Defensive tackle Antonio Dixon said that he was just trying to stay "humble" after he found out that he would be activated as the third defensive tackle for last Sunday's win over the Buccaneers.
Dixon's massive 322-pound frame provided fits for Tampa Bay center Sean Mahan. Dixon was not credited with any tackles, but was a disruptive force time after time again. Dixon got good penetration on a Cadillac Williams run that lost 3 yards. Derrick Ward lost 1 yard on another run where Dixon helped stuff the pile. And on the fourth-and-1 where Bucs quarterback Josh Johnson fumbled the ball, Dixon overpowered Mahan to make sure that even if Johnson had the ball there would be nowhere to go.
For a long time, Dixon was the one who didn't have anywhere to go. His father, Frazier Hawkins, was imprisoned in 1992 for possession of crack with intent to distribute. He was released earlier this year. Corenthia Dixon started using drugs as she was burdened by the pressure of raising five kids as a single mom. Dixon went to live in foster care and attended over a dozen elementary schools. He didn't learn to read until the sixth grade. Dixon's life stabilized in time for him to attend Booker T. Washington High School in Miami.
Earlier this spring, Dixon was one of six college athletes who received the Wilma Rudolph Student Athlete Achievement Award. The award is for those who have overcome great personal, academic and/or emotional odds to achieve academic success.
A rookie free agent out of Miami, Dixon spent the preseason with the Redskins. After what Dixon considered "a good preseason," the Redskins decided to place him on waivers with the intent of signing him to the practice squad.
Uh oh. The Eagles scooped him up first.
With defensive tackle stalwarts Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson each around the 300-pound mark, Dixon's size is a welcome addition to the physical run teams the Eagles will see in the future - including the Redskins.
"I'm just trying to make the most out of my opportunities right now," Dixon said.
With Dixon active, former second-round pick Trevor Laws, was a healthy scratch. Laws has a similar build to Patterson and with three quarterbacks active that forced the Eagles to make some tough choices. However, Dixon said that he expects both he and Laws to be active this week against Oakland.
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 2:28 p.m., October 15
