Senior tight end Dorin Dickerson was the most decorated player in Pitt's heralded recruiting class of 2006, but after three rather undistinguished seasons he was on the path to becoming one of the largest busts in Panthers history.

But as things turned out, Dickerson will leave the Panthers in much the same way he joined them -- with his name in the headlines.

Dickerson made sure his fourth and final season counted in a big way and he found out that his spectacular season didn't go unnoticed as he was named first-team All America yesterday by the Football Writers Association.

"It is really special," Dickerson said. "It is really something, it feels like my career here at Pitt has come full circle. There were a lot of ups and downs for me in my career but I wouldn't change a thing, I loved my college experience, I loved being able to call myself a Pitt Panther even when things weren't going well, and this just goes to show you if you stick to something and work hard, great things can happen for you."

Dickerson, who was a SuperPrep All-American and the Associated Press Pennsylvania Class AAA player of the year as a senior at West Allegheny High School, joins an elite group of Panthers who have earned first-team All-America status.

He is only the fifth Pitt player -- joining Antonio Bryant, Larry Fitzgerald, H.B. Blades and Scott McKillop -- to earn All-America status since 1995 and he is Pitt's first tight end to earn the distinction since Mike Ditka in 1960.

"When you look at the names of the players on that list, it is humbling to be included in that group now," Dickerson said. "I think after last season the key for me was to just really buckle down and work as hard as I possibly could. I knew my margin for error was nothing because this was my last year regardless of what happens, so I wanted to make the best of it.

"But this is really an award for the whole offense and the coaches because we all worked together to make this season possible."

Dickerson caught 45 passes for 508 yards (11.3 per reception) and had 10 touchdown receptions. He was third on the team behind Dion Lewis and Dan Hutchins in scoring and second behind Jonathan Baldwin in receptions.

He was also ninth in the Big East Conference in receptions and earlier this week he was named first-team All-Big East.

That's not a bad body of work considering Dickerson missed his chance at a redshirt as a freshman for a handful of plays at receiver then moved to linebacker for his second season and never really caught on there, either.

But before his junior season, he moved to tight end and, while he wasn't utilized much, he definitely showed some flashes of what could be if he was made a focal point of the offense -- which is exactly what first-year offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti did with him this season.

Dickerson said this season was enjoyable for him but not just because of what he accomplished, but more because of what he and his teammates accomplished. The Panthers finished 9-3 and earned a trip to the Meineke Car Care Bowl against North Carolina (8-4) Dec. 26 in Charlotte, N.C.

"Our team was so close, it felt like a high school team," Dickerson said. "It was just guys hanging out together, nobody worried about stats, nobody worried about being the star, just a great team bond. We really came together this year and those memories and our friendships will last forever."

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