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If Jurrion Dickey indeed transfers to a Southern California school — as first reported by the San Jose Mercury News on Thursday — the ramifications could be significant, starting with preseason football rankings. 

The SBLive Sports California staff, in fact, were hashing out its preseason Top 50 teams Thursday just minutes before the breaking news that the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder, ranked the No. 2 incoming senior receiver in the country by 247Sports, had left Valley Christian (San Jose) to enroll somewhere south.  

All was according to Valley Christian head coach Mike Machado. He didn't know or reveal the destination point. 

SBLive confirmed on Friday that Dickey plans to transfer to Mater Dei. 

Valley Christian, a perennial Bay Area power out of arguably Northern California's top league (West Catholic), was slated to start the season in the 40-50 range. Without the explosive Oregon-bound standout and three-year starter, the Warriors likely will start outside the ranking. 

Machado has coached many gifted and high-ranking players over his quarter century at Valley Christian, including current New York Giants receiver Collin Johnson, out of the University of Texas. None have been more productive or game-changing than Dickey, who started as a freshman and has 120 career catches for 2,084 yards and 31 touchdowns. 

“Jurrion can do things and make catches that you usually only see watching TV on Sundays,” Machado told us last season when he finished with 78 catches for 1,304 yards and 19 touchdowns.   

On Friday, Machado said: "We're ecstatic the kid finally was given 5-star status. He so deserves it. I love the kid."  

Machado was pointed to say that the family's move was not related to athletics and that he wishes Dickey nothing but the best. 

"We've known for a couple of months and he's been able to say goodbye to his teammates and coaches," Machado said. "We've all got work to do now to get ready for the season without him. We're working hard. But personally, we'll all be rooting for him."

Mater Dei and Southern Section rival St. John Bosco (Bellflower) are at the top of the heap not only in the Golden State — one or the other has won the last five Open Division championships — but each has battled among the top five in national rankings since 2016. 

Clearly, they have separated themselves from California's elite. 

Over the last six seasons, the two programs have combined to go 136-13 while outscoring opponents by an average score of 46-16. 

Both have played the best-of-the-best national schedules. 

Elite players flooded the campuses during that time. Heading into last season, a combined 130 Bosco and Mater Dei players from 2016-2020 seasons went on to compete at the FBS or FCS levels. 

Going into 2022, according to 247Sports composite, Mater Dei boasts 10 players with at least 3-star ratings from the classes of 2023 and 2024 (six 4-stars, four 3-stars) and St. John Bosco rates 20 (two 5-stars, 10 four-stars and eight 3-stars).  

Adding a five-star receiver like Dickey could push Mater Dei to the top of the preseason rankings — state or national.

Mater Dei features four-star 2024 quarterback Elijah Brown (No. 55 recruit overall), while Bosco shows off the four-star 2023 signal-caller Pierce Clarkson, a Louisville recruit. 

Each lost college-bound receiver recruits to graduation in Mater Dei's C.J. Williams (USC) and Cooper Barkate (Harvard) and Bosco's Chedon James (Air Force).

Bosco already added a Northern California receiver in the summer when speedy 3-star Israel Polk, of Pittsburg, announced he was transferring to the Braves. 

Transferring within sections, even inside the massive Southern Section (close to 600 schools) has become a sore spot for many. 

The rich in talent seem to be getting considerably richer.  

When the talent — especially of the 5-star variety — arrives from more than 300 miles away, feathers really get ruffled. Whether he's a future Oregon Duck or not. 

Contact Mitch Stephens at mitch@scorebooklive.com