Ohio State 2024 target Sam Williams-Dixon settles in at Pickerington North
Roddreka Dixon doesn’t see her son celebrate touchdowns very often — not that he doesn't score them.
After each of his 41 trips to the end zone as a junior at West Holmes High School in Millersburg, she watched as Sam Williams-Dixon crossed the goal line, jogged off the field and turned his focus to the next play.
“He’s out there and he feels like it’s his job,” Roddreka Dixon said.
Dixon would like to see the running back to slow down. She recalls him telling her, years before college programs such as Ohio State were on his radar, that he intended to play in the NFL one day.
But to Williams-Dixon, the work just shows how much he loves football. Heading into his senior year on a new stage at Pickerington North and with a college announcement coming quickly, that mindset is not shifting.
“That’s probably the hardest question to ask somebody: why they love what they do,” Williams-Dixon said. “But I love it because it brings joy to me. I feel more confident playing it and feel happy. That’s what I play.”
What Ohio State football sees in 2024 RB Sam Williams-Dixon
Why Williams-Dixon loves being a running back is also pretty straightforward. Standing at 6-foot, 194 pounds, it’s a position where he can block, run through gaps on the line, catch the ball and make defenders miss in space.
“I can outrun people, run people over and just have that chip on my shoulder that I’m not doing this for myself,” Williams-Dixon said. “I’m also doing it for the men up front that block for me and for my team.”
He showcased those abilities early, including during a visit to the Best of the Midwest camp before his sophomore season, when he caught the eye of Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford.
“When I used to sit in his office, I would be quiet and wouldn’t say too much because I didn’t know what to say,” Williams-Dixon remembered. “I didn’t want to say anything dumb or anything, so I would just chill, answer his questions.
“He said we’re going to laugh at this moment right here in a couple years.”
Ohio State was not the only school to see that potential in Williams-Dixon. His final three heading into an April 15 announcement are Kentucky and Penn State along with the Buckeyes.
OSU already has a commitment from one 2024 running back commit in four-star James Peoples out of San Antonio, Texas, but Dixon knows how much relationships mean to her son. They've been a priority for him since he was in little league, she said.
And while Dixon has always been an Ohio State fan, she appreciates the program in a new way now thanks to Williams-Dixon's recruitment.
“They are a big family,” Roddreka Dixon said.
Sam Williams-Dixon ready to show off at Pickerington North
Nate Hillerich found out from Ohio State that Williams-Dixon was moving to Pickerington.
The Pickerington North football coach came into the 2023 season thinking his team was in a great situation, returning many major contributors from last season’s team, including 2025 running back Michael Taylor, who has a Kentucky offer.
But with Williams-Dixon, Hillerich said he has an offensive weapon that can be plugged in wherever he’s needed.
“I think he runs with power, and he makes guys miss in space,” Hillerich said. “I don’t think there’s anybody that’s going to be able to touch him in space.”
After three seasons at West Holmes, both Sam Williams-Dixon and Roddreka Dixon said the move from Millersburg to Pickerington was a family decision and not associated with football.
“Nobody drafted nobody,” Roddreka Dixon said. “We didn’t know who these people were. It’s not that type of party. This is the school area, and that’s where we ended up.”
Since enrolling at Pickerington North on Feb. 28, Williams-Dixon, Hillerich said, has been a “quiet leader,” doing everything asked of him at workouts and pushing himself to be a contributor in the fall.
Williams-Dixon has seen that same passion from his new teammates.
“Everyone competes,” Williams-Dixon said. “Everyone has that chip on their shoulder that they’re going to be great every day.”
And while Williams-Dixon brings experience as a senior, Hillerich knows there could be an adjustment period, jumping from Division IV to Division I high school football.
But Williams-Dixon’s mindset is not changing. With a college decision soon solidified, he’s excited to show off his love of football to a brand new audience.
“I want to prove that I can play at this level,” Williams-Dixon said.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OSU 2024 RB target Sam Williams-Dixon ends up at Pickerington North
