Clemson Football: Lyn-J Dixon’s explosiveness will be an asset in 2019

CLEMSON, SC - OCTOBER 20: Running back Lyn-J Dixon #23 of the Clemson Tigers rushes for a touchdown against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the fourth quarter of the football game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SC - OCTOBER 20: Running back Lyn-J Dixon #23 of the Clemson Tigers rushes for a touchdown against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the fourth quarter of the football game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /
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The Clemson football running back group is one of the deepest we’ve seen. Lyn-J Dixon has an opportunity to make an impact in 2019.

Lyn-J Dixon is a special player and there’s no doubt about it.

As a freshman, Dixon had limited playing time as he sat behind starter Travis Etienne, junior Tavien Feaster and senior Adam Choice.

Still Dixon finished his first year with Clemson football with 547 yards and five touchdowns on 8.8 yards per carry.

Though both Etienne and Feaster return, Dixon will have an opportunity to make an impact as he shares carries with those two guys and continues to improve on his skills.

When I watch Dixon run, honestly, he may be the most explosive and best pure-runner of the group. He runs hard and just breaks through tackles with a full head of steam.

Once he is in the open field, there is no catching him. Dixon, honestly, reminds me a lot of Travis Etienne.

Of course, Etienne is more refined because of the time has already spent with Clemson football, but it’s clear that Dixon is right there on pace with Etienne and that he runs just as hard.

If he can develop as a pass-protector, you’re going to see a lot of Dixon in 2019. The Tigers will still start Etienne and then you’ll see Feaster enter the game next, but it won’t be long after Feaster that we see Dixon.

I expect to see him get between 6-12 carries per game, which will put him at around 100 carries for the season. If you take Dixon’s stats from last year, he scored a touchdown every 12.4 times he touched the ball. That means we could expect him to score around 12 touchdowns this upcoming season with those numbers.

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No matter what the stats are, it’s clear that Lyn-J Dixon will be an increased role for Clemson football in 2019 and I think the offense will benefit as a result of him getting more carries.