Johnnie Dixon to continue football career in USFL

On3 imageby:Jeremy Birmingham02/23/22

Birm

COLUMBUS — Former Ohio State standout Johnnie Dixon is getting another shot to continue his football career.

Dixon, originally from Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) High School, was picked by the New Orleans Breakers in Round 14 of the USFL Draft. He was the second receiver taken by the Breakers.

It’s an opportunity that Dixon says he’s excited for.

“I’m just ready to put my skills on display,” Johnnie Dixon told Lettermen Row on Wednesday morning. “I want to show what I can do when I’m really given a chance.”

Since the end of his Ohio State career following the 2018 season, Dixon has bounced around NFL training camps. He last signed with the Dallas Cowboys ahead of the 2021 season. He recorded four catches for 32 yards and a touchdown but didn’t make the final roster cut. Johnnie Dixon was drafted by the Houston Texans and also had a preseason stint with the Arizona Cardinals.

The USFL Draft is being handled a bit differently than the NFL Draft. Rather than teams selecting player-by-player, the league’s eight teams are picking entire position groups before moving on to the next spot. Rounds 13-17 have been designated for receivers, which is why Dixon’s draft slot isn’t entirely relevant.

Johnnie Dixon has been living in Phoenix, preparing for his next football opportunity. In the meantime, he’s been helping Ohio State when given the opportunity. Dixon played the role of mentor for early-enrolled freshman wideout Kyion Grayes over the last two years. The two receivers were working out together when the Buckeyes began recruiting Grayes.

“This was right when Ohio State had started talking to me, last May” Grayes said a year ago. “So I figured why not ask him. He basically gave me the foundation of their program, that it basically feels like family. We’ve talked about their practices, their games and he’s been another set of eyes for me when it comes to Ohio State football.”

Now Johnnie Dixon, a former Ohio State captain, is getting a fresh look in New Orleans. There, Dixon will be counted on to help build the foundation of the Breakers franchise.

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