2008 Woodie Awards
Dixon happy to return to Red Raider D-line
Adam Coleman
Issue date: 4/15/08 Section: Sports
Texas Tech defensive end McKinner Dixon went through many lessons before his return to Tech.
After playing at the junior college level, Dixon is just glad to be back in a place he calls heaven.
"Being in a (junior college), the food, just the place being in the area just gives you a negative feeling," Dixon said. "It's like being in a real, real low grade high school. It's like heaven here. I can remember eating green hot dogs at Cisco. You gotta do what you gotta do, and I made it back."
Dixon was a part of the Red Raiders' 2005 season as a freshman All-American. In that freshman season, Dixon finished with 29 tackles and two sacks. Seventeen of his tackles were solo, and he also claimed a forced fumble.
His stop at Cisco Junior College after the 2005 season was because of his trouble with academics. Dixon never ran away from playing football, as he played for the Wranglers for nine games, racking up nine sacks.
Working his way back to the Tech campus and the team, spring practices have been a chance for Dixon to get himself reacquainted with the defense and do it while having a new mentality.
Dixon said to be back in the Red Raider uniform is similar to a life-changing experience.
"I wish I could tell you how good it feels," he said. "Words couldn't even explain. It's just like being reborn again."
Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill is pleased to see Dixon's return fairing well.
McNeill was an assistant coach in 2005 during Dixon's first stint as a Red Raider, but this time McNeill has the opportunity to coach and watch Dixon closer.
McNeill said day by day, Dixon is getting accustomed to the defense once again, and he said he expects the rush end to be a major contributor to a defensive line that already has depth.
"McKinner is very intense, very talented, can run and can make and finish plays,' he said. "He has the total package. He's getting back in the groove. He's going to be really a key element in our success that we expect to have on defense."
After playing at the junior college level, Dixon is just glad to be back in a place he calls heaven.
"Being in a (junior college), the food, just the place being in the area just gives you a negative feeling," Dixon said. "It's like being in a real, real low grade high school. It's like heaven here. I can remember eating green hot dogs at Cisco. You gotta do what you gotta do, and I made it back."
Dixon was a part of the Red Raiders' 2005 season as a freshman All-American. In that freshman season, Dixon finished with 29 tackles and two sacks. Seventeen of his tackles were solo, and he also claimed a forced fumble.
His stop at Cisco Junior College after the 2005 season was because of his trouble with academics. Dixon never ran away from playing football, as he played for the Wranglers for nine games, racking up nine sacks.
Working his way back to the Tech campus and the team, spring practices have been a chance for Dixon to get himself reacquainted with the defense and do it while having a new mentality.
Dixon said to be back in the Red Raider uniform is similar to a life-changing experience.
"I wish I could tell you how good it feels," he said. "Words couldn't even explain. It's just like being reborn again."
Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill is pleased to see Dixon's return fairing well.
McNeill was an assistant coach in 2005 during Dixon's first stint as a Red Raider, but this time McNeill has the opportunity to coach and watch Dixon closer.
McNeill said day by day, Dixon is getting accustomed to the defense once again, and he said he expects the rush end to be a major contributor to a defensive line that already has depth.
"McKinner is very intense, very talented, can run and can make and finish plays,' he said. "He has the total package. He's getting back in the groove. He's going to be really a key element in our success that we expect to have on defense."
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