Collin Dixon catches on: After official visit to Wisconsin, Tallmadge football star commits

As hot a commodity as Tallmadge High School's Collin Dixon is, the three-star wide receiver could have let things play out and decided later this year where he was going to play college football.

That's not Dixon's style. He took his official visit to Wisconsin over the weekend and announced Monday morning that he'll be a Badger in the fall of 2023.

The incoming Blue Devils senior could have decided to go to Kentucky, Indiana, Pitt among his more than 20 offers, but he saw a lot of Tallmadge in Madison, Wisconsin, and didn't delay his decision.

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"The biggest thing I got from Wisconsin is it's really a family," the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Dixon said. "Whether it was talking to the coaches or just the recruits and players, they really do care about each other and it's that way on and off the field.

"That was one of the main things. I wanted to make sure I was going somewhere where they really cared about me as a person, not just a player. I think Coach [Paul] Chryst and [wide receiver coach Alvis Whitted] do a great job with that."

On Wisconsin, lineage played a role in Collin Dixon's choice

Dixon is also a history buff and sees the litany of Badgers wide receivers who enjoyed success.

Al Toon, Tony Simmons, Jared Abbrederis, Lee DeRamus, Jonathan Orr, and Bedford graduates Chris Chambers and Lee Evans all played in the NFL after starring at Wisconsin, which made it an easy choice for Dixon.

Add the fact the Badgers have won 14 conference titles all-time and five of the past 11 Big Ten West Division championships and it was almost a no-brainer.

"That was huge because the whole staff has NFL experience," Dixon said. "They know how to take guys to the next level. Hearing people in the pros or even other colleges talk about Wisconsin, it was like that's the standard for how your run a program."

Dixon knows how to get things done when the ball is in his hands.

A first-team All-Ohioan in football and honorable mention all-state selection in basketball, Dixon's athleticism is pure.

He caught 69 passes last season 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.

Collin Dixon is ready for challenge with Badgers

Dixon knows he'll need that athleticism when he gets to Wisconsin.

The Badgers could have 11 wide receivers that have eligibility left when he arrives in Madison. Four receivers from Wisconsin's 2022 recruiting class have signed letters of intent and he's the first from the 2023 class to commit.

If you know Dixon, you know competition is what drives him the most.

"I love that because you get a chance to go up against the best defense there is every day," Dixon said. "You're always improving. It's all the top guys there. It's a bunch of guys that know what it takes to get there. They know how hard you have to work to be looked at as some of the best."

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Dixon is headed to the Badgers to do more than just play ball.

He is unsure on his major, but he comes into his senior season with a 4.1 grade-point average and a firm grasp on his future on and off the field.

"I'm just a playmaker," Dixon said. "I bring explosive plays into the offense. I work hard to set the tone. I'm big and physical enough to play in the Big Ten.

"They talked to my coaches and the people around me and they said it was about hard work and the core values. I'm dependable, hard-working, tough and respectful. One of the big things for me is I'm respectful. I love learning anything that can help me improve."

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

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Tallmadge receiver Collin Dixon commits to Wisconsin football