Attrition season appears to be here right on schedule. News broke last night that Breon Dixon is transferring. He's the second player to announce he will leave the program since Nebraska's spring game on April 13. Punter Caleb Lightbourn announced his intention to transfer on April 15.
Thank you 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/nuTAP43xIQ
— Breon Dixon (@Breondixon_4) April 25, 2019
Dixon joined Nebraska as a transfer from Ole Miss in 2018, receiving a waiver (as most Ole Miss transfers did following NCAA sanctions in Oxford) to play immediately. He ended up redshirting after appearing on special teams in just four games last season.
By my count, he's the 20th player to transfer or choose not to play football any longer since Scott Frost took over in December 2017. There will probably be more in the weeks ahead as Nebraska finishes up its spring semester. (UPDATE: And just like that, there’s more. Linebacker Quayshon Alexander is transferring.)
Last year, six players left the program in April and May. That group included Patrick O'Brien, Ben Miles, Keyan Williams, Michael Decker, Andrew Ward and Willie Hampton. Three more players departed during the summer months prior to the start of fall camp.
The good news? This is one of the advantages of having a big roster. Prior to the Dixon news, Nebraska's spring roster numbered 159. That's the biggest in the Big Ten in the spring. In some ways, attrition is probably spurred along to at least some degree by having so many players competing for the same number of two-deep spots that 110 players are competing for someplace else with a more typical roster size.
Dixon's departure should leave the Huskers at 84 scholarships at this point.
Million-Point Touchdowns
I'm a member of the Nick Rolovich fan club. The Hawaii head coach seems to have the perfect approach and mindset (he's an alum) for what is one of the more challenging jobs in the country. But he's had two winning seasons in three years and, most crucially, understands an out-of-the-box job requires out-of-the-box thinking.
That's why Hawaii's spring game this week will feature touchdowns that are worth 2.5 million points, extra points that are effectively wagers between the offense and defense and other high roller-themed wrinkles.
Highest scoring spring game in the country, actually in the history of football. The circus is in town April 27th, 4pm. Bring the keiki. pic.twitter.com/jUttktgSPe
— Nick Rolovich (@NickRolovich) April 24, 2019
Is it a gimmick? Sure is and sometimes that's just what you need. It's a gimmick I like. (Though I do need to study these point totals. I think the odds are a little off.)
The Grab Bag
- Derek Peterson spoke with Devine Ozigbo about his draft prep and what he’s expecting this weekend.
- A little more on what to expect for the Huskers in the draft in this week’s mailbag.
- The new issue of Hail Varsity is on its way to you now.
- There’s some urgency around Nebraska football after Adrian Martinez’s big first season.
Today’s Song of Today
Brandon is the Managing Editor for Hail Varsity and has covered Nebraska athletics for the magazine and web since 2012, Hail Varsity’s first season on the scene. His sports writing has also been featured by Fox Sports, The Guardian and CBS Sports.
