Regardless of heavy pushes lately by LSU and Auburn amongst others, Alabama linebacker Sterling Dixon Jr. dedicated. instructed AL.com on Sunday evening he’s shutting down his recruitment.
“For me, it is loopy,” he stated. “I had loads of colleges calling me day by day, simply attempting to get nearer to me. At the moment, it was actually too late. I already knew the place I wished to go. Since I used to be a bit child, I all the time knew I wished to go play for Alabama. Now I am right here, and I am residing it.”
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The 6-foot-3, 211-pound Cell Christian senior dedicated to the Crimson Tide in December and now says he’s achieved visiting different campuses and entertaining school coaches.
“It received demanding,” he stated. “LSU was making an enormous push and I might actually see myself taking part in there as effectively, however for me I simply wished to make the very best choice attainable and be round guys who’re good folks and good soccer gamers. Within the state of Alabama, it is completely different if you find yourself a hometown child, and also you get the chance to go play for Alabama. They’re pushing day by day to get higher. It is their tradition. That is what I wish to be part of.”
Dixon introduced his choice to finish his recruiting course of after his official go to to Tuscaloosa over the weekend.
He did not make the choice frivolously.
“I used to be praying earlier than the official go to and simply asking Him to assist me make the very best choice,” he stated. “The go to was fairly cool, and so they wound up simply letting me know I might play early. That was my greatest query. The place can I get on the sphere and how briskly can I get on the sphere? I wish to get to the NFL in three years, and I wish to get my diploma in three years, and I really feel like Alabama has each essential device to get me there. I am shutting it down and simply able to lock in and get on campus in December.”
Dixon stated Alabama coaches instructed him he could be utilized in an analogous function to how they hoped to make use of Jihaad Campbell this fall.
“He’s going to be taking part in loads of inside linebacker this 12 months, however he can come down and rush the passer,” Dixon stated. “They’ve packages only for him, to get him on the sting. … The rationale they put me on inside is as a result of that’s the place they are going to need me to play within the NFL. They don’t seem to be going to need a 6-2 or 6-3 edge. They’re going to need somebody a bit longer. I can transfer sideline to sideline so it will not be that a lot of an adjustment.”
The reigning Class 3A Lineman of the Yr, Dixon made 172 tackles for Cell Christian as a junior and had 18 sacks – each single-season faculty data. He additionally had 39 tackles for a loss. He performed solely briefly as a sophomore earlier than struggling a labrum harm early within the season.
“He’s such a goal-oriented man,” Cell Christian head coach Ronnie Cottrell stated lately of Dixon. “I anticipate him to simply preserve bettering. The best way he works within the weight room, he trains at different locations, he has a private coach who helps him – he is simply going to get higher and higher after an excellent junior 12 months.”
Dixon stated he would work on refining any weaknesses on this recreation this summer time earlier than specializing in attempting to assist his Cell Christian workforce win a state title within the fall. The truth that the 2023 AHSAA Tremendous 7 might be performed at Bryant-Denny Stadium is not misplaced on him both.
“It is positively going to be my motivation – to complete my highschool profession in the identical area the place I’ll play in school,” he stated. “That will be one thing particular.”
Dixon is the No. Recruit 12 seniors within the state, in line with the 247 composite rankings. 4 of the highest 12 are at the moment dedicated to Alabama — Dixon, No. 2 Jaylen Mbakwe (Clay-Chalkville), No. 5 Perry Thompson (Foley) and No. 6 Jeremiah Beaman (Parker).