Former Washington RB Will Nixon commits to Syracuse

Former Washington running back Will Nixon committed to Syracuse on Friday, following his father, Orange offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon.

Former Washington Huskies running back/wide receiver Will Nixon committed to Syracuse on Friday, nearly two months after the fourth-year player stepped away from the Huskies program just before spring practice.

Nixon will reunite with his father, Jeff, who was hired as the offensive coordinator of the Orange this offseason under new head coach Fran Brown. The elder Nixon was previously the running backs coach for the New York Giants.

After transferring from Nebraska, Nixon never found a consistent role with the Huskies while working primarily at running back. He had 33 carries for 201 yards and a touchdown in mostly low-stakes situations during the 2023 season. He did take 29 snaps, a season-high, in the National Championship game against Michigan as Dillon Johnson battled an ankle injury.

2024 didn’t seem to promise much more playing time, as the Huskies got Cameron Davis back from knee surgery and added Jonah Coleman from Arizona. Coleman and Davis figure to be Washington’s two primary backs this season.

Nixon has two seasons of eligibility remaining at Syracuse, where the connection with his father may open doors for more playing time or a smoother transition into a coaching or other off-field role following his graduation.