#34 S Malik Dixon
Freshman, 6'3", 195 lbs.
Stats in 2014: Dixon was a senior at Port Charlotte High school last season.
Spot on Fall Depth Chart: Not listed, which makes sense because Dixon and the rest of the true freshmen just arrived on campus.
How He Came to USF: Malik made a huge mistake coming out of Port Charlotte (where he played both receiver at safety)-- he committed to UCF. He came to his senses a week or so before Signing Day, flipping to USF and eventually signing with the Bulls. We forgive you, Malik.
He chose the Bulls over a decent list of offers including UCF, Iowa State, UConn and Temple, and attracted some high-major interest. If you don't remember a Malik Dixon from the recruiting process, you probably know him as Malik Vaccaro-Dixon-- he appears to be going by one last name only in college.
Recruiting Rankings: All major recruiting services pegged Malik as a low-to-mid three-star prospect. (Profiles: 247, ESPN, Rivals, Scout, USF)
Projected Playing Time: I'd wager that a redshirt year is in the cards for Dixon, as he's still pretty raw at the safety position and the Bulls have a lot of secondary depth. That said, he's a promising prospect-- a long, rangy player who could really be a force in the the new "Husky" role on defense after Jamie Byrd departs.
Highlights: Here's a clip from Dixon's senior year at Port Charlotte. As I said, he's a little raw, but I love his athleticism. I must say, I wouldn't mind seeing him take some reps at receiver-- he's got a big frame and is downright dangerous when he gets a head full of steam. I'm expecting big things from Malik in the future.