Communities mourn death of Tampa Bay area football player

ARROLLWOOD — Calvin Dickey Jr. was a big man with a big heart.

That’s how Carrollwood Day School peers, friends and family will remember the standout athlete — affectionately known as “CJ” — who was getting ready to begin his freshman year playing football at Bucknell University when he died July 12.

He was 19. A cause of death has yet to be released.

When the news emerged that Dickey — a 6-foot-5, 290-pound lineman — had died, it stunned the Carrollwood community, as well as many in the Land O’ Lakes area where he attended Land O’ Lakes High before transferring to CDS prior to junior year.

Dickey was set to play for the Bisons at Bucknell, a private liberal-arts college in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He was one of six CDS football players to sign on to play at the collegiate level in February.

“Calvin has the most infectious personality, was always smiling, friendly to all and was a natural-born leader,” CDS Football posted in a graphic to its X account on July 13. “His beautiful spirit has touched so many lives. He was loved by his peers and would give the shirt off his back to a stranger. He embodied what it means to be a great football player and a great person. Words cannot express how deeply we will miss him.”

Dickey is survived by his father, Calvin; mother, Nicole; and sister, Patrice.

Just days after his passing, his family took to their son’s X account to post an update.

“As you can imagine, we are devastated by the passing of our son, Calvin Dickey, Jr. We had 18 years of pure joy with him in our lives. … Please continue to keep us in your prayers and thoughts.”

Bucknell Athletics’ account posted the tragic news on its accounts early July 13.

“The Bucknell football family mourns the tragic passing of incoming freshman Calvin Dickey. During this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with Calvin’s family, friends, and teammates,” the post said.

During the 2023 season, Dickey was one of the four senior captains that saw the Patriots go 8-2, outscoring opponents 420-182 enroute to a Class 1 Metro region final appearance.

Dickey was a standout two-way player, featured on both the offensive and defensive line, where, on the latter, he had 17 tackles and a sack.

As a sophomore at Land O’ Lake High, he also recorded 26 tackles and three sacks.

Several members of the Land O’ Lakes High community offered condolences on X, including former quarterback Kyle Horvath, assistant principal Heather Wall and principal Ric Melin, with the latter saying, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Calvin’s family as they deal with his unfortunate passing. Our football program was strengthened by his passion and dedication.”

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, whose son Justin, a fellow senior that played with Dickey Jr. on defense as a cornerback before signing with Butler University, also offered his condolences on social media.

“To the Dickeys: We will all miss Calvin Jr. It’s tough right now, but God will see you through this,” Dungy replied to a post on Dickey’s feed, adding a Bible quote.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for the family and it states, in part: “Calvin was not just an exceptional athlete, but also a dedicated friend, teammate, and role model. His passion for football was matched only by his kindness, generosity, and infectious spirit both on and off the field. He inspired us all with his determination, sportsmanship, and unwavering commitment to excellence.”

The GoFundMe page can be visited at https://gofund.me/efbd4a8b. Funeral services have yet to be announced.