Anyone who was in attendance at Tuesday’s practice could hear cornerback Thaddeus Dixon, who spent plenty of time jawing with Washington’s offensive sideline, getting numerous players riled up.
“That’s what defensive backs do, they’re supposed to be loud and get in your head and mess with you,” wide receiver Denzel Boston said that day. “The biggest thing for us is to stay calm and not worry about what they’re saying because you’re going to win some and you’re going to lose some, and the DB’s game is to play mind games and even on an overthrown ball they’re going to talk their mess.”
That’s exactly what Dixon did on Tuesday after quarterback Will Rogers missed Boston in the end zone on an overthrow. And the senior cornerback from Los Angeles loves every second of it.
“I feel like I’m really emerging in my role on this team as a leader and a villain,” Dixon said Thursday. “I’m trying to toughen the team up. Sometimes I feel like we aren’t attacking practice like we should be and I’m the guy that’s going to get the dudes wired up.”
lol thaddeus dixon had to get that dig in there pic.twitter.com/k9hWl9uebs
— Douglas Reyes-Ceron (@dreyesceron) January 2, 2024
He credited Tuesday’s practice as a prime example of the type of leader, or villain, he wants to be for his team this fall.
“If y’all was here a couple practices ago, y’all know I started talking a little bit,” he said. “But the offense always responds good, especially when there’s real competitors on the defense. They always respond good, so, shoot. I start talking a little bit, offense hits one, we hit one, we just go back and forth.”
As he continues to battle with Elijah Jackson for a starting spot, the Huskies are going to need his leadership, voice, and villainy as they prepare for their first season in the Big Ten.