IDL, Iowa
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 306 lbs
Class rs-Sophomore
Nixon came to Iowa as a JUCO transfer back in 2018. He played in 13 games in 2019, before establishing himself as a starter this season. He showed real promise at times and he has even earned first round hype in some circles. Nixon finished the season as a multi-award winner, being recognised as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a Unanimous First Team All-American.
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Strengths
When you watch Nixon play it is clear to see that he is a fantastic athlete. He showcases real burst off the line and pairs this with some of the quickest feet you will find at the position. This caused all sorts of problems for his opponents and the speed with which he was able to challenge the pocket was impressive. A great example of Nixon’s athletic ability came against Penn State, where he scored a 71-yard pick six, outrunning quarterback Sean Clifford in the process. There is a lot to like about this part of Nixon’s game.
Part of the reason Nixon has been receiving a lot of hype is that he pairs this athleticism with genuine strength. Whilst he is not particularly big at 6’3″ and 306 lbs, Nixon plays much bigger than his listed weight. He has really powerful hands and does an excellent job of getting linemen off their base. Even when he doesn’t beat his man, he has enough strength to gain ground and force them backwards into the pocket. This ability to win in multiple ways will be prized in the NFL.
The other thing to note with Nixon is his technique. Despite starting just nine games at Iowa, there is already a lot to like in this department. Nixon does a consistently great job of playing low and maintaining good leverage. He also shows a variety of pass rushing moves, with his rip move and bull rush being particularly effective. His ability to vary this up with swim moves and push-pulls is impressive and there aren’t a tonne of interior linemen who have this aspect to their game.
Weaknesses
Nixon offers intriguing tools, but his inability to put it all together into a string of dominant performances is troubling. He finished the 2020 season with just 21 pressures on 256 pass rushing snaps. For context, this ranked just 23rd at the position. This is almost identical to his 2019 numbers, where he had 21 on 247. There are a handful of reps on tape where Nixon looks unplayable, but he can disappear completely at times.
The other concern with Nixon is his inability to get off blocks. He was often able to beat opposing linemen with his initial get-off, but when this didn’t work he struggled to find an alternative. Whilst the effort and motor are there, he would too often get tied up on his blocker and be seemingly unable to shed. This is a major flaw in his game and will limit his effectiveness at the next level.
Bottom Line
The high end of Nixon’s tape is amongst the best you will see at the position. The problem has been his inability to play like that on a consistent basis. There is certainly a lot for NFL teams to work with. His combination of strength and athleticism is ideal and he has a good variety of pass rushing moves. At this point he is a developmental option, with the potential to develop into a starter at the next level.
Big Board Rank: #86
Positional Rank: #7
