Dixon is one of four players who will follow former UW defensive coordinator Steve Belichick to North Carolina. The Tar Heels also signed linebacker Khmori House, wide receiver Jason Robinson Jr., and safety Peyton Waters. House and Waters were the only true freshman on defense to burn their redshirts in 2024.
Dixon appeared to have completed his college career less than a month ago. Before joining the University of Washington in 2022, the Los Angeles native played two seasons at Long Beach City institution, a junior institution in Southern California. He appeared to use his final year of eligibility in 2024 after playing 27 games for the Huskies over two seasons.
However, on December 23, Dixon and other former junior college athletes whose eligibility was slated to expire in 2024 were granted an additional year by the NCAA. The universal waiver was in reaction to a court injunction granted to Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia in his case, which argued that his junior college years should not count against his NCAA eligibility.
Dixon, who produced 43 tackles and defended 11 passes after beating out Sugar Bowl hero Elijah Jackson for a starting spot, was able to extend his college career thanks to the junior college waiver.
But, expecting Dixon to be out of eligibility, UW had already lined up a replacement: Arizona transfer Tacario Davis, one of the top players in the transfer portal.
Davis, a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2024, will be paired with incumbent starter Ephesians Prysock, allowing UW coach Jedd Fisch and cornerbacks coach John Richardson to start the cornerbacks who helped Arizona win 10 games in 2023.
Any prospective return to UW for the 6-foot-1 Dixon would have required him to play nickel because Prysock and Davis, both listed at 6-4, have the size to line up outside.
Dixon, on the other hand, had performed admirably outside during the 2024 season. Pro Football Focus ranked him as Washington’s third-best defender, after only linebacker Carson Bruener and edge rusher Russell Davis II, and he allowed only 23 receptions on 50 targets
Only safety Cameron Broussard allowed fewer catches when targeted than Dixon, and he was thrown at 33 times less.
Five cornerbacks, including Dixon, have left UW since the previous season concluded, including Jackson, Curley Reed III, Darren Barkins, and Jordan Shaw, the Huskies’ starting nickel in 2024. Jackson has signed with TCU, Shaw has committed to Texas A&M, and Reed has decided to attend Louisiana after initially considering Louisiana Tech. Barkins has yet to announce where he will play in 2025, as of Friday.
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