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Dec. 29—ATLANTA — Penn State football coach James Franklin confirmed Friday that cornerback Johnny Dixon will not play against Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl Saturday at noon (TV-ESPN).
Dixon, who’s in his final season of eligibility, has not been with the Nittany Lions all week in Atlanta.
A transfer from South Carolina in 2021, Dixon was voted to the All-Big Ten third team this season after he made 26 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks, and one interception. He also broke up three passes and forced one fumble.
Dixon and All-Big Ten first-team defensive end Chop Robinson, who’s a projected first-round draft pick, are the only Penn State regulars who have opted out of the bowl game.
Comparatively, Atlantic Coast Conference champion Florida State has at least 20 opt outs for the Orange Bowl against Georgia.
“I’m not saying this because he’s here,” Rebels coach Lane Kiffin said Friday, “but I think Penn State and Coach Franklin have really been a model of how to do this as far as guys not going in the (transfer) portal and guys not opting out of games.
“They’ve done a phenomenal job of it over the years. That’s rare nowadays.”
Coaches say no: Both Franklin and Kiffin decided they did not want to use iPad technology on the sideline or in-helmet communication during the Peach Bowl.
The NCAA allowed participating teams in bowl games to decide whether they wanted to use the technology.
“Both teams had to agree to use the technology,” Franklin said. “We’ve decided not to do it. But that was an option.”
“We’re used to the system how it’s been,” Kiffin said. “I don’t necessarily think with the style that we play that it would be as beneficial to us as maybe it would be to some other people.”
Freshman stands out: Penn State freshman defensive end Jameial Lyons stood out in practices this week, according to several of his…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-states-johnny-dixon-opts-045000426.html
Author : Reading Eagle, Pa.
Publish date : 2023-12-30 04:50:00
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