy that has placed several prospects in Division I football programs around the nation, Dickson is a punting prospect with a powerful leg.
His path to Texas is a unique one.
Texas assistant coach Chris Vaughn has experience working with a player from Prokick, having been at Memphis when the Tigers signed Tom Hornsey, who eventually won the Ray Guy award in 2013 and is currently on the Dallas Cowboys roster. Fellow UT assistant coach Brick Haley was on the LSU staff when the Tigers signed two players who were placed at the school by Prokick.
"There were coaches (at Texas) who have been around our products, players who have come through the Prokick Australia system," said Prokick coach and co-owner Nathan Chapman. "What we hope, when we (contact college coaches), even though they've never seen this guy before, if we say can he can get the job done, that's where the trust factors comes in. Coach (Charlie) Strong may not have known about us, but the other coaches have some familiarity with us."
After contacting Texas and sending in film of Dickson punting, Texas brought Dickson in for an official visit last week. Once a scholarship offer was presented, there was no hesitation from Dickson in agreeing to be part of the Longhorns' 2015 recruiting class.
"We don't have an opportunity to grow up playing football and have a long recruiting process," Chapman said. "Coaches understand we're not here to gather offers, we're here (on visits) to pick the right kid who is going to fit into the environment, uphold the team culture, the culture of the state and the football community."
Once the Texas offer was on the table, it was an easy decision for Dickson.
"He'd be a stupid lad if he said no," Chapman joked, before discussing their philosophy on visits and offers.
"If we have that close relationship with the coaches, say 'You need to take this kid,' go through his eligibility, etcetera. Once they start seeing the film these kids are delivering, if there's an opportunity for a scholarship, which is what we chase, then that's it," Chapman said. "If we recommend a kid, and you offer him a scholarship, he would be silly to not take it."
With Dickson's situation moving along in a sudden and rapid pace, the specifics of when he'll join the team is still a bit up in the air. Chapman said there's some paperwork that will need to be processed, but Dickson will either enroll at Texas for the upcoming second summer session or for the 2015 fall semester.
Dickson to Texas seems like a perfect fit. The Longhorns struggled with inconsistencies in the punting game last year, and both players who punted in 2014 (William Russ, Michael Davidson) have completed their eligibility. Prior to Dickson's arrival, the Longhorns currently have two walk-on punters on their roster (Matt Sims, Mitchell Becker), but neither has punted in a college game. In adding Dickson, the hope is that the Longhorns will get an immediate boost in their special teams and Chapman expects his pupil to compete for a starting job as soon as he steps foot on campus.
"Charlie Strong is trying to get Texas to the strength it has been in the past. Having a punter who can literally flip that field, that will be an integral part of the puzzle," Chapman said. "I have no doubts (Dickson) will come in and impress. There are things he'll go through the first week or two when he gets there, picking up the speed of it. But that's part of the reason we selected him as a good choice. He'll adapt very quickly, that's what he's used to. There will be a first time doing a number of training drills, live snaps, but that will settle in pretty quickly. Two weeks into training camp, people will be excited about some of the kicks he can do, directional, move the pocket and kick right, roll left, whatever you think of, he can probably do it.
"He's got a 65-yard leg on him. He's going to give you exceptional hang time. He's very, very strong and solid, a well-developed young man. He comes from an Australian rules football background, where he was a team captain for what we call over here a professional junior academy. You're basically going to get a leader, a guy who is good at communicating, good at leading other players. He's really a strong-minded, serious competitor. Being around a professional type environment, he understands what it's like to work hard and get the best out of himself."
Prokick Australia has had tremendous success in placing players in Division I football programs. College football's last two Ray Guy Award winners (Memphis' Tom Hornsey in 2013, Utah's Tom Hackett in 2014) attended Prokick. Several of the Ray Guy finalists last year attended the kicking academy. Prokick has placed players at programs like Ole Miss, Arkansas, Rutgers, Penn State, Ohio State, Wake Forest and LSU.
Chatman expects Dickson to carry on Prokick's impressive tradition and feels Dickson could open doors for other Australian punters.
"For us, the Big 12 has been one (conference) that we haven't been able to crack from a player point of view. I have no doubt after what Michael puts on the table, other guys will be like 'Why haven't we made that phone call?,' Chapman said. "Coaches have a traditional view and think this is the way we've always done it. The Longhorns took advantage of it and will make good use of it. They have an important part of the puzzle.
"If you have a guy who can always … if you can get the ball to the 5-yard-line from wherever you are on the field, if you're close enough to be that accurate or have a strong enough leg to get it that distance, it's pretty handy to know your defense will have them inside the 10-yard-line pretty much every time."
A product of Prokick Australia, an extremely successful kicking academy that has placed several prospects in Division I football programs around the nation, Dickson is a punting prospect with a powerful leg.
His path to Texas is a unique one.
Texas assistant coach Chris Vaughn has experience working with a player from Prokick, having been at Memphis when the Tigers signed Tom Hornsey, who eventually won the Ray Guy award in 2013 and is currently on the Dallas Cowboys roster. Fellow UT assistant coach Brick Haley was on the LSU staff when the Tigers signed two players who were placed at the school by Prokick.
"There were coaches (at Texas) who have been around our products, players who have come through the Prokick Australia system," said Prokick coach and co-owner Nathan Chapman. "What we hope, when we (contact college coaches), even though they've never seen this guy before, if we say can he can get the job done, that's where the trust factors comes in. Coach (Charlie) Strong may not have known about us, but the other coaches have some familiarity with us."
After contacting Texas and sending in film of Dickson punting, Texas brought Dickson in for an official visit last week. Once a scholarship offer was presented, there was no hesitation from Dickson in agreeing to be part of the Longhorns' 2015 recruiting class.
"We don't have an opportunity to grow up playing football and have a long recruiting process," Chapman said. "Coaches understand we're not here to gather offers, we're here (on visits) to pick the right kid who is going to fit into the environment, uphold the team culture, the culture of the state and the football community."
Once the Texas offer was on the table, it was an easy decision for Dickson.
"He'd be a stupid lad if he said no," Chapman joked, before discussing their philosophy on visits and offers.
"If we have that close relationship with the coaches, say 'You need to take this kid,' go through his eligibility, etcetera. Once they start seeing the film these kids are delivering, if there's an opportunity for a scholarship, which is what we chase, then that's it," Chapman said. "If we recommend a kid, and you offer him a scholarship, he would be silly to not take it."
With Dickson's situation moving along in a sudden and rapid pace, the specifics of when he'll join the team is still a bit up in the air. Chapman said there's some paperwork that will need to be processed, but Dickson will either enroll at Texas for the upcoming second summer session or for the 2015 fall semester.
Dickson to Texas seems like a perfect fit. The Longhorns struggled with inconsistencies in the punting game last year, and both players who punted in 2014 (William Russ, Michael Davidson) have completed their eligibility. Prior to Dickson's arrival, the Longhorns currently have two walk-on punters on their roster (Matt Sims, Mitchell Becker), but neither has punted in a college game. In adding Dickson, the hope is that the Longhorns will get an immediate boost in their special teams and Chapman expects his pupil to compete for a starting job as soon as he steps foot on campus.
"Charlie Strong is trying to get Texas to the strength it has been in the past. Having a punter who can literally flip that field, that will be an integral part of the puzzle," Chapman said. "I have no doubts (Dickson) will come in and impress. There are things he'll go through the first week or two when he gets there, picking up the speed of it. But that's part of the reason we selected him as a good choice. He'll adapt very quickly, that's what he's used to. There will be a first time doing a number of training drills, live snaps, but that will settle in pretty quickly. Two weeks into training camp, people will be excited about some of the kicks he can do, directional, move the pocket and kick right, roll left, whatever you think of, he can probably do it.
"He's got a 65-yard leg on him. He's going to give you exceptional hang time. He's very, very strong and solid, a well-developed young man. He comes from an Australian rules football background, where he was a team captain for what we call over here a professional junior academy. You're basically going to get a leader, a guy who is good at communicating, good at leading other players. He's really a strong-minded, serious competitor. Being around a professional type environment, he understands what it's like to work hard and get the best out of himself."
Prokick Australia has had tremendous success in placing players in Division I football programs. College football's last two Ray Guy Award winners (Memphis' Tom Hornsey in 2013, Utah's Tom Hackett in 2014) attended Prokick. Several of the Ray Guy finalists last year attended the kicking academy. Prokick has placed players at programs like Ole Miss, Arkansas, Rutgers, Penn State, Ohio State, Wake Forest and LSU.
Chatman expects Dickson to carry on Prokick's impressive tradition and feels Dickson could open doors for other Australian punters.
"For us, the Big 12 has been one (conference) that we haven't been able to crack from a player point of view. I have no doubt after what Michael puts on the table, other guys will be like 'Why haven't we made that phone call?,' Chapman said. "Coaches have a traditional view and think this is the way we've always done it. The Longhorns took advantage of it and will make good use of it. They have an important part of the puzzle.
"If you have a guy who can always … if you can get the ball to the 5-yard-line from wherever you are on the field, if you're close enough to be that accurate or have a strong enough leg to get it that distance, it's pretty handy to know your defense will have them inside the 10-yard-line pretty much every time."
