Q&A: 2023 Dutchtown LB Dickson Agu
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Few rising seniors around Louisiana have been picking up scholarship offers at a faster pace than Dutchtown linebacker Dickson Agu Dickson Agu 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Dutchtown | 2023 State LA . The 6-foot-2, 225-pound standout finished his…
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Continue ReadingFew rising seniors around Louisiana have been picking up scholarship offers at a faster pace than Dutchtown linebacker Dickson Agu Dickson Agu 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Dutchtown | 2023 State LA .
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound standout finished his junior season still awaiting the first college to make that move. And since Purdue did so in December, another 11 have followed suit — and picked up pace, with five thus far in April.
Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana (Lafayette), Incarnate Word, Navy, Southeastern Louisiana, Furman, Air Force, Army, Charlotte and Northwestern State have joined the list.
And Agu has additionally had the chance to visit Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Purdue, Indiana and several of the in-state schools.
The well-rounded prospect — and student-athlete — with a 4.5 GPA and high-level aspirations on the field and in the classroom chatted this week about his quickly expanding recruiting process.
Check out some of the highlights.
Take me through it. You pick up the first offer from Purdue in December, and then Tulane in January, and then it just keeps picking up steam. Louisiana Tech and the Ragin’ Cajuns in February, then three in March, five (potentially and counting) in April. And we haven’t even gotten to spring ball and the camp circuit. What’s been going on?
Well, I feel like my name’s just been getting out there. As you get more offers, more just start coming in because more coaches are seeing what you bring to the table. One coach likes what you do and feels like you would fit their program, so they go ahead and extend the offer.
What have been some of the common things that you’ve heard from them? As they tell you that they’ve taken notice of you and what they like about your game and what you’re putting out there, what have been some of those attributes that the college coaches have mentioned?
The coaches have been saying they love my physicality, my ability to meet the running back in the hole and my ability to get out in space and cover. They like the versatility that I bring to the table.
I was going to say, when I was watching your film, I think I noticed some of your quickness and fluidity first. I mean your first highlight from junior season, you’re lined up a little bit back and stay in coverage, read a pass and deflect it up in the air for an interception. But then you start seeing one after another you start seeing you really laying the wood and the momentum of these backs stopping immediately. Even if you just get your hands on ’em, it’s pretty much a done deal. What are some of the things that you worked on to get to that both, I guess in both aspects — some of the things you’ve done for your athleticism and your feet and whatnot, as well as some of what you’ve done to develop into such a physical force in the middle of that defense.
It all starts with the weight room. The program that we have at Dutchtown, it gets you stronger. It builds mental toughness. Working on my explosiveness through these power cleans, it all translates onto the field. Power clean is just like getting explosive, getting off a block and delivering a hit. So coach (Chris) Harrell, our defensive coach, he built it’s about moving fast, reading the hole and hitting it, so whenever you’re playing with confidence, you’re ready and you know what you’re doing, it’s all about making the play.
Did you grow up predominantly playing a linebacker role, or what were some of the positions you played from your earliest ages in football and then developing on to this point?
Pee Wee, I played defensive end and tight end. Then as you moved into middle school, I played some fullback, running back, linebacker, D-line. But as I moved into high school, I’ve been playing linebacker.
That first offer, I mentioned Purdue in December, and you talked about the nature of recruiting and how it can be a bit of a domino effect once that first one or the first couple happen, the other schools start to see. Take me through that day when you heard from Purdue, what that conversation was like, what those emotions were like to have it get started and have it get started with a Power Five program.
Before that, there was a few colleges that started to talk to me, but they never pulled the plug and offered me. So Purdue coming in there, it was coach (Jeff) Brohm, the head coach, and coach (Marty) Biagi, who’s now at Ole Miss. So he was there, and he was talking about how he loved my game, how he loved my academics. So then he finally said, “So how would you feel if we offered you?” I said, “That would be great.” And then the head coach said, “Congratulations.” At first, I didn’t really understand what happened. I was confused. And he was like, “You just got your first offer.” And from there on, it was like more coaches just started following me, more coaches got in contact with me, and we’re at where we’re at now.
You mention coach Biagi, down at Ole Miss now. That’s one of the places you’ve had a chance to visit recently. And so you’ve already seen how some of this coaching movement can start to open up doors elsewhere. Recent visits I have you taking are Oxford, as well as Starkville out at Mississippi State a couple months back. Over in Lafayette where your brother (Justin) just finished his first year with the Cajuns, Louisiana Tech, Purdue, Indiana and Tulane. What have you picked up through some of those travels, getting a chance to meet the college coaches, see the facilities, see just kind of what the presentations and conversations looked like? As you’ve really picked up speed with that, how has your perception of the recruiting process and how to handle it developed?
As you go to see more of these schools, the Power Five schools are going to have amazing facilities. It’s gonna be glitz and glamor. They’re truly nice. But as you get there, you want to talk to the staff. You want to see which staff is messing with you more, which coaches truly feel like you would be an amazing fit for there program. And it’s about liking how they run their program.
Did you grow up a big fan of a certain college program? Did you grow up, being near Baton Rouge, as an LSU guy or a Southern guy? Did you have a favorite, or not really?
I always loved watching LSU. That’s just the home team. So that would be a dream offer, but it’s whatever. I’m just trying to find somewhere that feels like home to me.
Do you have specific plans of additional places you’re trying to be, whether it be additional visits in the coming months or once camp season really opens up in the end of May or beginning of June or even when we get into some potential official visits in the season on game days and whatnot?
Purdue will probably be an official visit that I’m scheduling soon. I want to get out to Mississippi State for a camp. LSU’s camp is close, of course, so I want to get out there for a camp too.
I mentioned the Ragin’ Cajuns were one of those first few offers. How much have you heard from Justin? Or there have been a few difference guys the past couple years, particularly around Baton Rouge, that have picked up some Purdue offers — a couple of guys that are already up there and a couple of guys here right now headed that way. How much are you hearing a conversation of, “Hey, little bro,” or “Hey, my guy, you need to come here and be a part of this”?
So, my brother at UL, I’m there all the time. I’m just around their culture. So it’s nice having a brother at UL. And then Purdue, Roman Pitre Roman Pitre 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB University Lab | 2022 State LA from U-High, he’s (signed), so he’s always checking in and talking about, “What coaches are you talking to?” And when I went on my unofficial visit, he was saying, “Man, this place is special. You might wanna go ahead and commit.” Joking around with me.