The United States Football League is in full swing and week eight just completed with an absolute beauty of a game with the New Orleans Breakers defeating the Michigan Panthers, 24-20. There are only ten weeks of football in the USFL and with only eight teams, every game is extremely important.
New Orleans currently sits third in the South standings and needed to win this game today to stay in the playoff hunt and a former Ohio State football star was the main reason the Breakers earned the big win.
Johnnie Dixon was one of the top recruits in his class before arriving at Ohio State and the expectations were sky high before injuries took a toll on his career, but Dixon persevered and had a tremendous senior campaign that saw him earn the role of team captain as well as accumulate 42 receptions for 669 yards and eight touchdowns.
Dixon went undrafted and bounced around the NFL from 2019 until 2022 when the USFL 2.0 came calling and Dixon found what appears to be his forever home with the Breakers. He was the leading receiver for New Orleans in 2022 with 38 receptions for 362 yards and four touchdowns.
Dixon had a brief injury, but has come back strong and maybe had his best USFL performance this week as he is up for offensive player of the week after snagging nine receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Dixon earned 91 yards and both of his touchdowns in the first half alone.
Dixon was a fan favorite as a Buckeye and is obviously a fan favorite for the Breakers as well.
After a slower start to the season, Johnnie Dixon has been outstanding for the @USFLBreakers. His second TD of the day puts New Orleans on top 21-0.
McLeod Bethel-Thompson has this team rolling right now. #USFL @YoungKing_JD5 pic.twitter.com/NLWUgHufZp
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) June 4, 2023
McLeod Bethel-Thompson to Johnnie Dixon for a 9-yard TD! pic.twitter.com/X5ozC2kU46
— New Orleans Breakers (@USFLBreakers) June 4, 2023
Jay Adams and Johnnie Dixon talk with @devingardnerXCI after that last touchdown drive for the @USFLBreakers pic.twitter.com/sNOSvwC2vc
— USFL (@USFL) June 4, 2023
