Tar Heels Tasked With Filling Void Of Thad Dixon's Absence

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina’s defense has struggled against the pass this season, and its best weapon in the defensive backfield won’t be on the field for the immediate future.
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Inside Carolina reported last week that starting cornerback Thad Dixon would miss extended time with an injury he suffered against Clemson on Oct. 4. Specifics of the injury have not yet been confirmed. Bill Belichick confirmed on Monday that Dixon will not play in Saturday’s game against Cal, and that he’ll be out “at least a couple more weeks.”
“I’m not sure exactly how that’s going to turn out,” Belichick said on Monday. “We’ll just take it day-by-day, or week-by-week here for a couple weeks and see. Thad was certainly one of our best players, trained very hard as one of our team captains and gave a lot of leadership to the team. As one of our, again, most experienced and oldest players, played a lot of football, seen a lot of football, so it’s a tough injury for him. Especially kind of a non-compact, when he landed, it kind of hit in a weird place.
“I’ve seen him, I’ve talked to him. He’s a great competitor. He’s already bouncing back, and we’ll see what happens.”
Dixon, one of UNC’s captains, sustained the injury late in the second quarter of Saturday’s game vs. Clemson, snagging an interception that was later overturned after review. Dixon dove for the football, falling on his left arm and got up celebrating, but as he did so, he started wincing and hobbling before eventually sitting down on the ground on the sideline. He did not return to the game.
Without Dixon, the Tar Heels will have to adjust against Cal. Marcus Allen has played at the opposite side of Dixon all season at corner, starting every game. UNC listed Khalil Conley and Jalon Thompson as the backup cornerbacks on its unofficial depth chart, but both players played fewer than 10 snaps against Clemson after Dixon’s first-half injury. Jaiden Patterson played 58 snaps against the Tigers, many of which came at cornerback.
Linebacker Andrew Simpson said the defensive back group has players who are hungry and know that they need to step up to fill the void left by Dixon’s absence.
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“We need to preach ‘next man up’ and bring the guys along that are there to fill in his shoes,” Simpson said. “And the leadership aspect is big, so the guys on the team are trying to take that step and being leaders, no matter how old you are or what class you’re in, just understanding that there’s a role that needs to be filled. We love him as a person and as a player, so we have guys ready and hungry to fill that role.”
Dixon started at cornerback for UNC’s first five games of the season. Dixon recorded 14 total tackles and three pass deflections in his first five games with the Tar Heels. Dixon was one of four Tar Heels nominated by the school for the preseason All-ACC team. He has played the second-most snaps on the team at 275, per PFF. Dixon has been targeted 16 times this season and has allowed nine catches, translating to an opposing reception percentage of 56.3%, the best among UNC’s rotating defensive backs.
UNC picked up Dixon in the transfer portal back in January — the highest-rated portal prospect the Tar Heels signed last offseason, according to the Rivals Industry rankings. He drew rave reviews in spring practice and carried his play into training camp. Sources who attended practices said his talent and highlight plays stood out, and referred to him as the lone prospect on the roster that’s a candidate for being selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Dixon played his first two college seasons at Long Beach City College before transferring to Washington, where he played one year under Steve Belichick’s defense. Dixon was a member of the Huskies team that reached the 2023 national title game. He broke out in a starting role the following year under Belichick. Dixon concluded his Husky career with 69 tackles, 16 pass breakups, and a pair of interceptions in 27 games before coming to UNC.
“Experience,” Simpson said when asked what Dixon contributes on the field for UNC. “Just being there, knowing how to play the game at a high level and doing it for a long time. The leadership aspect he brought to the table, and just continuing to pour into everybody, the young guys in this room especially, and trying to get the best out of them.”