Penn Stay football will add the services of now former University of South Carolina cornerback John Dixon, with his second year announcing his intention to move on Monday afternoon.
According to NCAA rules, Dixon will be immediately eligible to play.
The Tampa, Florida native comes to Penn State after accumulating 34 tackles during the 2020 Gamecocks season and was second on the team with five pass separations, including two in Florida in the second week of the season.
It remains to be seen what exactly the Penn State cornerback will look like in 2021, with Tariq Castro-Fields often injured but hopeful in the NFL, still publicly undecided about his future. Real freshman Joey Porter Jr. and junior junior Keaton Ellis return in 2021, as do DaeQuan Hardy and Donovan Johnson.
However, Dixon’s gaming experience at the SEC will carry significant weight in a fairly young coverage unit. At 6 feet and 185 pounds, Dixon would be among the highest corners on the Penn State squad with Porter and Joseph Johnson III, both at 6 feet-2, while Castro-Fields measures at 6 feet.
Dixon is the second transfer to the Penn State squad so far this offseason, with running back John Lovett coming from Baylor last week.
Penn State coach James Franklin is unlikely to interrupt his transfer portal purchases anytime soon. Lions of Nittany are still showing their weaknesses after a poor showing in 2020 and immediate eligibility gives coaches and programs the opportunity to meet those needs with players far more suited to making an immediate impact than incoming freshmen.
I want to say that I am grateful to the staff at USC and my brothers who still play there. After a lot of thinking and praying, my family and I made the decision to transfer and play at Penn State University. #We are #Nittanynation 🦁🤟🏾 @CoachTerryPSU @coachjfranklin pic.twitter.com/E9zEWOazTv
– BET ON ME (@JohnnyDixon_) December 28, 2020