Tarleton State University Athletics

Dickens played four varsity years at Paradise High School in Paradise, Texas, serving as a captain for the last three years. Across his career as a linebacker, he posted 486 total tackles, 109 tackles for loss and 37 sacks. Last season alone, he accounted for 191 tackles, 62 tackles for loss, 18 sacks and six blocked field goals. He was twice named All-State at LB, also earning a spot on the THSCA Super Elite Team, plus was named District MVP and County Defensive MVP.
 
“Koby is one of the best high school players in this area,” Whitten said. “He’s made more tackles than most everybody who’s ever played around here. He’s just a real dynamic player coming out of a 3A program. He’s got good speed, just one of the most active players I’ve seen in a good while from the inside linebacker position. He plays from sideline to sideline, just a real physical kid, we call him the Waterboy. He might’ve led the state of Texas in tackles, just something nuts.”
 
Dickens, who also received an offer from South Dakota State, spent four years participating with varsity track and field as well. He helped his team win the district championship twice (2023, 2021) and the area championship in 2023. Dickens, a class president at Paradise HS, has two sisters who ran for Tarleton State’s Track and Field program, Kyndel Beck and Mikeala Beck. He will pursue a degree in kinesiology at Tarleton State University.