No. 24, 26 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||
Born: | Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. | September 24, 1987||||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
Weight: | 233 lb (106 kg) | ||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||
High school: | Terry (MS) | ||||||||||||
College: | Mississippi State (2006–2009) | ||||||||||||
NFL draft: | 2010 / round: 6 / pick: 173 | ||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
|
Anthony Rishard "Boobie" Dixon (born September 24, 1987) [1] [2] is a former American football running back. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football for Mississippi State University, where he holds multiple school rushing records.
As a senior at Terry High School in 2005, he racked up 304 carries for 2,683 yards (8.8 average) and 31 touchdowns in leading Terry to an 11–2 mark. He was named the Jackson metro-area player of the year by The Clarion-Ledger . He was also a first-team All-State honoree by the paper, and was named to its (preseason) "Dandy Dozen" team (of the state's 12 best high school players) and its (postseason) "10 Most Wanted" list (of the state's top 10 college football prospects).
Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com , Dixon was listed as the No. 22 running back prospect in the nation in 2006. [3] Scout.com ranked Dixon a four star prospect and the 30th best running back in the country. [4]
He chose Mississippi State over University of Alabama, Louisiana State University, and Southern Miss.
In his true freshman season, Dixon played in all 12 games, starting five times, and set MSU true freshman records for rushing attempts, yards gained rushing, and touchdowns rushing. His nine touchdowns on the ground were the most by a Bulldog since Dicenzo Miller's ten TDs in 2000. He earned his nickname "Boobie" from his college teammates, who compared him to Boobie Miles, the character in Friday Night Lights . [2]
As a sophomore, Dixon played all 13 games and started twelve. He became just the seventh halfback (ninth occurrence) in school history and the first Bulldog sophomore ever to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in a single season and his attempts set a Mississippi State single season record. He scored MSU's game-winning touchdown in the 2007 Liberty Bowl game.
During his junior season, Dixon started all 12 games he played in, and rushed for 869 yards, compiling a career-best 4.4 yards per carry.
With 1,391 rushing yards in his senior season, Dixon not only set the Mississippi State single-season rushing record (surpassing J. J. Johnson's 1998 record of 1,383 yards), he also became the seventh player in Southeastern Conference history to lead his team in rushing four times. He joined Eddie Price (Tulane, 1946–1949), Sonny Collins (Kentucky, 1972–1975), Dalton Hilliard (LSU, 1982–1985), Carl Woods (Vanderbilt, 1983–1986), Errict Rhett (Florida, 1990–1993), and Kevin Faulk (LSU, 1995–1998) on that list. Dixon accumulated 3,994 career rushing yards during his collegiate career. [5]
Mississippi State Bulldogs | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Games | Rushing | ||||||||||
GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Lng | Y/G | |||||
2006 | 12 | 5 | 169 | 668 | 4.0 | 9 | 65 | 55.7 | ||||
2007 | 13 | 12 | 287 | 1,066 | 3.7 | 14 | 30 | 82.0 | ||||
2008 | 12 | 12 | 197 | 869 | 4.4 | 7 | 71 | 72.4 | ||||
2009 | 11 | 11 | 257 | 1,391 | 5.4 | 12 | 70 | 126.5 | ||||
Career | 48 | 40 | 910 | 3,994 | 4.4 | 42 | 71 | 84.1 |
Dixon was considered one of the best "power backs" available in the 2010 NFL draft, alongside Toby Gerhart and Charles Scott. [6] Projected as a third- to fourth-round pick, Dixon was thought to possibly be the Bulldogs' highest draftee since Jerious Norwood was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round (79th overall) of the 2006 NFL draft. [7] However, he was selected as the 173rd overall pick in the sixth round by the San Francisco 49ers. [8]
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | Wonderlic |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 0+3⁄4 in (1.85 m) | 233 lb (106 kg) | 32+5⁄8 in (0.83 m) | 9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m) | 4.75 s | 1.71 s | 2.83 s | 4.49 s | 7.09 s | 33 in (0.84 m) | 10 ft 1 in (3.07 m) | 15 reps | 25 |
All values from NFL Combine [9] [10] [11] |
With the announcement of the sudden retirement of Glen Coffee on August 13, former head coach Mike Singletary stated that Dixon and veteran Michael Robinson would compete for the number 2 running back spot behind Pro Bowler Frank Gore. [12] In the preseason, Dixon posted 74 rushes for 300 yards, averaging 75 yards per game and 4 touchdowns, leading the entire NFL in each of those categories. On September 20, 2010, Dixon rushed for his first career NFL touchdown against the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football . Despite playing well in the preseason, Dixon had only ten rushing attempts until week 12. After Gore suffered a fractured hip during a Monday Night Football game against the Arizona Cardinals on November 29, Dixon had 14 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown as a backup to Brian Westbrook, who took over for Gore. Dixon played in all 72 games of his NFL career, primarily on special teams. At the end of the 2012 season, Dixon and the 49ers appeared in Super Bowl XLVII. He contributed on special teams, but the 49ers fell to the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 34–31. [13] His only start as a member of the 49ers came in the 2013 NFC Championship game as a fullback, scoring a touchdown that gave San Francisco a 10–0 lead. Coincidentally, that was his last game as a member of the 49ers. He finished his 49er career with 458 regular-season rushing yards and eight touchdowns. [14] [15]
On March 15, 2014, Dixon signed a three-year, $3.5 million contract with the Buffalo Bills. [14] Dixon went on to have the most productive year of his career, with career highs in rushing attempts (105), rushing yards (432), average yards per rush (4.1), as well as passes caught and receiving yardage (eight catches for 49 yards). Dixon also scored two rushing touchdowns, the same number he had scored each year since entering the NFL.
In 2015, Dixon's production dropped off significantly. He had only one rushing touchdown, and recorded both 44 yards rushing and 44 yards receiving. On March 1, 2016, Dixon was released by the Bills. [16]
After spending the 2016 season out of football, Dixon played in front of NFL and Canadian Football League scouts as part of the inaugural season for a new instructional and developmental football program, The Spring League, taking part in both the April training camp and games held at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, as well as the 2017 Summer Showcase game held in Napa, California. [17] As one of The Spring League's "marquee players" [18] Dixon was one of the more vocal players in the league, and predicted he would amass 100 yards and 2 touchdowns during the California Showcase game. Playing as part of team California, Dixon's teammate included fellow running back Glen Coffee, [19] the player Dixon replaced as a member of the 49ers. Playing predominately as a fullback, Dixon's first carry was a 49-yard touchdown run. Late in the game, Dixon caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from David Ash. [20] Both plays occurred on 4th down, and were the first and last scores of the game, respectively. Dixon's totals were 7 carries for 55 yards, 5 catches for 23 yards, and the two touchdowns. With 78 total yards on 12 touches, Dixon was short of his statistical pregame prediction, but nonetheless he was listed as one of the Stand Out Players of the game during the Summer Showcase broadcast. [21]
Dixon is a Christian. Dixon describes himself on his Twitter account as a "God Fearing Man" and frequently tweets about his faith. [22]
Anthony also has three younger brothers Antwon, Rashun, and Deshun (from oldest to youngest). Antwon and Rashun both committed to play football at Mississippi State, although neither played at MSU. Antwon instead went to Hinds Community College before transferring to Midwestern State University. Rashun was drafted in the 10th round (304th overall) in the 2008 Major League Baseball draft by the Oakland As and chose to play professional baseball. Deshun was also drafted by in the MLB Draft, taken in the 10th round by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. [23]
Reginald John Cobb was an American professional football player who was a running back for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, leading the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in touchdowns his freshman year. A second-round selection in the 1990 NFL draft, he initially played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, registering his best season in 1992 when he rushed for over a thousand yards and scored nine touchdowns. He was later a member of the inaugural roster of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Franklin Gore Sr. is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. A member of the San Francisco 49ers during most of his career, he ranks third in NFL career rushing yards. His career was noted for its longevity, rare for his position, and he holds the league record for games played by a running back.
Burton Michael Robinson is an American former football fullback who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft. He is currently an analyst for the NFL Network and NBC.
Dennis Lee Dixon Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks. Dixon was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL draft and played with the team through 2011. He was a member of the Baltimore Ravens practice squad during the 2012 season in which they won a Super Bowl.
Charles Lee "Boobie" Clark was a professional American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons and was named the UPI AFL–AFC Rookie of the Year for 1973.
Lenvil Elliott was a professional American football player who played running back for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was a part of the San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl XVI winning team.
The 2007 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Sylvester Croom, who served his fourth season in the position. The Bulldogs played their six home games in 2007 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi.
Glenwood Razeem Coffee Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2009 NFL draft and played one season before retiring from football in 2010 and serving in the U.S. Army from 2013 to 2017. Coffee came out of retirement and was reinstated by the NFL on April 21, 2017. He played college football at the University of Alabama.
Kendall Bernell Hunter is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, earning consensus All-American honors in 2010. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL draft.
Charles Edward Scott Jr. is a former American football running back. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football at Louisiana State University.
Marcus Lattimore is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks, where he holds the career record for rushing touchdowns (38). He rushed for 1,197 yards as a starter during his freshman year, earning All-American honors. His sophomore and junior years were truncated by severe knee injuries. He opted to forgo his senior year and was selected by San Francisco in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft. He never played a game for the 49ers and retired from playing football at the age of 23. In 2016, he was named head football coach at Heathwood Hall prep school in Columbia, South Carolina. He served as the Director of Player Development for the South Carolina Gamecocks from 2018 to 2019.
Tavon Wesley Austin is an American former professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers, receiving first-team All-American honors twice and was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft.
Garrett Bartholomew Celek is a former American football tight end who played his entire career for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan State. Celek signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent on May 4, 2012. He is the brother of former Philadelphia Eagles tight end Brent Celek.
Kyle Juszczyk is an American professional football fullback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Harvard Crimson, and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft.
Joshua Devonte Robinson Sr. is an American professional football running back who is a free agent. He played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL draft.
Nicholas Dylan Fitzgerald is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
The Spring League (TSL) was an American football developmental league and scouting event that played from 2017 to 2021 and was founded by Brian Woods. Aimed at professional athletes but not paying a salary or expenses, the league's goal was to "serve as an instructional league and showcase for professional football talent".
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is an American professional football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers and was selected by the Chiefs in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion.
The 2017 The Spring League season was the first overall in league history, which was played in Sulphur Springs, West Virginia at The Greenbrier resort.
Kenneth Walker III is an American professional football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and Michigan State Spartans. He won the Walter Camp and Doak Walker Awards in 2021.