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NFL Draft Scouting Report: Kenneth Dixon, Running Back, Louisiana Tech

Former Louisiana Tech running back Kenneth Dixon is profiled and evaluated for the 2016 NFL Draft.

 

Kenneth Dixon - Louisiana Tech

 

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 215 lbs.

Year: Senior

Hometown: Strong, Arkansas

Experience: 4-year starter

 

Measurables:

40yd Dash: 4.58s

Broad Jump: 121 inches

Vertical: 37.5 inches

3-cone: 6.97s

Bench Press: 18 reps

 

Career Notes:

Dixon scored 72 rushing touchdowns in 47 games, tied for fourth all-time in the NCAA. A thousand-yard rusher three of his four seasons, he set a school record on the ground with 4,483 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry on his career as a Bulldog.

Receiving out of the backfield proved a successful addition to his game with 87 career receptions for 696 yards and 15 touchdowns. He finished his career with the second-most total touchdowns all-time in the NCAA (87).

Dixon graduated draped in honors with at least two awards every year from 2012 to 2015. From the 2012 WAC Freshman of the Year to 2015 First-Team All-Conference USA, accolades embellish Dixon's resume.

Injury Report:

Dixon missed four games in four years due to ankle sprains.

Career Stats:

Games Played: 47

Carries: 802

Rush Yards: 4,483

Rush TD: 72

Receptions: 87

Rec. Yards: 969

Rec. TD: 15

Total TD: 87

 

Analysis

Speed/Quickness: 3.5/5.0

Once moving vertically, Dixon makes use of quick feet to adjust his running lane in the open field just enough to make defenders miss. He will not burn NFL linebackers or secondary-level players for long gains.

Vision: 4.0/5.0

Dixon hits the best gap quickly, while allowing his blockers to do their job. He runs patiently behind slow-developing plays and crashes the gap as soon as it opens up. When running lanes are clogged, he buries his head and fights to the line of scrimmage.

Power: 3.0/5.0

Easily neutralized before reaching the line of scrimmage, Dixon generates power from his legs to work through tacklers in the open field, but not in the tranches. He can fight back to the line of scrimmage, but he will not shake off lineman or the average middle linebacker.

Pass Receiving: 4.0/5.0

He consistently makes difficult catches look routine, and is a weapon when hit in stride.

Ball Security: 5.0/5.0

Whether catching or rushing, Dixon keeps the ball away from defenders and close to his body.

Overall Grade: 3.9/5.0

With the ball in his hands, Dixon's vision and agility are advantages which work in tandem to the detriment of would be tacklers. A constant threat to catch and run out of the backfield, Dixon makes 0-coverage a liability for defenses. His hands in the passing game translate to Day 1 NFL production. Though Dixon craves the ball in big situations, his propensity to leadership moves him to take on blockers in big third downs in the passing game.

If Drafted by the Packers:

Dixon would represent the optimism we found in John Crockett in 2015, with more Game 1 readiness than upside. During a contract year for James Starks in which the veteran running back may not return, the Packers could look to snag Dixon as early as the third round.

Coming from a small school, fans are right to wonder about how well his skill set will translate to the NFL. A major concern is speed. Dixon rarely separated from Conference USA talent and never got away from Big 5 Conference teams. His value is not in breaking off big plays. He's a reliable receiver out of the backfield, a role the pack will need to carry on to succeed if we lose Starks.

On third and short, Dixon had a 50-50 success rate, succeeding when he followed his blockers, falling short of the mark to gain when he tried to improvise. Often swallowed up before he could get moving forward at Louisiana Tech, Dixon would work as a north-south runner between tackles who give him a chance.

 

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Comments (1)

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NickPerry's picture

March 17, 2016 at 05:55 am

PASS!!!!

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