Penn State Football: CB Johnny Dixon Set for a Breakout Season
In January, James Franklin and the Penn State football team chose to dip into the transfer portal to improve the cornerback room. The team went out and grabbed UNC transfer Storm Duck.
Typically, when a veteran transfer is added to a new team they are immediately plugged into the starting lineup. Because of this, players that are already on the roster have two choices. They can either stay and fight for their role on the team, or they can enter the transfer portal themselves in search of a new opportunity.
Senior cornerback Johnny Dixon was given that choice; however, he chose to stay and fight for his job. The former South Carolina transfer is coming off a career year. In 2022, Dixon had 23 tackles, 3 sacks, 10 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions for the Nittany Lions.
When Penn State needed a stop on 4th down late in the 4th quarter Johnny Dixon (@JohnnyDixon_) made a play.
— The Basic Blues Podcast (@BasicBluesPod) October 4, 2022
This is outstanding technique from a DB, plays the ball perfectly without making contact with the receiver. Dixon has been on fire this year, love seeing Manny Diaz hyped! pic.twitter.com/lLwEF51bjb
During the 2023 Spring-ball practices Storm Duck received plenty of praise from defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. This led many to believe that he would have a significant role with the Penn State football team this fall. However, after the Blue-White game, Duck entered the transfer portal on Friday, 4/21.
Penn State CB Storm Duck has re-entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, per @mzenitz.
— On3 (@On3sports) April 21, 2023
The former North Carolina defensive back transferred to the Nittany Lions in January. https://t.co/xxODv6J2FZ pic.twitter.com/ew1N4AREyB
This makes me believe that Dixon was told that will be the second starting cornerback for the Penn State football team this fall. If Duck was going to be a starter, I assume he would’ve stayed at Penn State. Now, he searches for an opportunity elsewhere before taking one snap in Happy Valley.
Kalen King will takeover this fall as the primary cornerback, making Dixon CB2. Daequan Hardy and Cam Miller will be in this rotation as well this fall.
Johnny Dixon has the opportunity to have a breakout season in this secondary. After his rapid improvement throughout the 2022 season, Dixon will continue to grow into his role as a starter in 2023.
Now that Manny Diaz has been with the Penn State football team for a full year, he has a full offseason to put players in the best position to be successful. Dixon showed off his ability to blitz off the edge in 2022. I could see Diaz moving Dixon around to take advantage of that skill set.
After this season, many NFL scouts will be raving about the skillset of Penn State cornerback Johnny Dixon.
Next. 2024 OT Donovan Harbour Commits to Penn State. dark