Home
What's New
Open Forum
Recruiting '99
Welcome
Top Prospects
Prospects List
Features
Florida Connection
Instant Impact!
Honor Rolls
New Tiders
Alonzo Ephraim
Antonio Carter
Brandon Greer
Brandon Miree
Casey Gilbert
Charles Jones
Dante Ellington
Dave Peterson
David Paine
Dennis Alexander
Derrick Woods
Garry McNealy
Gerald Dixon
Gerard Clark
Hirchel Bolden
Jarrett Johnson
Jeremy Walker
Josh Parker
Kenny King
Leonard Fulgham
Leslie Williams
Matt Lomax
Michael Gaines
Milo Lewis
Raymon Hudson
Robert Branch
Roberto McBride
Saleem Rasheed
Santonio Beard
Terris Martin
Tyler Harris
Other
Links
Privacy Policy
Contact TI

Copyright 1999
TiderInsider
All Rights Reserved

Gerald Dixon

Gerald Dixon

CB, 5'11, 181, 4.3, 295 BP
Burtonsville, MD

Nickname: Smoke
Birthday: 10-7-81
High School: Paint Branch
HS Mascot: Panthers
HS Coach: Bob Windsor
HS Position: QB/CB
HS Number: 2
Official Visits: AL, Mich, MD, ECU
Second Choice: Miami or Maryland
Host During Alabama Visit: Marvin Brown
Committed: 1-28-99
Roommate To Be: Marvin Brown and Terry Jones

Stats

HS Junior Season

Tackles

  • 42 total

Interceptions

  • 5 INTs

Pass Breakups

  • 14

HS Senior Season

Passing

  • 1236 yards
  • 14 TDs

Rushing

  • 1139 yards
  • 11 TDs

Tackles

  • 50 total

Interceptions

  • 5 INTs

Honors

  • Two-time All-County
  • Two-time All-State
  • Team MVP
  • Team's Most Valuable Defensive Back
  • SuperPrep All American
  • Prep Star All American

SBR Scouting Report

Great speed and quickness. Appears to have good height for a cornerback on film. Excellent man-to-man cover skills. Has the confidence and mentality desired in a cornerback. Projects as a cornerback.

[Observation: highlight tape.]

Stories

Ready To Win A Championship

Gerald Dixon went to the Maryland football camp an unheralded prospect. He came back a hot commodity.

"I showed them a few things at the camp and they got all hyper," Dixon says. "I thought I was going to want to stay close to home, so I committed to them."

But shortly after the start of the season, word about Dixon began to spread. Schools like Alabama, Michigan, Miami, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Penn State started showing an interest and Dixon began to waiver on his commitment to the Terrapins.

Gerald Dixon
Dixon

"I told Maryland coaches that I wanted to look around," Dixon says. "They told me that if I took any visits that they'd withdraw their scholarship offer."

The threat didn't set well with Dixon.

"I just told them to forget it," Dixon says. "I wanted to go a big-time program."

Dixon made official visits to Alabama and Michigan, but Maryland wasn't completely out of the picture.

"The day of my press conference, they came in and tried to confuse me by saying things like I could start next season and stuff like that."

"I told them that I was going to Alabama because I'm ready to win a championship."

Ann Arbor's Not His Type of Party

Gerald Dixon had already visited Alabama. So why would anyone think that he would be awed by a visit to Michigan?

"What have they won? One national championship? They act like it's an honor just to visit Michigan," Dixon says. "They need to take a closer look at the record book to find out where they really stand."

"They were saying things like, 'You can come here and play in the Big House [Michigan Stadium]. And you have the chance to play with Jeremy LeSeuer."

LeSeuer, a highly rated cornerback from Holly Springs, MS, was also recruited by Alabama. He and Dixon visited Michigan on the same weekend.

"I liked him a lot and I know that he's a great player. But the way they said it was like they were insulting my ability."

LeSeuer tried to recruit Dixon to Michigan.

"He said that Tuscaloosa was too small for him," Dixon says. "I told him to have fun, but Ann Arbor's not my type of party."

They Call Him "Smoke"

Gerald Dixon

"Dixon's the fastest person that I've ever seen," says Barry Holland of Pigskin Preps. "He can fly! He might be the fastest player to ever play at Alabama."

Dixon's one of the fastest high school players in the nation. His best time in the 40 is 4.21.

"I consistently run a 4.3," Dixon says. "And that's in regular tennis shoes."

Dixon's Big Play Cures Jitters

Gerald Dixon had a case of the opening-game jitters.

"It was the first game of my junior season against McGruder," Dixon says. "I wasn't nervous, but I was real shaky for some reason."

After a couple of series, Paint Branch head coach Bob Windsor took Dixon out of the game to calm him down.

"Coach said, 'What's wrong with you?" recalls Dixon. "I can't stand it when someone says that to me because I know when I'm not myself."

On the next play Dixon was himself again. Lined up in the left slot, he came around on a reverse.

"When I got the ball there was one guy in front of me," he says. "I cut to the right and turned on the speed."

Seventy yards later Dixon had scored Paint Branch's first touchdown of the season.

"I took out a little frustration on that play," he says. "I felt like myself the rest of the game."

Dixon scored two more touchdowns, including an 85-yard punt return and a three-yard run.

His First Game At QB

It was Gerald Dixon's first game at quarterback and he was thoroughly disgusted with his performance.

"We were struggling on offense and it was my fault," Dixon says. "But I didn't get down because I've got a lot of confidence in my ability."

Early in the third quarter, Paint Branch was trailing Sherwood 14-8. The Panthers, backed up to their three-yard line, needed a big play.

Gerald Dixon

"I called Double-Zero," Dixon says. "That play was designed especially for me."

The play gave Dixon the option to improvise.

"I dropped back, saw a hole on the right side, and took off."

By the time he got into the secondary, Dixon had broken six tackles. After that, it was over.

The 97-yard run was the longest play of Dixon's career. Later in the game he broke loose for an 80-yard touchdown run. He finished with 11 carries for 249 yards as Paint Branch rolled to a 22-14 win.

Q&A

TI: Gerald, you didn't get much publicity until the middle of your senior season. Were you overshadowed by Darnell Dockett [his highly touted teammate]?

GD: At first, I think that was the case. You know everybody sees this 6'5, 270-pound guy with great ability and they fall in love with him. But I had some good summer camps and some good games early last season. And I think that the people that came to see Darnell noticed me.

TI: Your coach says that you're the best football player that he's ever been around. Obviously, that includes Darnell Dockett

GD: I was named our team's Most Valuable Player this year. That speaks a lot doesn't? I'm not going to say that I'm better than Darnell, we're totally different positions and everything, but I'm a lot better than some people think.

TI: Does it bother you that many of the recruiting services didn't have you rated high?

GD: Actually, I like it. I like being in the shadows. But I really don't pay attention to the recruiting services anyway. I mean, how can they rank guys that they've never seen play? Just because they haven't heard my name, how can they assume that I'm not a great player? It makes no sense to me.

TI: Talk about yourself as a cornerback.

GD: I'm a very physical corner. I love press-man. I can do the zone thing, but it wears on me. I don't like to be laying off the receiver. I like to get up in their face.

TI: What makes you a good press-man corner?

GD: Obviously you have to be strong and have speed. But to me, the main thing is the mindset - I want to be in their face.

TI: Do you expect to play next season?

GD: I think I can start. But if I don't, I'll get into the playing rotation. The coaches are saying that I have a very good chance to see a lot of time in the nickel package.

TI: You have a lot of confidence and seem to be optimistic. How will you respond if things don't work out as soon as you expect?

GD: I believe in myself, but I realize that everything's not going to go perfectly. Everybody goes through growing pains, and I understand that I won't be an exception. I won't quit trying or transfer if things don't happen for me right away.

TI: Do you talk a lot on the field?

GD: Yeah, I talk to the receivers and the quarterback a little.

TI: What do you say to them?

GD: I tell quarterbacks not to even try to throw it at me. Receivers, I just tell them that they can't beat me. Really, it's only to play with their minds and get them to think things other than what they're supposed to be doing.

TI: Does talking work?

GD: Yeah, because when they tell me to shut up, then I know that they're beat. I know that instead of thinking about their responsibilities, they're listening to me.

TI: What do you think about Alabama's recruiting class?

GD: Oh, it's great! Guys like David Paine, Kenny King and Antonio Carter are great players. I'm excited to be a part of the class.

TI: You obviously kept up with Alabama's recruiting.

GD: Well, of course. Alabama is my family now.