Kenneth Dixon (American football)

Kenneth Dixon (born January 21, 1994)[1] is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft.

Kenneth Dixon
No. 30
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1994-01-21) January 21, 1994 (age 30)
El Dorado, Arkansas, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:228 lb (103 kg)
Career information
High school:Strong (Strong, Arkansas)
College:Louisiana Tech (2012–2015)
NFL draft:2016 / round: 4 / pick: 134
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-Conference USA (2015)
  • Second-team All-Conference USA (2013, 2014)
  • Freshman All-American (2012)
  • WAC Freshman of the Year (2012)
  • First-team All-WAC (2012)
  • NCAA freshman single-season record 27 rushing touchdowns
  • NCAA freshman single-season record 28 total touchdowns
  • NCAA all-time individual longest rushing play (99 yards)
Career NFL statistics
Games played:18
Rushing yards:715
Rushing average:4.8
Rushing touchdowns:4
Receptions:36
Receiving yards:213
Receiving touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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Dixon attended Strong High School in Strong, Arkansas.[2] During the team's state title run in Dixon's senior year 2011, he ran for a state record 3,153 yards and 39 touchdowns.[3] For his season efforts, he was named "Mr. Football" in the state of Arkansas.[4]

Dixon also competed in track & field at Strong. At the 2011 7AA District T&F Meet, Dixon threw the shot put over 49 feet (15 meters), won the 110-meter hurdles and the long jump, and also placed 2nd in the 100-meter dash. He also was an outstanding basketball player, leading his team to the district championship as a junior.

Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Dixon was considered the eighth best player in the state of Arkansas.[5] He committed to Louisiana Tech University to play college football on January 6, 2012, choosing the Bulldogs over Arkansas State, Arkansas, LSU, and Ole Miss.

College career

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As a true freshman at Louisiana Tech in 2012, Dixon ran for 1,194 yards on 200 carries and set an NCAA freshman record with 27 rushing touchdowns and 28 total touchdowns.[6][7] As a sophomore, Dixon played in 10 games, rushing for 917 yards on 151 carries with four touchdowns. During his junior year in 2014, Dixon became Louisiana Tech's all-time leader in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns.[8][9] For the season he had 1,299 rushing yards on 253 carries with 22 rushing touchdowns and six receiving touchdowns. As a senior, he rushed for 1,070 yards on 197 carries and 19 touchdowns. He finished his career with an NCAA record 87 career total touchdowns, however the record was later broken that same season by Keenan Reynolds.[10]

Statistics

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Year Team Rushing Receiving
Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds TD
2012 Louisiana Tech[11] 200 1,194 6.0 48 27 10 35 1
2013 Louisiana Tech[12] 151 917 6.1 72 4 14 85 1
2014 Louisiana Tech[13] 253 1,299 5.1 99 22 30 385 6
2015 Louisiana Tech[14] 198 1,073 5.4 65 19 33 464 7
Career 802 4,483 5.6 99 72 87 969 15

Source:[15]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 10+18 in
(1.78 m)
215 lb
(98 kg)
31+38 in
(0.80 m)
9+12 in
(0.24 m)
4.58 s 4.28 s 6.97 s 37.5 in
(0.95 m)
10 ft 1 in
(3.07 m)
18 reps
All values from NFL Combine[16]

Baltimore Ravens

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Dixon was drafted by the Ravens in the fourth round, 134th overall, in the 2016 NFL draft.[17] He played in 12 games as the Ravens' second running back behind Terrance West.[18] He ran for 382 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 30 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown.[19]

On March 9, 2017, Dixon was suspended the first four games of the 2017 season for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.[20] On July 25, 2017, it was revealed that Dixon had suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee. The injury required surgery, and 4–5 months to recover, forcing Dixon out for the 2017 season.[21][22] He was placed on injured reserve on September 1, 2017.[23]

On September 12, 2018, Dixon was placed on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in Week 1.[24] He was activated off injured reserve on December 1, 2018.[25] Overall, he finished the 2018 season with 333 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.[26]

Dixon was placed on injured reserve on August 31, 2019, after suffering a fractured knee.[27] He was waived from injured reserve with an injury settlement on September 6.[28]

New York Jets

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On December 18, 2019, Dixon was signed by the New York Jets.[29] He was waived on August 19, 2020.[30]

Toronto Argonauts

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Dixon signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League on December 29, 2020.[31] He was released on July 27, 2021.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kenneth Dixon Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  2. ^ "Kenneth Dixon, Strong, Running Back". 247Sports. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  3. ^ Harten, David (December 10, 2011). "VIDEO: Dixon's record-breaking performance propels Strong to title". Arkansas' Best News Source. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  4. ^ Gordon, Justin (April 5, 2016). "Kenneth Dixon 2016 NFL Draft Profile". Last Word on Sports. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  5. ^ "Kenneth Dixon".
  6. ^ "Louisiana Tech's Kenneth Dixon is an 'unselfish' star who will test Southern this weekend".
  7. ^ "Passing game hopes to open more holes for Kenneth Dixon". The Advertiser. November 7, 2013.
  8. ^ "Tech players feel RB Kenneth Dixon deserves more national respect". thenewsstar.com. August 28, 2015.
  9. ^ "Dixon sets La. Tech record for most career touchdowns". thenewsstar.com. December 6, 2014.
  10. ^ "Louisiana Tech's Kenneth Dixon passes Navy's Keenan Reynolds for first place on NCAA touchdown list". NOLA.com.
  11. ^ "Kenneth Dixon 2012 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  12. ^ "Kenneth Dixon 2013 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  13. ^ "Kenneth Dixon 2014 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  14. ^ "Kenneth Dixon 2015 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  15. ^ "Kenneth Dixon College Stats | College Football at Sports-Reference.com".
  16. ^ "Kenneth Dixon Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  17. ^ Downing, Garrett (April 30, 2016). "Round 4: Ravens Draft RB Kenneth Dixon At No. 134". BaltimoreRavens.com. Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  18. ^ "2016 Baltimore Ravens Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  19. ^ "Kenneth Dixon 2016 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  20. ^ Downing, Garrett (March 9, 2017). "NFL Suspends Running Back Kenneth Dixon For Four Games". BaltimoreRavens.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  21. ^ Patra, Kevin (July 25, 2017). "Kenneth Dixon suffers meniscus tear". NFL.com.
  22. ^ Wesseling, Chris (July 25, 2017). "Ravens' Kenneth Dixon done for season after surgery". NFL.com.
  23. ^ Mink, Ryan (September 1, 2017). "Ravens Announce 24 Roster Moves, Have 13 More To Make". BaltimoreRavens.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018.
  24. ^ Downing, Garrett (September 12, 2018). "Ravens Place RB Kenneth Dixon on Injured Reserve, Promote Rookie". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  25. ^ Brown, Clifton (December 1, 2018). "Kenneth Dixon Activated From Injured Reserve, Alex Collins Placed on IR". BaltimoreRavens.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  26. ^ "Kenneth Dixon 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  27. ^ Brown, Clifton (August 31, 2019). "Trace McSorley Makes the Team, Plus Other Notable Decisions". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  28. ^ Brown, Clifton (September 6, 2019). "Kenneth Dixon Officially Released From Injured Reserve". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  29. ^ Williams, Charean (December 18, 2019). "Kenneth Dixon signs with Jets". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  30. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (August 19, 2020). "Jets Sign WR Chris Hogan". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  31. ^ "Argos add Dixon & Extend Gittens Jr., Mayle, and Murray". Argonauts.ca. December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
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