Anthony Dixon

For those named Anthony or Tony Dixon, see Tony Dixon.
Anthony Dixon

refer to caption

Dixon with the San Francisco 49ers
No. -- Free agent
Position: Running back
Personal information
Date of birth: (1987-09-24) September 24, 1987
Place of birth: Jackson, Mississippi
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight: 233 lb (106 kg)
Career information
High school: Terry (MS)
College: Mississippi State
NFL draft: 2010 / Round: 6 / Pick: 173
Career history
Roster status: Free Agent
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2015
Rushing Attempts: 274
Rushing Yards: 934
Rushing Average: 3.4
Rushing TDs: 11
Player stats at NFL.com

Anthony Rishard "Boobie" Dixon (born September 24, 1987)[1][2] is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football for Mississippi State University, where he holds mulitple school rushing records.

High school career

As a senior at Terry High School in 2005, he racked up 304 carries for 2,683 yards (8.8 average) and 31 touchdowns in leading Terry to an 11-2 mark. He was named the Jackson metro-area player of the year by the Clarion-Ledger. He was also a first-team All-State honoree by the paper, and was named to its (preseason) "Dandy Dozen" team (of the state's 12 best high school players) and it's (postseason) "10 Most Wanted" list (of the state's top 10 college football prospects).

Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Dixon was listed as the No. 22 running back prospect in the nation in 2006.[3] Scout.com ranked Dixon a four star prospect and the 30th best running back in the country.[4]

He chose Mississippi State over University of Alabama, Louisiana State University, and Southern Miss.

College career

In his true freshman season, Dixon played in all 12 games, starting five times, and set MSU true freshman records for rushing attempts, yards gained rushing, and touchdowns rushing. His nine touchdowns on the ground were the most by a Bulldog since Dicenzo Miller's ten TDs in 2000. He earned his nickname “Boobie” from his college teammates, who compared him to Boobie Miles, the character in Friday Night Lights.[2]

As a sophomore, Dixon played all 13 games and started twelve. He became just the seventh halfback (ninth occurrence) in school history and the first Bulldog sophomore ever to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in a single season and his attempts set a Mississippi State single season record. He scored MSU's game winning touchdown in the 2007 Liberty Bowl game.

During his junior season Dixon started all 12 games he played in, and rushed for 869 yards, compiling a career-best 4.4 yards per carry.

With 1,391 rushing yards in his senior season, Dixon not only set the Mississippi State single-season rushing record (surpassing J. J. Johnson's 1998 record of 1,383 yards), he also became the seventh player in Southeastern Conference history to lead his team in rushing four times. He joined Eddie Price (Tulane, 1946–1949), Sonny Collins (Kentucky, 1972–1975), Dalton Hilliard (LSU, 1982–1985), Carl Woods (Vanderbilt, 1983–1986), Errict Rhett (Florida, 1990–1993), and Kevin Faulk (LSU, 1995–1998) on that list. Dixon accumulated 3,994 career rushing yards during his collegiate career.[5]

College stats

GP GS Att Yards Avg TD Long Avg/G
2006 12 5 169 668 4.0 9 65 55.7
2007 13 12 287 1,066 3.7 14 30 82.0
2008 12 12 197 869 4.4 7 71 72.4
2009 11 11 257 1,391 5.4 12 70 126.5
Totals 48 40 910 3,994 4.4 42 71 84.1

In addition, Dixon also accumulated 56 receptions, 449 Receiving Yards, and 4 Receiving Touchdowns in 4 years at MSU.

Professional career

2010 NFL Draft

Dixon was considered one of the best "power backs" available in the 2010 NFL Draft, alongside Toby Gerhart and Charles Scott.[6] Projected as a third- to fourth-round pick, Dixon was thought to possibly be the Bulldogs' highest draftee since Jerious Norwood was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round (79th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft.[7] However, he was selected as the 173rd overall pick in the 6th Round by the San Francisco 49ers.

Pre-draft measurables
Ht WtArm lengthHand size 40-yd dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad BPWonderlic
6 ft 1 in 233 lb32⅝ in9¾ in 4.77 s 1.58 s 2.75 s 4.49 s 7.09 s 33 in 10 ft 1 in 15 reps25
All values from NFL Combine[8][9][10]

San Francisco 49ers

With the announcement of the sudden retirement of Glen Coffee on August 13, former head coach Mike Singletary stated that Dixon and veteran Michael Robinson would compete for the number 2 running back spot behind Pro Bowler Frank Gore.[11] In the preseason, Dixon posted 74 rushes for 300 yards, averaging 75 yards per game and 4 touchdowns, leading the entire NFL in each of those categories. On September 20, 2010, Dixon rushed for his first career NFL touchdown against the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football. Despite playing well in the preseason, Dixon had only ten rushing attempts until week 12. After Gore suffered a fractured hip during a Monday Night Football game against the Arizona Cardinals on November 29, Dixon had 14 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown as a backup to Brian Westbrook, who took over for Gore. Dixon has played in all 72 games of his NFL career, primarily on special teams. His only start as a member of the 49ers came in the 2013 NFC Championship game as a fullback scoring a touchdown that gave San Francisco a 10-0 lead. Coincidentally, that was his last game in a 49er uniform. He finished his 49er career with 458 regular-season rushing yards and eight touchdowns.[12][13]

Buffalo Bills

On March 15, 2014, Dixon signed a three-year, $3.5 million contract with the Buffalo Bills.[12]

On March 1, 2016 Dixon was released by the Bills.[14]

Personal life

Dixon is a Christian. Dixon describes himself on his Twitter account as a "God Fearing Man" and frequently tweets about his faith.[15]

Anthony also has three younger brothers Antwon, Rashun, and Deshun (from oldest to youngest). Antwon and Rashun both committed to play football at Mississippi State, although neither played at MSU. Antwon instead went to Hinds Community College before transferring to Midwestern State University. Rashun was drafted in the 10th round (304th overall) in the 2008 Major League Baseball draft by the Oakland As and chose to play professional baseball. Deshun was also drafted by in the MLB Draft, taken in the 10th round by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2010 Major League Baseball draft.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Anthony Dixon Bio". SECsports.com. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  2. 1 2 http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bills-nfl/bills-hope-dixon-boosts-special-teams-20140316
  3. ↑ "Running backs 2006", Rivals.com, January 30, 2006
  4. ↑ "Anthony Dixon Scout.com profile page", Scout.com, January 1, 2006
  5. ↑ Inabinett, Mark (November 28, 2009), "Mississippi State's Anthony Dixon joining short list of SEC ballcarriers", Mobile Press-Register
  6. ↑ "NFL Draft - 2010 RB Draft Prospects", CBSSports.com, retrieved November 25, 2009
  7. ↑ Miller, David (February 24, 2010), "Chaney, Dixon hope to impress at NFL Combine", The Dispatch.
  8. ↑ "Anthony Dixon Combine Profile", NFL.com, archived from the original on 10 March 2010, retrieved February 27, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Anthony Dixon", NFL Draft Scout, archived from the original on 17 August 2010, retrieved August 17, 2010.
  10. ↑ http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/35879698/ns/sports-player_news/
  11. ↑ Price, Taylor (2010-08-13). "Coffee Tells 49ers He Intends to Retire". San Francisco 49ers. Archived from the original on 16 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  12. 1 2 Bills add Anthony Dixon
  13. ↑ NFL free agency news: Anthony Dixon signing with Buffalo Bills
  14. ↑ Anthony Dixon Released by Bills: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction
  15. ↑ "Anthony Dixon".
  16. ↑ "MSU Mustangs Bio for Antwon Dixon". Retrieved 2014-10-31.

External links

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