3 reasons to be excited that the Houston Texans signed Ohio State’s Johnnie Dixon

Another member of the Ohio State Buckeyes will get his chance to play in the NFL, and once again, it’s a member of Zone 6. Johnnie Dixon was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Houston Texans.

Coming off his most productive season with the scarlet and gray, Dixon fought through knee injuries early in his career to reach the professional football level.

He’s a grinder, and can beat teams with his speed. Here’s three reasons why Dixon’s signing with the Houston Texans is exciting.

1. Is a catalyst for the big play

In 2018, Dixon appeared in 14 games (five starts) and collected 669 yards and eight touchdowns on 42 catches. For his career, he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark and was averaging 17.1 yards per catch.

A big reason for why he was able to pick up those yards? His speed. Look at some of his highlights.

Especially with Dwayne Haskins as quarterback, the duo connected on big plays. Against Rutgers in 2018, Dixon was able to slip by his defender on multiple occasions. In two of those instances, and thanks to Haskins being able to throw the ball on target, Dixon hauled in two scores—with them going distances of 38 and 44 yards.

Out of the gate, Dixon speed can catch defenders off guard. This makes him good on curl routes, where he can bring down a short-yardage pass uncontested.

Slot receiver is where he’ll likely play, so be on the lookout for Dixon to bust open a big reception down the middle of the field.

2. He doesn’t give up

When injuries happen, that’s when we find out what people are made of. In Dixon’s case, years of knee issues nearly had him ending his football career. His first three years at OSU saw him appear in 13 games, with just 55 yards on seven catches to show for it. All signs were pointing to him hanging up the cleats.

But he didn’t do that.

He overcame the injuries in 2017, and had a solid season en route to the Buckeyes claiming Big Ten and Cotton Bowl crowns.

Knowing how to overcome injuries is a big skillset to have, and Dixon holds that intangible. When things get bad, he’s not going to falter.

3. He’s a leader

After getting over the injury bug, it’s no wonder that Dixon was named a team captain by his teammates in 2018.

I think this is the biggest non-football advantage he has. Overcoming injuries and adversity? Check. Being named a team captain, proving that his teammates trust him to lead the team? Check.

Hypothetical: if the Texans are trailing late in the game, and all looks lost, expect Dixon to try and rally the troops. Last year at Penn State, the Buckeyes looked to be toast midway through the fourth quarter. But then they turned it all around. Granted, it wasn’t just Dixon who helped turn the tide, but being in that environment can only help one become a better leader.