LSU senior tight end Richard Dickson finished the 2008 season on a high note, catching four receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown in LSU’s 38-3 victory against Georgia Tech in the Chik-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta on Dec. 31.But Dickson didn’t feel a real sense of accomplishment after the team finished the season 8-5. The Tiger senior felt he had unfinished business that he could only attend to by coming back to LSU for his senior season.”The NFL draft was always going to be there,” Dickson said. “No one wants to leave when it didn’t end the way you want to.”The Ocean Springs, Miss., native is expected to start at tight end for his fourth consecutive year, and his teammates, coaches and the rest of the nation anticipate great things from Dickson in the 2009 season.Dickson was one of two Tigers put on the 2009 preseason coaches’ All-Southeastern Conference First Team. Dickson was also selected to the 2009 John Mackey Award watch list. The John Mackey award is given annually to the top tight end in college football.Dickson was a second-team All-SEC selection in 2006 and 2008.But Dickson’s goals aren’t limited to individual awards. He said he wants the Tigers to avenge their losses from the 2008 season and finish the 2009 season on a positive note.”We don’t want to have another season like last year,” Dickson said. “That was a good season for other teams, but we came to LSU to win more games than that.”Dickson said he wants to contribute in any way he can to make the team better. He said he wants to be reliable and make big plays.Big plays are exactly what he’s made thus far at LSU. Dickson is in the top five all-time at LSU in all three major tight end categories. He is tied with Brad Boyd for the most touchdown receptions by a tight end at LSU (10), fourth in receptions (69) and fifth in yards (795).”We think those individual records are wonderful, but they are a by-product of the success of the team,” said first-year tight ends coach Don Yanowsky. “If those things happen, it’s because he’s had a bunch of teammates around him that have been productive.”Offensive coordinator Gary Crowton said having a veteran leader like Dickson on the team with so many skills is important to his offense.”You’re looking for those kinds of guys that can run, catch, block and think,” Crowton said.Crowton said what makes Dickson one of the best tight ends in the league is his versatility at the position.”He has that temperament where he can be physical when he needs to be,” Crowton said. “He can run out for passes and catch it and make yards after the catch.”Dickson said breaking all the Tigers’ tight end records would be a “great accomplishment,” especially since former Tiger tight ends like Robert Royal and Keith Zinger are playing in the NFL.”Breaking the records would be just unbelievable to know that you are up there with some of the guys on that list,” Dickson said.Dickson finished his junior season second on the team in touchdowns (5) and third on the team in receptions (31) and yards (324). But Yanowsky said Dickson’s talent should really shine through in his senior season.”I expect, like all great players, that he’s going to have his best year this year,” Yanowsky said.–Contact Jarred LeBlanc at [email protected]