As Washington enters a new era at cornerback, Thaddeus Dixon keeps making plays
As Washington enters a new era at cornerback, Thaddeus Dixon keeps making plays
Plus other notes and observations from the Huskies' 12th spring practice.
SEATTLE — Thaddeus Dixon’s best skill as a cornerback?
“He’s got the ‘it’ in terms of being around the ball,” said Chuck Morrell, Washington’s safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator.
As proof, one need only submit Dixon’s interception of quarterback Dylan Morris during Friday’s scrimmage, which coach Kalen DeBoer highlighted afterward … or either of Dixon’s two interceptions of Morris on a sunny Monday morning at Husky Stadium.
The first came off a deflection, which Dixon snagged as he went to the ground. He got up and sprinted with a few teammates to the east end zone, leaping and approximating a slam dunk of the football through the goalposts.
Dixon followed the second interception, which came on the final play of practice, with a skyward toss reminiscent of Jake Locker vs. BYU (sorry). The celebration drew a penalty flag, but that was of little concern.
It’s been difficult this spring to overlook Dixon, who signed with UW after two seasons at Long Beach City College. He grew up in Los Angeles and played at Paramount High before moving to play at La Mirada as a senior. As the team’s primary tailback, Dixon rushed for 1,018 yards and 15 touchdowns, and said he had offers from Oregon State and Wyoming to play cornerback, “but I didn’t end up making grades out of high school, and then the whole COVID thing hit my senior year, so I kind of got overlooked a little bit. That’s why I play with that chip on my shoulder now.”
Dixon seemed to enjoy chatting with reporters after practice last week, his words marked by the affable fallback phrase: “you feel me?” During a practice last week, several school-aged kids walked down to the front row of seats at Husky Stadium to ask players for their gear.
One shouted at Dixon: “Hey 9, can I get your gloves?”
Beaming a smile, Dixon replied: “I got you after practice!” The youngster yelled in celebration and ran back up the steps.