In recent years, Culver-Stockton College Football has gained attention for producing NFL talent. Most recently, this was seen with wide receiver Kyle Dixon signing an undrafted free-agent deal with the New England Patriots. 

During Dixon’s time here at Culver-Stockton, he played two seasons, finishing with 143 receptions and 2,394 receiving yards, and scoring 24 touchdowns. He was also the first receiver in school history to have two 1,000-yard seasons. 

What makes Dixon’s football journey even more interesting is his past as a Division 1 baseball player for Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The seamless switch between collegiate sports was undoubtedly made easier by Dixon’s work ethic. In an interview with Patriots on SI,  Culver-Stockton head football coach Tom Sallay praised Dixon’s work ethic on the field and in the classroom, stating Dixon was an “unbelievable person” and that “he worked really, really hard.”

Head football coach for the New England Patriots, Mike Vrabel, had this to say about Dixon on NBC Sports Boston: “Kyle Dixon hadn’t been out there for a while. He’s a guy that’s relatively new to the WR position. That was really cool to see him show up in some big moments. We’re throwing the ball to Kyle Dixon; he was a baseball player not too long ago, on fourth down, and he’s trying to block, finding the right guys to block in the run game.”

After leading the Patriots in receiving yards in the final preseason game with eight receptions and 71 yards, Dixon was waived in the final round of roster cuts. However, he cleared waivers and returned to New England’s practice squad. This move gives Dixon another opportunity to develop and potentially earn a spot on the Patriots’ active roster during the season. Additionally, Dixon could be “poached” by another NFL team as practice-squad players are eligible to sign with another team’s active roster. 

Regardless of where his NFL journey takes him, Dixon has already put Culver-Stockton and its football program on the map. His transition from a Division 1 baseball player to becoming one of the most productive receivers in C-SC history and earning an NFL opportunity shows the development that can happen on “The Hill.” Now, Dixon will have another chance to prove himself with the Patriots and potentially turn his practice-squad opportunity into an NFL roster spot.