MORGANTOWN — The WVU roster lists linebacker Lance Dixon as a redshirt-sophomore, but don’t let that fool you — Dixon has already played a lot of college football.
This will be his fourth season, split between Penn State and WVU, since 2019. As a true freshman, Dixon played in three games with the Nittany Lions, keeping his redshirt status. Then, in 2020, eligibility did not count because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While his role at PSU saw a bump that season, Dixon did not feel comfortable and wanted a change.
That change came with the scheme of Mountaineer defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley.
While he played middle linebacker at Penn State, he was a bit undersized at 6-foot-2 and 213 pounds, and Dixon prides himself with his speed.
At WVU, the coaching staff wanted Dixon to play outside more, allowing him to use his athleticism and speed at the Will linebacker spot.
“I’d say I just run a lot more, being able to open up and show my speed a little more out there,” Dixon said. “Plus, being able to move quicker, being able to move guys out the way. Having more options out there.”
Dixon played in 10 games last season and started four, missing three games with a leg injury. He split starting duties with Exree Loe, but appears to have forged ahead this offseason following an 11-tackle performance in the bowl against Minnesota, as well as Loe recovering from offseason surgery.
With the opportunity right in front of him, his position coach, Jeff Koonz, thinks Dixon has seized it.
“I like where Lance Dixon is, this has been his best camp out of two years,” Koonz said. “He has a much better understanding of his techniques within the scheme, where it fits, how it fits, where he needs to be on each play, and he’s made a lot more plays because of it.”
Speed has been a major theme this offseason of a revamped defense, and Dixon believes there’s merit to the hype.
“In terms of speed, I think we’ve got that,” he said. “We just need to dot our I’s and cross our T’s and be good with that; we’ll be all right this year.”
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