I'm a couple days late on this one but 2018 DE/OT Ray Dixon (Llano) reported via his Twitter account on Friday afternoon that he had been offered by UTSA.
He issued that tweet barely a half-hour after I started a thread about a few non-SA22 prospects who I liked and thought were worth watching this year. I promise I'm not making this up, but Dixon was a guy I wanted to mention in that thread. I had some notes on him in my SA22 draft from earlier this spring, but didn't nominate him for that group and ultimately didn't mention him in Friday's thread because Llano is a good 80 miles too far north to be considered part of the SA22's territory, though it shares a district with a few schools that are well in range.
In any case, I'm a fan, and you probably will be too. Dixon's Twitter profile begins thus: "LLANO HS OL/DL/Anywhere I can hit someone". He has started at defensive end and offensive tackle for the past two seasons. Competing in district 13-4A DII in 2016, which included state semifinalist Geronimo Navarro, Dixon was named the district's Lineman MVP. As a sophomore, he earned first team all-district honors on both the O-line and at defensive end. I think he's most likely either a defensive lineman or blocking tight end at the next level.
Listed at 6'3" 235 on his Hudl profile, Dixon has strength and athleticism that he puts on display with multi-sport versatility. He also had a birthday just a week ago so he might be one of the younger members of the 2018 class. At powerlifting meets this January and February, he consistently weighed in the upper 220s recorded a top squat of 490 pounds, a top bench press of 320, and a 505-pound dead lift. He was a member of Llano's varsity basketball team, which struggled mightily and finished with a winless season. Then in the spring he qualified for the 4A state track and field meet in two events, ultimately finishing 3rd in the shot put (52'10.75") and 4th in the discus (155'8").
When lining up at defensive end he doesn't show a super quick first step but he bends well and plays with pretty good leverage and holds his ground well when a play is run his way. His performances in the shot put and discus suggest he's got some explosiveness in his hips that bodes well for a future at DE. The Hudl clips of him playing left tackle are fun to watch, as he plants opposing linemen into the ground numerous times. He's not nearly big enough to be a OL prospect but he could definitely fill a role as a blocker on special teams or as an extra tight end in short yardage rushing situations, and if his hands turn out to be above average some college coach might try to convert him to that position.
UTSA is the second offer Dixon has reported, and the first from an FBS school. FCS program Texas Southern was the first school to offer him, back in May 24.
He issued that tweet barely a half-hour after I started a thread about a few non-SA22 prospects who I liked and thought were worth watching this year. I promise I'm not making this up, but Dixon was a guy I wanted to mention in that thread. I had some notes on him in my SA22 draft from earlier this spring, but didn't nominate him for that group and ultimately didn't mention him in Friday's thread because Llano is a good 80 miles too far north to be considered part of the SA22's territory, though it shares a district with a few schools that are well in range.
In any case, I'm a fan, and you probably will be too. Dixon's Twitter profile begins thus: "LLANO HS OL/DL/Anywhere I can hit someone". He has started at defensive end and offensive tackle for the past two seasons. Competing in district 13-4A DII in 2016, which included state semifinalist Geronimo Navarro, Dixon was named the district's Lineman MVP. As a sophomore, he earned first team all-district honors on both the O-line and at defensive end. I think he's most likely either a defensive lineman or blocking tight end at the next level.
Listed at 6'3" 235 on his Hudl profile, Dixon has strength and athleticism that he puts on display with multi-sport versatility. He also had a birthday just a week ago so he might be one of the younger members of the 2018 class. At powerlifting meets this January and February, he consistently weighed in the upper 220s recorded a top squat of 490 pounds, a top bench press of 320, and a 505-pound dead lift. He was a member of Llano's varsity basketball team, which struggled mightily and finished with a winless season. Then in the spring he qualified for the 4A state track and field meet in two events, ultimately finishing 3rd in the shot put (52'10.75") and 4th in the discus (155'8").
When lining up at defensive end he doesn't show a super quick first step but he bends well and plays with pretty good leverage and holds his ground well when a play is run his way. His performances in the shot put and discus suggest he's got some explosiveness in his hips that bodes well for a future at DE. The Hudl clips of him playing left tackle are fun to watch, as he plants opposing linemen into the ground numerous times. He's not nearly big enough to be a OL prospect but he could definitely fill a role as a blocker on special teams or as an extra tight end in short yardage rushing situations, and if his hands turn out to be above average some college coach might try to convert him to that position.
UTSA is the second offer Dixon has reported, and the first from an FBS school. FCS program Texas Southern was the first school to offer him, back in May 24.
