Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina redshirt freshman quarterback Taron Dickens was today named to the third annual FCS Football Central Freshman All-America team. A Southern Conference All-Freshman team selection, Dickens was thrust into the starting role in November after Cole Gonzales was sidelined by injury. He started the final four games with three wins, guiding the Catamounts to a second-place finish in the SoCon – the program's best finish since 1986.
 
Dickens was among 69 freshmen from 52 programs recognized including nine from the Southern Conference. He was joined by Furman tight end Jackson Pryor and linemen Luke Moise from Wofford and Tyler Murray from Mercer on offense; SoCon Freshman of the Year, defensive lineman Andrew Zock from Mercer along with Wofford defensive lineman Marion Smokes, rounded out by three defensive backs in Asa Locks from VMI, CJ Coombes from Wofford, and Billy Lewis of Furman.
 
Dickens is also the second Catamount to be recognized in the three years the team has been selected, joined by former placekicker Richard McCollum back in 2022.
 
Dickens combined to play in seven games in 2024 including the season's final four as the starting QB, making his first collegiate start in the home win over nationally-ranked Chattanooga. The Miami, Fla., product finished 3-1 as the starter, guiding the Catamounts to wins over UTC and the program's first road victory at Samford since 1969 – just the second all-time in program history. Dickens finished the year 127-of-172 (74%) through the air for 1,428 yards with 12 touchdown passes that included 124 completions for 1,366 yards and 11 scores after taking over the starting job.
 
In nine career games over the past two seasons, Dickens has combined to pass for 1,555 yards with 13 touchdowns. He's added a pair of rushing scores, both coming in the mountain rivalry Blue Ridge Border Battle at ETSU in early November.
 
Dickens was a two-time Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week following WCU's wins over Chattanooga and the regular-season-finale at Samford. Stats Perform thrice recognized Dickens with its National Freshman of the Week honor, twice listed as an honorable mention while earning the top prize after throwing for a career-high 431 yards and five TDs in the Chattanooga victory.
 
Dickens capped the year as a finalist for the 2024 Jerry Rice Award given to the nation's top freshman in the NCAA FCS, finishing 15th in the national vote. The sixth Catamount rookie to grace the finalist ballot for the Jerry Rice Award, Dickens is WCU's third top rookie over the past four seasons along with DB Andreas Keaton (t-17th, 2021) and RB Desmond Reid (6th, 2022).
 
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FCS Central Freshman All-America:
2022 – Richard McCollum, PK (3rd Tm)
2024 – Taron Dickens, QB
 
HERO Sports Freshman All-America:
2016 – Tyrie Adams, QB
2018 – Ronald Kent Jr., DB
2019 – Tyler Smith, OL
2021 – Calvin Jones, WR & Raphael Williams, WR
2024 – Taron Dickens, QB
 
Phil Steele Freshman All-America:
2017 – Owen Cosenke, TE
2018 – Ronald Kent Jr., DB
2019 – Isaiah Helms, OL & Kevin Thompson, LS
2021 – Raphael Williams, WR & Calvin Jones, WR/RS
2023 – Corey Washington, WR