College football recruiting: Tallmadge All-Ohio WR Collin Dixon commits to Illinois

Collin Dixon went with his gut.

As a result, the two-time Division III All-Ohio wide receiver committed to Illinois on Monday.

Dixon was all set to commit to Illinois in the summer when the Tallmadge senior’s life took a left turn and he committed to Wisconsin on June 13.

That commitment lasted a little over four months before he opened his recruitment back up on Nov. 17, a month after a coaching change at Wisconsin.

Fast forward to today and Dixon is back where he started.

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Over the course of his recruiting journey, Dixon held offers from Akron, Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Connecticut, Duke, Eastern Michigan, Indiana, Kent State, Kentucky, Marshall, Miami (Ohio), Northwestern, Pittsburgh, Purdue and Wisconsin.

"They've been in my top schools during my whole recruitment," Dixon said of the Illini. "When I committed to Wisconsin, we ended on good terms. They didn't completely cut ties and would check in every once in a while.

"When I decommitted they picked up where we left off. I just continued to build the relationship and saw how coach [Bret Bielema] and his staff have evolved the program in the couple of years he's been there. They're headed in the right direction. On my visit, it felt like home. I saw how the players and coaches interacted and it felt like the place I thought it was."

Citing uncertainty in the coaching staff in Madison, Dixon decommitted last month.

The Badgers fired coach Paul Chryst on Oct. 3 and hired Luke Fickell on Nov. 27, but wide receivers coach Alvis Whitted, who recruited Dixon, is not expected to return.

Dixon's focus shifted back to Illinois.

"Stability turned out to be really important," Dixon said. "I hadn't thought about that much before, but the stability is really comforting. My position coach is an Illinois alum. He loves it there and isn't leaving and either is the offensive coordinator, who signed a three-year extension. 'Coach B' obviously helps, but I don't think he is going anywhere. However long my playing career is, that will be the coaching staff I have."

The Fighting Ilini went 8-4 this season and finished second in the Big Ten West.

They will play Mississippi State in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 2.

On the official visit, Dixon got a chance to meet with the support staff, academics team and nutrition team. He got to be with his future teammates and see their practice and talk to recruits who also were there.

Everything the Ilini told him, they told the other recruits.

After that, it was a matter of giving his word. He will sign his national letter of intent on Dec. 21.

"It's great because waiting until February, spots could fill up," said Dixon of signing early. "The schools could be fine, but I could be left out because I didn't sign in December. It helps me because not only is recruiting done, but I'm also officially with a program."

What Illinois is getting in the 6-foot-2, 205-pound standout is a consistent producer.

As a junior, Dixon caught 69 passes for 1,461 yards and scored 20 touchdowns. As a safety, he had 63 tackles, three sacks, eight forced fumbles and an interception in 11 games.

This past season, Dixon made 88 catches for 1,493 yards and scored 19 touchdowns. He made 46 tackles, recorded a sack, caused two fumbles, recovered a fumble and had four interceptions in 12 games.

For that, he was named first-team All-Ohio for the second season in a row.

Dixon finished his Blue Devils career with 201 receptions for 3,561 yards and scored 45 touchdowns.

Defensively, he had 143 tackles, five sacks, 11 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and six interceptions.

"I think I'm a playmaker that's real good with the ball in his hands," Dixon said. "I think the big play was something they haven't quite gotten in that offense yet. I think I bring that to the table. I'm someone that leads in the locker room, too."

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Collin Dixon of Tallmadge commits to Illinois football