UConn Football: Wide Receiver Keyion Dixon Making Impact on Special Teams

As conductors of the Keyion Dixon hype train, it gives The UConn Blog great pleasure to share that Randy Edsall has good things to say about him. There aren’t many players on the roster who can make that claim, so let’s cherish it.

Dixon has showed signs of playmaking ability as a receiver and kick returner, but he hasn’t been able to get going consistently. He caught 33 passes for 360 yards last year as a redshirt freshman, but only has six receptions for 90 yards so far this year. Edsall is teaching him to look at special teams as another avenue for helping out the team.

“Guys have to play special teams,” Edsall said. “[Keyion is] starting to understand that he can contribute to this team in other ways and we’re going to utilize him as a special teams player, because he has the ability to do that.”

Dixon played quarterback for Glastonbury High, but knew as a recruit he’d be playing receiver in college. As a special teamer, he’s averaging 20.7 yards per kick return and has five tackles in the last two games.

He’s one of our fastest guys,” Edsall said. “And he can run, so he’s going to be out there helping us.”

“I enjoy having those tackles and competing on both sides of the ball,” Dixon said. “That helped me understand I can do a lot of different things to help this team and not be one dimensional.”

After playing against some of the best competition college football has to offer, the Huskies have faced the 20th-toughest schedule in the country thus far, UConn’s developmental talent will have a chance to flourish against a softer tail end of the calendar. Hopefully Dixon’s success on special teams can translate into big plays at receiver down the stretch.

“It really boosts my confidence going into these last five games,” he said.