News, nuggets and notes on Kenosha’s Daviyon Nixon, who recently completed his junior season for the University of Iowa football team:
LATEST KUDO: Nixon, a defensive tackle, cemented Consensus All-America status when he was honored by the Walter Camp Foundation on Jan. 7. … The Camp team is one of the five a player must be named to in order to be a Consensus All-American. … The other teams are The Associated Press, the Football Writers Association of America, the American Football Coaches Association and The Sporting News. … The Indian Trail graduate joins University of Wisconsin fullback Alan Ameche (Bradford) in 1954 and Notre Dame offensive lineman Tom Regner (St. Joseph) in 1966 as Kenosha’s only Consensus All-Americans. … He is the ninth Consensus All-American in the 122-year history of the Iowa program.
BRIGHT FUTURE: Nixon declared for the National Football League Draft on Dec. 30 even though he had eligibility left at Iowa. … According to nflmockdraftdatabase.com, Nixon is a projected second-round pick with 5.6 percent chance of being selected in the first round. However, ESPN’s Todd McShay predicts Nixon will be taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round with the 22nd overall pick (acquired from the Rams). … Should that come to fruition, Nixon could find himself at the start of something big in Jacksonville.
His coach would be Urban Meyer, who recently accepted the Jaguars job, and the quarterback could be Trevor Lawrence, who is a sure-fire pick to be taken by Jacksonville with the draft’s top overall pick. … In a recent ranking, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper had Nixon as the 10th best overall prospect in the draft. … The NFL Draft is April 29 to May 1 in Cleveland, Ohio.
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: The Athletic recently had the Green Bay Packers selecting Nixon at No. 31 while 247sports.com’s Montel Hardy had the Chicago Bears taking Nixon in the second round at No. 52.
LOCAL DRAFT: Should Nixon go in the first round, he will join Ameche (1955 Colts, third overall), Regner (1967 Oilers, 23rd), Michigan State cornerback and Harborside graduate Trae Waynes (2015 Vikings, 11th) and Wisconsin running back and Bradford graduate Melvin Gordon (2015 Chargers, 15th) as Kenoshans to be picked in the opening round.
STAT SHEET: Nixon recorded 45 tackles (22 solo) with 13.5 tackles for losses, 5.5 sacks, one interception, one pass breakup, one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble for the 6-2 Hawkeyes.
STACKING ACCOLADES: In addition to his All-America and conference honors, Nixon pulled off an exclusive double this season. The redshirt junior was the only player to be named as a finalist for both the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (top defensive player). … Alabama tackle Alex Leatherwood won the Outland while Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins landed the Nagurski. … Nixon was also the first Hawkeye to win the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year awards in the same season.
LEADER OF THE PACK: Nixon topped the Big Ten with 13.5 tackles for loss (13th nationally) … He finished the regular season first with 5.5 sacks and his 45 tackles paced league defensive linemen.
HAPPY RETURN: Nixon returned an interception 71 electrifying yards for a touchdown in the Hawkeyes’ 41-21 win at Penn State Nov. 21. … The 6-foot-3 305-pounder’s first career touchdown and interception was the second longest in the Big Ten this season and the 13th-longest in school history. … Here it is https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/news/daviyon-nixon-caps-victory-with-a-pick-six/vp-BB1bf4vX
NO BOWL: Nixon’s last scheduled game as a Hawkeye was supposed to be the Transperfect Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 30 vs. Missouri. An increase in positive COVID-19 tests in the Missouri program forced officials to cancel the game.
