One of the key members of the 2014 St. Louis Attack defense, Marcus Dickinson, is coming back for the 2015 season.
After earning plenty of honors last season – including X-League Defensive Player of the Year and All-X-League – Dickinson says he hopes to take that a step further next season. “I’d like to add X-League MVP to that,” he said. “And to win the X-Bowl.”
Coming back to the Attack was an easy decision for the 5’9” defensive back. “I love this organization,” said Dickinson, 28, who graduated from Kirkwood High School in 2004. “It’s a family oriented group where everyone puts aside personal gains for the betterment of the organization.”
Dickinson credits another Kirkwood graduate – Jeremy Maclin of the Philadelphia Eagles – as being one of his biggest motivators. “Seeing the success Jeremy has had has been huge for me,” said Dickinson. “He’s younger than me so we didn’t stay in touch much after he finished at Mizzou, but his career has kept me motivated to keep going.”
Maclin hasn’t been his only motivation, though. “My mom, Deborah Mitchell, is actually my biggest influence and my biggest cheerleader,” he said. “She’s supported me in everything I do and have done in life.”
His love for the game also keeps Dickinson going. “The best part about playing defensive back in indoor football is that it’s one-on-one,” he said. “It’s man-on-man with no help. It really helps to test your skills when you can’t hide in a zone defense.”
The Attack open the 2015 season on March 29 when they travel to Texas to take on the Corpus Christi Fury, and open the home season on April 4 when they host the Rio Grande Valley Sol at the Family Arena.
