UCLA Football: NFL Draft Profile - DL Matt Dickerson

Every team needs glue guys. Guys that work hard, lead by example and put in work to be the best player they can be. Matt Dickerson was one of those guys during his time with the UCLA Bruins.

Upon Dickerson’s arrival to UCLA in 2014, he quickly contributed and saw action in 12 games as a freshman. His impact and playing time increased each year. During his junior year he ranked ninth on the team with 37 tackles and was set up to have a big senior year. However, his senior year was cut short when Dickerson suffered a broken collarbone on the first play of the second half against the Oregon Ducks. Dickerson never returned for the Bruins, and he ended up playing in only seven games during his senior year. Dickerson finished the year with 21 tackles.

Dickerson finished his career at UCLA with 49 solo tackles and 94 total tackles. He also was credited with 0.5 sacks.

Strengths

It is clear that Dickerson is a hard-working player with a motor, He has the size and strength that fits the mold of a defensive lineman. Dickerson’s hard work through the years has made him a very technically sound player on the line, and his work ethic will continue to be a calling card of his.

Weaknesses

While Dickerson has the size and strength, it’s hard to see exactly where he would fit in the NFL. His inability to get to the quarterback during his time at UCLA was always an issue. Dickerson’s initial quickness off the ball often enabled lineman to engage with him which, in turn, caused him troubles when it came to making big plays in the backfield.

He was another player on UCLA’s defense that just rarely made impact plays that made you sit up and say, wow!

Draft Projection

NFL.com is projecting that Dickerson will go in rounds six or seven. I think that might be a little generous. I would not be surprised if Dickerson did not hear his name but immediately gets a call by a NFL team as an UDFA with a shot in an NFL camp.


Go Bruins!