USFL players chasing their NFL dreams in Canton in semifinal playoffs

Johnnie Dixon is chasing his NFL dream in the USFL.

A member of the 2014 national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, the crafty wide receiver has been on the cusp of joining rosters of the Dallas Cowboys and other NFL teams only to be released.

That's why he's especially grateful for any opportunity to showcase his skills to the NFL.

"I think it should be every guy's goal here," he said of those in the USFL. "I came here to get film and to just be able to play ball."

Dixon will be displaying his abilities on Saturday as a member of the New Orleans Breakers in the 8 p.m. semifinal playoff game against the Birmingham Stallions at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

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Dixon played a preseason game for the Cowboys against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Tom Benson in the Hall of Fame Game last year.

"I think it's really cool that I actually played there in a preseason game," he said. "The atmosphere was crazy. Everything about (the stadium) was nice; it was insane."

He encouraged football fans to get tickets for the USFL playoffs. The winners of the semifinals will meet in the championship on July 3 at Tom Benson stadium.

"Ohio loves its football, I know that much," Dixon said. "If you love football, you should definitely come out. There's going to be so much talent running around on four teams (Saturday)."

Former Ohio State player vying for another shot at the NFL

Dixon, 27, was drafted in the USFL's 14th round. He learned of the news on Twitter.

Since being undrafted out of Ohio State in 2019, the wideout has bounced in and out of NFL training camps, including for the Houston Texans. Dixon spent extended time with Arizona and Dallas, including on the practice squad.

Earlier this season, the Chandler, Arizona, native played so well he was honored as the USFL's offensive player of the week when he caught seven passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns in a 22-13 loss to the Birmingham Stallions.

Now he hopes to be among the players whose NFL careers are revived by the USFL.

USFL observers say several players have legitimate opportunities to make an NFL team.

Could they become a star ... and even be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton one day?

Most say it's unlikely, but it's happened before.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner spent time in the Arena Football League before joining the St. Louis Rams as an unheralded backup quarterback. He became a record-setting, Super Bowl champion signal caller for the Rams. The two-time league MVP also led the Arizona Cardinals to a Super Bowl appearance in 2009.

Sam Mills was given a second chance in the original USFL in the 1980s. After being released by multiple NFL teams, the undersized linebacker became a Pro Bowl player for the New Orleans Saints.

Mills will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer posthumously.

Toby Johnson of the Generals has NFL potential

Justin Mark, who contributes USFL content to the Sports Gambling Podcast, said he's clearly noticed athletes who "make you wonder why they're not playing in the NFL."

"I definitely think there will be guys who will be able to springboard to a very good career in the NFL, whether that's quarterback, offense or defense," Mark said.

Toby Johnson, of the New Jersey Generals, is among the USFL's best defensive tackles, and "I could see him succeed in the NFL."

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Dusty Sloan, who researches alternative football leagues, said many of the USFL's players were among the final athletes to be cut on NFL teams.

"They're just off the cusp of making a team, so they just need to get that last eight to 10 games of polish on them," the Ashland Ohio resident said.

"They're going to be on an NFL training camp roster, and it's not going to be surprising if some of them make it."

Zach Keilman, who co-hosts The USFL Podcast, said league standouts either have been overlooked by NFL scouts or deserve a second opportunity.

"Someone could be on (your favorite NFL team) in the next month or so," he said.

Wondering if a USFL player is destined to become an NFL star is "the adventure of it," said Keilman, of Indianapolis.

"The magic of that, and possibly what could be for some of these guys moving forward, that's just really cool," he added.

'We are trying to help them stay in the NFL'

Daryl Johnston, a fullback for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s, said many of the USFL's players already have been in an NFL training camp or briefly on a roster.

Johnston, a three-time Super Bowl champion, serves as the USFL's executive vice president of football operations.

"We are trying to help them stay in the NFL," he wrote in an email response. "There is a reason they have ended up with us in the USFL, and it could be any number of reasons why.

"It’s our mission to help them identify the reasons and work on correcting them, so the next time they have the opportunity to be in the NFL, they not only make it but they stay in the NFL," Johnston added.

NFL dreams making at stop in Canton

Dixon, meanwhile, continues his quest in Canton this weekend.

Even more valuable than a USFL paycheck is film footage of Dixon showcasing his potential with spectacular catches and shifty moves. Such highlights serve as currency for players hoping to catapult from the spring league into the NFL.

"This is definitely like a road stop back to the NFL," Dixon said. "There's definitely guys, if given the opportunity, who could play in the league ... and make something happen on the big stage for sure."

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com

On Twitter @ebalintREP

If you go

What: Inaugural USFL playoffs

Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, 1835 Harrison Ave NW in Canton (next to the Pro Football Hall of Fame)

When: Saturday

Who: First semifinal game: 3 p.m. Philadelphia Stars vs. New Jersey Generals and 8 p.m. New Orleans Breakers vs. Birmingham Stallions

Tickets: $15 to $30 for adults and $5 to $15 for children under age 15. Tickets are good for both games and available at www.hofvillage.com/p/events/united-states-football-league. Tickets include a performance by Trace Adkins between games.

On TV: First game is on Fox; second on NBC.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio State's Johnnie Dixon among those chasing NFL dreams in USFL