Flip Dixon, SAF, Rutgers
Size:
Height: 6’2” | Weight: 210 lbs
Accomplishments:
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (2023) • All-ECAC Defense (2023)
“Flip Dixon is a highly active and big defensive back who plays with an enforcer mentality, delivering physical hits all over the field.”
Strengths:
Strong, densely-built defensive back
Violent, physical-hitting defender
Range defending the run from depth
Low-hole strong safety/plus-one in run defense
Concerns:
Killshot seeker, missing arm tackles
Lack of ball production in coverage
More reps needed as a nickel/dime defender
Film Analysis:
Before joining Rutgers, Flip Dixon emerged in the Big Ten during his years at Minnesota where he played all over the defensive secondary. He brings a big hitter to the defense. Dixon is an active defender and is always around the football throughout a game. He strikes every offensive weapon with the same ferocity. He is a talented defensive back with the versatility coveted in today’s NFL.
Dixon is always around the football in some capacity. In the run game, he has good range defending the run from depth. Dixon has quick play-recognition abilities, identifying the run action and triggering downhill hill urgently to engage. He will play the box/strong safety role and crowd the line of scrimmage to suffocate the offensive line post-snap. He is a sound and disciplined run defender who fits the run lanes designed by the coaches. He is a fearless and physical alley runner who will meet the RB in the lane. Dixon is a sound tackler, dropping his hips, springing into his target, and wrapping his arms around them to secure the one-on-one tackle. He is a violent striker who loves to set the tone in games and put a semblance of fear into his opponents. He brings a '90s to early 2000s feel to the safety position.
Dixon plays in both single-high and two-high safety shell coverages. He displays versatility as a free and strong safety in these situations. As the low-hole safety, Dixon works well in the middle of the field to deter QBs from throwing in that area. He does a good job disguising coverages by showing two-high before working downhill. He delivers jarring hits to separate the ball from the receiver’s body. He flashes big nickel coverage ability and value.
When aligned in the nickel, Dixon runs as the hook/curl and curl/flat defender to take away quick underneath routes or rally to tackle for minimal yac. Dixon is competitive and disruptive at the catch point fighting through the WRs hands to punch the ball out for incomplete passes.
I wish Dixon had more ball production on his draft resume. He is around the football routinely, but needs more plays on the ball, potentially creating turnovers for his team. I love the physicality and aggressiveness of Dixon, but he has missed arm tackles on tape as a result. He goes for that highlight reel hit when a sound/form tackle will suffice. His range is sufficient as the FS in single-high shells but I doubt NFL defensive coordinators will want to keep him up high often. In 2024, I would like to see more snaps as a big nickel/dime defender. He has the physique and tools to be an effective man defender against bigger receivers and some tight ends.
Overall, Dixon projects to be a starting strong safety with alignment versatility. He possesses the coverage ability/potential, physicality, run defense, instincts, and size to be a solid contributor to an NFL defensive secondary.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
Written By: Damian Parson
Exposures: Virginia Tech (2023), Wisconsin (2023), Michigan State (2023), Michigan (2023), Ohio State (2023)
