He may have only suited up for one season, but a former Arizona football player has decided to call the Old Pueblo his new home permanently. Ex-Wildcats running back Ismail Mahdi has become the new owner of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, a Texas-based barbecue chain, located on Thornydale Road in Tucson.
The restaurant offers number of barbecue staples, including brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork, barbecue beans, mac and cheese, potato salad, and more. Dickey’s started in 1941 in Dallas, Texas, near Madhi’s hometown of Murphy, TX, but has since grown to over 400 locations in 33 states.
In his lone season in Tucson, Mahdi was the feature back of Arizona’s three-headed monster in the backfield that also included Kedrick Reescano and Quincy Craig. Through 13 games, he tallied 133 carries for 853 yards and four touchdowns. He also contributed another 119 yards and a score through the air, earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors. His breakout performance for the Wildcats came against the visiting Kansas State Wildcats, where he finished with 221 scrimmage yards, including 189 rushing yards, earning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors while helping the UA defeat KSU 23-17 to start the season 3-0.
“I’m incredibly excited to make Tucson home and serve this amazing community. I look forward to building lasting relationships, supporting local families, and providing great food with genuine hospitality every day,” said Mahdi to Arizona Athletics reporter Mackenzie Hamilton.
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is located at 7077 North Thornydale Road, Tucson, AZ, 85741, USA.