Xavier Nixon
{{Short description|American football player (born 1990)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Xavier Nixon
| image = Xavier Nixon (November 28, 2009).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Nixon with Florida in 2009
| current_team =
| number = 71
| position = Offensive tackle
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|9|17|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lbs = 330
| high_school = Fayetteville (NC) Jack Britt
| college = Florida
| undraftedyear = 2013
| pastteams = * Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2013}})*
- Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2013}}–{{NFL Year|2014}})
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2015}})*
| status =
| highlights = * Freshman All-SEC (2009)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 8
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 2
}}
Xavier A. Nixon (born September 17, 1990) is a former American football offensive tackle. He played college football for the University of Florida. Initially projected to be a third round pick, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Washington Redskins following the NFL draft.{{cite news|work=WashingtonPost.com|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2013/05/07/tackle-xavier-nixon-believes-he-fits-perfectly-into-redskins-system/|title=Tackle Xavier Nixon believes he fits perfectly into Redskins' system|first=Mike|last=Jones|date=May 7, 2013|access-date=July 3, 2013}} He made his NFL debut with the Indianapolis Colts.
Early life
Nixon was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He grew up in a military family in Fayetteville, where his mother and step father were stationed at Fort Bragg.{{Citation |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/gators/florida-freshman-xavier-nixon-starting-to-make-an-76184.html |newspaper=Palm Beach Post |title=Florida freshman Xavier Nixon starting to make an impact while his military parents enjoy the ride |last=Volin |first=Ben |date=November 20, 2009 }} He attended Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville, where he was a two-way lineman for the Jack Britt Buccaneers high school football team. Leading Jack Britt to the Class 4-AA state championship game, Nixon was named first-team all-state offensive lineman following his senior season. He also compiled 50 tackles while playing on the defensive line. Nixon earned high school All-American honors from Parade magazine and USA Today, and was invited to the 2009 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Nixon was listed as the No. 3 offensive tackle prospect in the nation in 2009, behind D. J. Fluker and Mason Walters.{{Citation |url=https://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=2121&Year=2009 |work=Rivals.com |title=Offensive tackles 2009 |date=January 15, 2009 }} Nixon chose Florida over offers from Clemson, Notre Dame, and South Carolina.
College career
Nixon accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida, where he played for coach Urban Meyer and coach Will Muschamp's Florida Gators football teams from 2009 to 2012. As a true freshman in 2009, he started the season as backup at left tackle. In a game at South Carolina, he made his first career start at left tackle. Nixon was the first freshman to start at left tackle for the Gators since Reggie Green in 1992.{{Citation |url=http://jacksonville.com/sports/college/florida_gators/2009-11-15/story/freshman_offensive_lineman_nixon_makes_his_first_star |title=Freshman offensive lineman Nixon makes his first start |newspaper=Florida Times-Union |last=DiRocco |first=Michael |date=November 15, 2009 }} He was credited with helping to reduce the number of quarterback sacks by opposing teams.{{Citation |url=http://jacksonville.com/sports/college/florida_gators/2009-12-02/story/gators_notebook_lt_nixon_helping_florida_cut_down_on_ |title=LT Nixon helping Florida cut down on sacks |newspaper=Florida Times-Union |date=December 2, 2009 |last=DiRocco |first=Michael }}
Professional career
=Washington Redskins=
Despite his once "sure-thing" status as a likely NFL draft prospect, he was not chosen during the 2013 NFL draft.{{cite news| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/draft-2013/tracker/#players/98623 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419134533/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/draft-2013/tracker/#players/98623 | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 19, 2013 | work=CNN | title=2013 NFL Draft - Xavier Nixon}} The Washington Redskins signed him as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2013.{{cite news|work=WashingtonPost.com|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2013/04/28/redskins-add-collection-of-undrafted-rookies/|title=Redskins add collection of undrafted rookies|first=Mike|last=Jones|date=April 28, 2013|access-date=April 28, 2013}} The Redskins waived him on August 31, 2013, for final roster cuts before the start of 2013 season,{{cite news|work=WashingtonPost.com|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2013/08/31/redskins-part-with-offensive-tackle-tony-pashos-others-as-cutdown-day-begins/|title=Redskins cuts: Tony Pashos, DeJon Gomes, Chase Minnifield among them|first=Mike|last=Jones|date=August 31, 2013|access-date=August 31, 2013}} he was signed to the team's practice squad the next day.{{cite web|work=RealRedskins.com|url=http://realredskins.com/2013/09/01/per-reports-6-of-8-redskins-practice-squad-spots-filled/|title=Redskins announce eight-member practice squad|first=Rich|last=Tandler|date=September 1, 2013|access-date=September 1, 2013}}
=Indianapolis Colts=
The Indianapolis Colts signed him off the Washington Redskins' practice squad on September 24, 2013. On October 28, 2013, Nixon was waived by the Indianapolis Colts, only to be re-signed to the team's practice squad the next day.{{cite news |url=http://www.chron.com/sports/article/Colts-bring-back-TE-Weslye-Saunders-Xavier-Nixon-4937169.php |title=Colts bring back TE Weslye Saunders, Xavier Nixon |work=Houston Chronicle |date=October 29, 2013 }} He was signed back to the active roster on December 3. In Week 14 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Nixon had his NFL debut. After also playing in week 15, he made his first start at left guard in week 16 against the Kansas City Chiefs, replacing Hugh Thornton, who was inactive with neck injury.{{cite news|url=http://www.thestarpress.com/article/BG/20131222/SPORTS03/312220012/Colts-Gameday-Offensive-line-flux-Sunday-s-inactives?nclick_check=1 |title=Colts Gameday: Offensive line in flux with Sunday's inactives |newspaper=Muncie Star Press |date=December 22, 2013 }} Due to missing the team's flight, Nixon did not participate and was listed as inactive in the 2014 AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.{{cite web|work=NBCSports.com|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/17/colts-reserve-tackle-xavier-nixon-ruled-out-after-missing-flight-to-new-england/|title=Colts reserve tackle Xavier Nixon misses team flight, ruled out|first=Mike|last=Wilkening|date=January 17, 2015|access-date=May 3, 2015}}
He was placed on waivers on February 11, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://fox59.com/2015/02/11/colts-release-safety-laron-landry-two-other-players/|title=Colts release safety LaRon Landry, waive two other players|last=Adams|first=Matt|work=fox59.com|date=February 11, 2015|access-date=February 11, 2015}}
=Second stint with the Redskins=
On February 13, 2015, the Washington Redskins were awarded Nixon through a waiver claim.{{cite web|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/13/washington-awarded-xavier-nixon-on-waivers/|title=Washington awarded Xavier Nixon on waivers|last=Wilkening|first=Mike|work=profootballtalk.nbcsports.com|date=February 13, 2015|access-date=February 13, 2015}} He was waived on May 8.{{cite news|work=WashingtonPost.com|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2015/05/08/redskins-waive-offensive-tackle-xavier-nixon/|title=Redskins waive offensive tackle Xavier Nixon|first=Mike|last=Jones|date=May 8, 2015|access-date=May 9, 2015}}
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20121013152120/http://www.gatorzone.com/football/bios.php?year=2012&player_id=213 Florida Gators bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nixon, Xavier}}
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Florida Gators football players
Category:Indianapolis Colts players
Category:Players of American football from Fayetteville, North Carolina