Lyn-J Dixon has been with the Tennessee football team for about a week now, but an exciting week to say the least. The transfer running back committed to Tennessee last Wednesday before suiting up in a Tennessee uniform for the first time on Thursday.
With a few practices with Tennessee under Dixon’s belt, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel revealed some positive news relating to the Vols’ newest running back. On Tuesday, Heupel announced that Dixon will be immediately eligible for the upcoming 2022 season.
Dixon, a prospect back in the class of 2018, was originally a Tennessee commit under then-head coach Butch Jones before de-committing a few months later. The Butler, Georgia native would then commit to Clemson and spent four years with the Tigers’ program under Dabo Swinney. Dixon would also go on to win a national championship during his freshman season at Clemson.
With four years of collegiate experience to his name, Dixon is a valuable running back for the Tennessee locker – especially considering the Vols have already lost power back Len’Neth Whitehead to a season-ending injury already.
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“With Len’Neth being out for the season because of the injury, felt like it was important that we continued to try to look for and add another body to that room if there was one that was available that fit what we’re going to need,” Heupel said on Tuesday.
While Dixon doesn’t replace the size that Tennessee lost with Whitehead’s injury, he does bring several tools to the table to give the Vols even more options from that position. At the current moment, though, Tennessee is just focused on getting him up to speed.
“Since he has gotten in, he’s in a race to understand and learn what we’re doing as fast as he possibly can,” Heupel said about Dixon. “He’s been able to flash in some of our situational stuff that we’ve done. For him to go out and operate and function in everything that we’re doing right now, he’s probably not at that point. But I’ve been really pleased with the effort that he’s put into it.”
The rest of August will be crucial for Dixon’s development as he continues to learn the Tennessee system and playbook.
“He’s competed in a really good way out there on the practice field and in the stadium,” Heupel said about Dixon. “Looking forward to his progression here on the back half of training camp here as we push toward game week.”
In four years with the Clemson program, Lyn-J Dixon totaled 1,420 yards and 13 touchdowns on 218 total attempts.
