After playing for Tennessee State University from 1965 to 1968, he was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft.
Despite a strong performance during training camp, Dickey was moved to wide receiver for the start of the season.
[1] In college at Tennessee State (TSU), he became a three-time HBCU All-American with 6,523 passing yards and 67 touchdowns.
Also in 1966, TSU earned their first undefeated, untied season and their first National Black College Football Championship.
It is unknown if this decision was influenced by the predominant stereotype at the time that Blacks weren't intelligent enough to be capable leaders or if it was solely based on Dickey's athletic ability.
As with two other black quarterbacks of his time, Joe Gilliam and Marlin Briscoe, the feeling that he never received a fair opportunity to play his desired position led to drug abuse.[who?]