WR Kyle Dixon (Culver-Stockton)

6’2 220lbs # 83

One of the most completely under-the-radar signings the Patriots had following the draft. Played for Culver-Stockton University a NAIA-level school, where he produced back-to-back thousand-yard seasons. In 2 full seasons of play, he finished his career there with 22 games, 143 career catches, 2394 yards, averaging 108 yards per game, 16.7 yards per catch, and 24 total touchdowns. At his pro day which was held as part of Missouri University’s Pro Day, he ran a 4.51 40 time.

Upon reviewing the small amount of film I could obtain thanks to Kyle’s personal Hudl account and YouTube highlights that usually only show the good stuff, at 6’2 he looks even bigger on the field.. Probably doesn’t help the competition level he faced at the NAIA level but in watching him you see serious upside to what he can contribute.

Size, speed, catch radius, contested catch ability, ability to create separation, win off the line of scrimmage, and showcased excellent tracking ability, using all angles of his body to haul in the reception.

You begin to wonder what could’ve been if he played in higher competition, whether he’s playing on easy mode and just crushing the game, and what he could do in a more difficult setting. At camp, we will see how he’s able to handle probably the hardest competition he’s faced yet.

Who is Kyle Dixon the person? A 25-year-old (26 in September) from Carlinville Illinois. He played high school football at Carlinville High where he played receiver and DB, he holds his high school record for receiving yards and touchdowns and made States two years in a row, not only for football but for baseball. To which when offers for college came, it was primarily for baseball, he decided to pursue his baseball career and originally joined Southern Illinois where he played for two years as a Relief pitcher, he then transferred to SIU Edwardsville and again to Georgia Gwinnett. It was when he decided to make the switch to football, time had passed not playing football for nearly 3 years he finally joined Culver-Stockton and in the 2 years he played having the career he had, led him to this opportunity to play for the Patriots. If he were to make the team he would be the 3rd player from his hometown to make an NFL roster.

Vrabel has stated numerous times to players and the media when speaking about players' journeys, “Every player's journey is different, we all come from different backgrounds, took different paths to get here, but you’re here, make the most of the opportunity in front of you.” Kyle Dixon's journey is far from conventional, this isn’t a normal path to making a roster, and that’s what I find fascinating and inspiring. He was the first UDFA signed by the Patriots following the draft. As you’ll see reading the other UDFA receivers he’s not alone, he’s facing 3 other UDFAs in this class as well as last year's UDFA darling Efton Chism in camp battling for a roster spot.

I’m not gonna express what he has to do to make the team, that falls on every person on the field during camp, and how they progress for the following weeks till cut down day. (This goes for all UDFAs) What I will say is if he were to make the roster, I can see him and his explosiveness and wild ability after the catch, apply that to kickoffs. The team utilizes bigger frames to handle kick returns as we saw to start the season last year in Gibson and Jennings before injuries to both occurred, we even saw Rhamondre take a few. It feels clear to me that’s the direction I could see him going if he were to make the team. My long-term vision of him which is a stretch, is a Mack Hollins-type player. His ability to high point the football, pluck out of thin air, but with more speed. I think his skill set, I could see a path, that, if his playstyle if he continues to build off of his production these last 2 years and continue to tighten up his game there’s a world where he fills the Mack Hollins role and develops into that small school hero that fans love to tell their story about.

Whether he ends up on the practice squad or finds a way on the 53 man roster, his story is inspiring, to not give up on yourself. If your original plan doesn’t work, pivoting and finding the right path for you, and like a true athlete chasing the path for success.

I wish Kyle Dixon the best of luck!