Less than a month ago, Washington senior cornerback was preparing for the 2024 NFL Draft. However, thanks to a federal judge’s ruling and the NCAA’s decision to grant an additional year of eligibility to players who had previously played at the junior college level, Dixon’s plans have shifted.
The 6-foot-1, 186-pound Dixon started his career at Long Beach City College in Southern California in 2021-22 before transferring to Washington in 2023 under former coach Kalen DeBoer.
During his two seasons with the Huskies, Dixon has developed into one of the top cornerbacks in the Big Ten Conference. Over 27 games, he has recorded 69 total tackles (46 solo), 18 passes defended, 3 tackles for loss, and 2 interceptions.
Beyond his durability in the secondary, Dixon earned a spot as the 9th-best cornerback in the Big Ten this past season, according to Pro Football Focus, with a defensive grade of 78.9. This placed him ahead of standout Michigan cornerback Will Johnson (77.7) and Oregon’s Jabbar Muhammad (76.3), who started alongside Dixon at UW in 2023.
Dixon’s coverage grade of 81.1 ranked fourth among Big Ten corners and 17th among all Power 4 players, making him a highly sought-after prospect. Schools like Michigan, North Carolina, and Ole Miss are all vying for his services.
Per a report from On3, Dixon will visit these three programs, with North Carolina being the first stop on Wednesday. Dixon flourished under UNC’s new defensive coordinator Steve Belichick and has some familiarity with the Tar Heels, as they recently signed freshman linebacker Khmori House.
The dilemma for Dixon is twofold: first, he didn’t anticipate having another year of college eligibility, and second, Washington has already signed former Arizona cornerback Tacario Davis, who will start opposite junior Ephesians Prysock. Because both Dixon and Davis would play the same position, Washington’s coaching staff has asked Dixon to consider moving inside to play nickel if he returns for a third season.
“I don’t want to leave UW,” Dixon told Athlon Sports this week. “I just can’t make my loyalty blind to what they’re trying to do.”
If Dixon wants to remain an outside cornerback, his options are Michigan or Ole Miss, both of which have starting spots available with Will Johnson and Trey Amos moving on to the NFL.
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