Meet The 2019 Class: Four-Star LB Lance Dixon

During the summer of 2017, Lance Dixon came to Happy Valley and camped for the Penn State staff. Showing off his great athleticism, he got the attention of the coaching staff, and eventually earned a Penn State offer later that fall. After multiple trips to campus, the Nittany Lions began to emerge as a leader for Dixon. Following his official visit in June, Dixon’s mind was a made up. He went on to commit to the Nittany Lions on July 1st and never wavered.

Vitals

Highlights

Scouting Report

Dixon is a great athlete, displaying speed and quickness that few linebackers possesses. As I said throughout the season when posting Dixon highlights during commits in action articles each week, he is a heat seeking missile on the football field.

While Dixon played some box linebacker while in high school, his home at Penn State will be the SAM position. In Brent Pry’s defense, the SAM is the linebacker that is usually asked to play outside the box, and typically has greater coverage responsibilities. Thanks to Dixon’s quickness and comfort playing in space, he’s the exact prototype Pry is looking for in a SAM.

Outlook

Dixon, like fellow linebacker signee Brandon Smith, is an early enrollee, which should greatly improve his chances of seeing the field as a true freshman. While the athleticism is clearly there, Dixon needs to add weight to his frame so the extra five months with strength and conditioning coach Dwight Galt will be much needed.

Cam Brown is entrenched as the starter at SAM entering 2019. However, there are reps to be had in relief of Brown. Look for Dixon to enter the season as a ‘yellow light’ and get reps at linebacker and on special teams in non-conference play. If the coaching staff feels Dixon shows he is ready to play, then it would not be a surprise to see that yellow light turn green for Big Ten play.