Dixon named to multiple preseason football All-State teams

IAN DIXON, a senior captain for the Wakefield High football team, was recently named a Boston Herald Preseason EMass First Team All-Star as the top tight end in the region. Dixon, a two-time Middlesex League All-Star as a tight end and defensive end, was also named to the New England Football Journal’s Second Team. (File Photos)

WAKEFIELD — Wakefield High’s Ian Dixon has officially caught the attention of the entire state as a player to watch for the 2022 football season.

The Warrior senior captain was recently named to the Boston Herald’s First Team and the New England Football Journal’s Second Team.

The Herald’s EMass football First Team is littered with Div. 1 talent and players committed to play football at schools like Georgia (Joenel Aguero, St. John’s Prep), Notre Dame (Boubacar Traore, Catholic Memorial), Boston College (Datrell Jones and Jaedn Skeete, Catholic Memorial) and Rutgers (Jesse Ofurie, St. John’s Prep).

As the only tight end on the Herald’s first team, Dixon is considered to be the top tight end in Eastern Mass. and certainly one of the best in the state.

Reading quarterback James Murphy was the only other member of the Middlesex League to make that list.

The New England Football Journal’s preseason All-State teams include players from the entire state. Dixon and Murphy both represented the Middlesex League on the 2^nd Team. The NEFJ also had a 3^rd Team, which included Middlesex League players Braden Marceau-Olayinka (Melrose, OL), Eamon Centrella (Reading, OL), Sal Asaro (Stoneham, OL) and Aiden Bekkenhuis (Reading, DB).

Dixon, who was named an All-Star as a sophomore and a junior, shifted from offensive line to tight end last season where he became one of Wakefield’s top playmakers, collecting three TD’s while dominating the line of scrimmage as a blocker. Dixon also plays defensive end where he had multiple sacks and tackles for loss last year.

The 6’3” Warrior was featured during the offseason as a player to watch by Prep Red Zone New England whose scouting report included, “Has good hands and always looks for the extra yardage after the catch. Doesn’t go down easily and will fight hard for the inches. His instincts and awareness are efficient. He stays with his blocks as needed and is seen driving the defender until the whistle blows. He finishes his runs with low pad level and has good hands.”

According to PRZ New England, Dixon has been connected with such Div. 1 football programs as Holy Cross, Columbia, UNH, Stonehill, Wagner and Fordham.

Needless to say, Dixon will bring plenty of scouts to Landrigan Field this fall, starting with Wakefield’s first game on Friday, Sept. 9, 6 p.m. against Greater Lawrence Tech.