Profiles in Terpage: Anthony Nixon

Anthony Nixon, Junior, Safety, #20

Stats:

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 205

Twitter: None we could find

Collegiate Stats: 101 tackles (64 solo; 3 tfl), 1 interception, four passes defended, two fumble recoveries, 2 points scored

High School Stats (Senior Year): 30 receptions for over 600 yards and 11 touchdowns, 45 tackles (30 solo), three interceptions, seven pass breakups

247sports composite Ratings: Three stars, 128th-best wide receiver in the nation, 36th-best player in Pennsylvania

High School: Central Catholic

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.

High School Highlights:

How'd He Get to College Park?

Like many high school athletes playing skill positions, Nixon played on both sides of the ball, manning the safety and wide receiver positions for Central Catholic. He surpassed 30 catches and 600 yards in both his junior and senior seasons and had 11 touchdowns as a senior. On defense, he picked off three passes and had 45 tackles. Nixon was a two sport athlete at Central Catholic but unlike his teammate Perry Hills, her was not a wrestler. Nixon ran track and holds three school records. A month after Greg Gattuso got a commitment from Hills, he convinced Nixon to do the same. Maryland beat out Pitt as Nixon's only other offer.

Nixon came to College Park and was thrust into the role of safety from the get-go, playing in all 12 games and starting in five. He led all Terrapin freshmen with 41 tackles, and in his second career start (against Virginia), he had a team-high nine tackles and recorded his first career interception. As a sophomore, Nixon showed that he likes playing Virginia when he grabbed a career high twelve tackles against the Cavaliers. He also reached double digits recording ten tackles against Florida State.

Nickname:

"Trot" or "Tricky"

Career Highlight:

Toss up. It could be his 12 tackle game in the Terps 27-26 win over Virginia. But I’m thinking it could be that 98 yard blocked extra point return against Boston College since he’s the only Terrapin to have done that.

Dream Season:

Always a solid and reliable tackler, a healthy Nixon hones his ball hawking skills and finishes the year with at least three interceptions and as many pass break ups.

2014 Prospectus:

Nixon had a respectable sophomore season as a starting safety appearing in eleven of Maryland’s thirteen games. He suffered an injury in the Terps loss at Wake Forest that caused him to miss the next two games against Clemson and Syracuse. He bounced back with a solid game in the win at NC State with nine tackles including his only sack of the season. Entering his third season under Brian Stewart’s system aad tutelage, Nixon cannot resign himself to being just a tackler. He needs to be an anchor in the middle of Maryland’s secondary who vetoes the chances of receivers getting deep.

Nixon essentially has the starting spot locked up - Zach Dancel is listed as his back-up with two redshirt freshmen, J.T. Ventura and Milan Collins further down the depth chart. Though not without flaws in his two seasons, Nixon has shown that he has the ability to play at this level. He's far enough ahead of Dancel at the end of spring practice to have the starting job to himself, and that speaks for itself.

Up Next:

Our next player speaks English, French and Chinese after attending a small French school in D.C.

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