This kid David Dixon seems interesting. Found some more info on him. He's a Texas kid, too.
http://www2.jsonline.com/packer/insider/draft/2006/biosdetail.aspx?fname=David&lname=Dixon&pos=LB
David Dixon, LB
Hutchinson JC
OVERVIEW
Regarded as the premier junior college linebacker in the country in 2004, Dixon joined the work force in 2005 and did not play football. He originally planned to enroll at Kansas State in 2006, but decided to declare for the NFL Draft instead. Few athletes in the draft possess the athletic ability Dixon displays -- running a 4.42-second 40-yard dash, with a 44-inch vertical jump, 49-inch triple jump and a 465-pound bench press. That leaping ability was evident as he blocked ten kicks in two seasons in the junior college ranks.
Dixon attended Beaumont Central High School, where he earned All-District 22, All-Region III and Class 4A All-State honors as a linebacker and a halfback. He also returned kicks and added letters in track.
Dixon enrolled at Blinn (Tex.) Junior College in 2003. He earned first-team All-American and All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference honors as he registered 79 tackles (46 solos) with six sacks, an interception and five blocked kicks.
Dixon transferred to Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College in 2004. He was rated the best linebacker in the junior college ranks and the third-best player overall by Rivals.com. He picked up first-team All-American honors from the NJCAA, was named Jayhawk Football Conference Player of the Year and was a finalist for National Defensive Player of the Year honors.
He led the junior college ranks with 161 tackles (112 solos) and set school and conference single-season records with 43 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He blocked five kicks, caused four fumbles and intercepted two passes while recording 8.5 sacks. He gained 81 yards on three punt returns (27.0 avg) and 306 yards on eleven kickoff returns (27.8 avg).
"David is the best I've seen," said Blue Dragon head coach Craig Jersild. "Athletically, there's no one who compares to him at this level, and not too many at the next. He's 6-2, 245, runs a 4.4 in his blue jeans, benches whatever you put on the bar, and has a vertical jump of 44 inches, and he's a football player. He's not just one of those guys that tests well in the classroom. He has a great nose for the ball and plays really fast. He's a specimen. The good Lord has blessed him.
"David is a great person," Jerslid added, "but he just doesn't like school."
In two junior college seasons, Dixon registered 240 tackles (158 solos) with 14.5 sacks for minus-96 yards and 60 stops for losses of 207 yards. He blocked ten kicks, intercepted three passes and caused five fumbles.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has a well-built frame with thick bone structure, broad shoulders, muscular arms, big hands, good bubble and good-sized legs, thighs and calves...Is a strong presence on defense who needs to be accounted for on every play...Plays alert and is quick to read and react, making proper body adjustments on the move...Flashes outstanding strength at the point of attack and can fill the rush lanes with authority...
Has very good stack/tackle ability vs. the inside run...Does a very good job of using his hands to control the blocker, easily adjusting and reacting to the plays in front of him...
Flashes the hand strength to play off blocks...Has the outstanding speed, leverage and range to reach the outside, doing a nice job of avoiding blocks in attempts to shut down the cutback lanes...Can turn and run with good change of direction agility and is a hard hitter who explodes behind his tackles...Has the vision, awareness and turning ability to stay with tight ends and backs in pass routes...Effective when planting and driving out of his breaks, flying to the ball instantly, showing the hip flexibility and control to stay tight on the hip of the receiver...Has the natural hands to reach and pluck the ball away from the body's frame...Has a great initial burst on returns, showing the ability to twist and adjust in attempts to squeeze through tight quarters to gain valid yardage on kickoffs... Has outstanding leaping ability and timing to knock down kicks at the line of scrimmage.
Negatives: Struggles in the classroom, forcing him to sit out the 2005 season due to academic ineligibility...Good at using his hands to fend off blocks, but needs to use his punch with more consistency to shock and jolt the opponent...Makes plays in front of him, but will bite on play-action and fakes when he eyes the backfield too long...Has the speed to cover in one-on-one situations, but must improve his timing picking up switch-offs when working in the zone.
Dixon is a well-built athlete with tremendous quickness and leaping ability. He is a raw talent, but plays with great ball anticipation skills, showing urgency while performing until the whistle. He has a solid frame with powerful upper body strength and loose hips to turn and run on the ball coming out of his breaks.
Dixon plays with very good field vision and natural instincts. He times his leaps to get to the ball at its high point, showing natural hands for the interception. He is also a standout kick blocker, having batted away ten kicks in two seasons. He also has proven to be a dangerous open field runner on kickoff returns.
Dixon has the hand punch to shock and jolt blockers, but needs to use it with more consistency. He is very effective at getting an edge on the blocker, using quick rip and swim moves to rip off the block and generate strong backside pursuit. He has that outstanding speed needed to run sideline-to-sideline and a motor that never quits.
He is a hard, punishing tackler who will strike and wrap with explosiveness. He has the loose hips and feet to come out of his breaks and stay on the hip of the receiver in man coverage. He will bite a bit on play-action when he peeks into the backfield too long, but has the recovery speed to get back into the play.
Dixon plays with good confidence and is not afraid to mix it up in the trenches, but also comes with glowing praise from both coaching staffs due to his work ethic. He might not have the major college experience of A.J. Hawk, but one look at his production and athletic agility tests scores and you can see that someone will unearth a tremendous, but raw talent with a blank slate to mold within.
AGILITY NOTES
Campus: 4.42 in the 40-yard dash...465-pound bench press...44-inch vertical jump...49-inch triple jump.
INJURY REPORT
No injuries reported.
CAREER NOTES
Set school, Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference and NJCAA single-season records with 43 stops behind the line of scrimmage in 2004...Set a Hutchinson College single-season record with five blocked punts in 2004.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Beaumont (Tex.) Central High School, playing football for head coach Mark Suggs...Earned All-District 22, All-Region III and Class 4A All-State honors as a linebacker and a halfback...Also returned kicks and added letters in track.
PERSONAL
Criminal Justice major...Born 2/14/85...Resides in Beaumont, Texas.
