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49ers | Team may land D. Dixon
KFFL | Thu, 13 Jul 2006 18:28:29 -0700

John Murphy, of Yahoo Sports, reports the San Francisco 49ers are interested in signing free agent LB David Dixon, according to his agent Frank Murtha. Dixon went undrafted in the supplemental draft July 13. Dixon is expected to sign with the 49ers.


From Hutchinson Community College Athletics site
Former Hutchinson Community College football All-American David Dixon wasn't selected in the NFL Supplemental Draft, which was conducted on Thursday in New York.

Dixon, the 2004 Jayhawk Conference defensive player of the year and first-team NJCAA All-American, was one of seven players who were available to be drafted by any NFL team.

Because Dixon wasn't drafted in the supplemental draft, he is now considered a free agent and can negotiate with any team.

Several NFL teams made inquiries about Dixon, a Galveston, Texas, native, to the HCC football coaching staff and the Blue Dragon Sports Information Department over the past several weeks.

Dixon was by far the best defensive player in the Jayhawk Conference during his one season with the Blue Dragons in 2004. He was named the NJCAA Defensive Player of the Week for his 20-tackle game against Air Force Prep.

Dixon had a conference-best 161 tackles, 112 unassisted with 43 tackles for loss totaling 133 yards. He had 8.5 sacks, two passes broken up, four forced fumbles, a school-record five blocked kicks and a pair of interceptions in the 2004 season.

http://www.hutchcc.edu/dragons/redsite/Football/2006%20releases/0713dixondraft.htm



DIXON'S WORKOUT
John Murphy, of Yahoo Sports, reports Hutchinson (Kan.) Junior College LB David Dixon measured in at a height of just under 6-0 and a weight of 243 pounds during his workout for the NFL supplemental draft. Dixon showed good strength by completing 24 repetitions on the 225-pound bench press and showed good explosiveness with a 34-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-4 broad jump. He ran the 40-yard dash with times of 4.75 seconds and 4.88 seconds, but he appeared easily exhausted by the shuttle, agility and conditioning portion of the drills. On talent evaluator said, "He needs to show us more. … It's not just about skills and game tape. … You can see some plays and athleticism on his tapes, but you have to come out and compete on a day like this. … Today was just OK and OK does not equal the NFL, not in my book."



NFL DRAFT SCOUT REPORT
DAVID DIXON -- Hutchinson Community College
Outside Linebacker-#6-6:02.1-244

Dixon is an incredibly gifted athlete with exceptional quickness, range and tackling ability. Coming from the junior college ranks, the NFL teams have had to scramble to obtain whatever film they could find on him, but this is a player with a high ceiling.



Regarded as the premier junior college linebacker in the country in 2004, Dixon joined the work force in 2005 and did not play football. He originally planned to enroll at Kansas State in 2006, but decided to declare for the NFL Draft instead. Few athletes in the draft possess the athletic ability that Dixon displays -- running a 4.42-second 40-yard dash, with a 44-inch vertical jump, 49-inch triple jump and a 465-pound bench press. That leaping ability was evident as he blocked ten kicks in two seasons in the junior college ranks.



Dixon enrolled at Blinn (Tex.) Junior College in 2003, where he was a first-team All-American and All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference pick. He registered 79 tackles (46 solos) with six sacks, an interception and five blocked kicks. Dixon then transferred to Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College in 2004. He picked up first-team All-American honors from the NJCAA, was named Jayhawk Football Conference Player of the Year and was a finalist for National Defensive Player of the Year honors.



That season, he led the junior college ranks with 161 tackles (112 solos) and set school and conference single-season records with 43 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He blocked five kicks, caused four fumbles and intercepted two passes while recording 8.5 sacks. He gained 81 yards on three punt returns (27.0 avg) and 306 yards on eleven kickoff returns (27.8 avg).



In two junior college seasons, Dixon registered 240 tackles (158 solos) with 14.5 sacks for minus-96 yards and 60 stops for losses of 207 yards. He blocked ten kicks, intercepted three passes and caused five fumbles.



THE GOOD

Positives: Has a well-built frame with thick bone structure, broad shoulders, muscular arms, big hands, good bubble and good-sized legs, thighs and calves. Is a strong presence on defense who needs to be accounted for on every play. Plays alert and is quick to read and react, making proper body adjustments on the move. Flashes outstanding strength at the point of attack and can fill the rush lanes with authority. Has very good stack/tackle ability vs. the inside run. Does a very good job of using his hands to control the blocker, easily adjusting and reacting to the plays in front of him. Flashes the hand strength to play off blocks. Has the outstanding speed, leverage and range to reach the outside, doing a nice job of avoiding blocks in attempts to shut down the cutback lanes. Can turn and run with good change of direction agility and is a hard hitter who explodes behind his tackles. Has the vision, awareness and turning ability to stay with tight ends and backs in pass routes. Effective when planting and driving out of his breaks, flying to the ball instantly, showing the hip flexibility and control to stay tight on the hip of the receiver. Has the natural hands to reach and pluck the ball away from the body's frame. Has a great initial burst on returns, showing the ability to twist and adjust in attempts to squeeze through tight quarters to gain valid yardage on kickoffs. Has outstanding leaping ability and timing to knock down kicks at the line of scrimmage.



THE BAD

Negatives: Struggles in the classroom, forcing him to sit out the 2005 season due to academic ineligibility. Good at using his hands to fend off blocks, but needs to use his punch with more consistency to shock and jolt the opponent. Makes plays in front of him, but will bite on play-action and fakes when he eyes the backfield too long. Has the speed to cover in one-on-one situations, but must improve his timing picking up switch-offs when working in the zone.



THE UGLY

Teams are usually very reluctant to draft a player from the junior college ranks. While his statistics are truly impressive, having failed to qualify for a major college in 2005 and forced to join the work force to care for family issues, some teams might feel that he will need more time to develop at the next level. Academically, he struggled, bringing up some more red flags and questions over his ability to grasp a playbook. However, he is in the mold of the Colts' Robert Mathis and the Ravens' Roderick Green. Given a patient coaching staff to help him develop, he might have better upside than most teams can imagine.

THE CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS

4.42 in the 40-yard dash... 465-pound bench press... 44-inch vertical jump... 49-inch triple jump.