Razorbacks have added another talented veteran to the WR room.
Arkansas secured its second linebacker commitment this spring Tuesday with the pledge of former Marshall linebacker Stephen Dix Jr.
Dix, 6-1 and 237 pounds, signed with Florida State as a part of the 2020 class and played 21 games during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He missed the 2022 season due to injury.
He transferred to Marshall for the 2023 season and recorded 67 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 4 quarterback hurries, 1 pass breakup and 1 recovered fumble last year for the Thundering Herd.
Dix arrived in Fayetteville around noon Monday for an official visit and left Tuesday afternoon.
“This is probably one of the best visits I’ve been on in all of the recruiting I’ve ever had,” Dix said. “Really love the family here. Love the energy I get from the coaches. Just had an awesome time. I’m very excited about here.”
Two sophomores and a redshirt freshman make up three of Arkansas’ top linebackers. Dix sees his experience being a plus in the linebacker room.
“Absolutely coming in, I think I would have the opportunity to impact especially with this group,” Dix said. “Definitely been looking at them over the course of being here. A talented group without a doubt. I would just add a little more experience. I think what they have is awesome I would just add a little to it overall.”
He entered the NCAA transfer portal last week as a graduate transfer with two years of eligibility remaining. Jacksonville State linebacker Larry Worth pledged to Arkansas last week.
Dix, who reports a 365-pound bench press and 650-pound squat, had 59 tackles, 1 pass breakup and 1 quarterback hurry during his time at Florida State.
He said an admiration of Arkansas defensive coordinator Travis Williams played a big role in his decision.
“Definitely because of Coach T-Will,” Dix said. “I think he is an awesome coach. Seeing him how he is I think he would help me grow not only as a player, but as a man. He loves ball just like I love ball. [He can] help me get to where I want to go. Anything I need help with he said he will do anything to help me out that I need.”
Arkansas assistant linebackers coach and senior analyst Jake Trump also assisted in the recruitment of Dix.
ESPN rated Dix a 4-star recruit, the No. 22 outside linebacker and No. 236 overall prospect as a senior at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Fla. prior to him signing with the Seminoles.
Dix is the fifth transfer to commit to the Razorbacks this spring.
Travis Williams and the Razorbacks have added another talented veteran to the linebacker room.
Arkansas has landed its second linebacker addition of the spring via the transfer portal. Former Marshall linebacker Stephen Dix Jr. committed to the Razorbacks on Tuesday following an official visit in Fayetteville, becoming the Hogs’ fifth incoming transfer in the last 11 days.
Dix Jr., 6-1, 237, was a Composite four-star recruit when he signed with Florida State out of Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips in the Class of 2020. He appeared in 21 career games for the Noles in 2020-21 before making the move to Marshall, where he missed the 2022 season due to injury but came back strong in 2023 with 67 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 4 quarterback hurries, a pass breakup and a recovered fumble.
Dix Jr. was recruited to Arkansas by second-year defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Travis Williams and will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Razorbacks.
“Definitely because of Coach T-Will,” Dix Jr. said of his decision. “I think he is an awesome coach. Seeing how he is, I think he would help me grow not only as a player, but as a man. He loves ball just like I love ball. Help me get to where I want to go. Anything I need help with, he said he will do anything to help me out that I need.”
He joins a linebacker group that saw four players depart following the 2023 season, but two others have been added via the portal in Xavien Sorey of Georgia and Larry Worth of Jacksonville State. Arkansas also signed three from the high school ranks in the 2024 class in Bradley Shaw, Wyatt Simmons, and Justin Logan, but the room’s overall experience level was lacking prior to the recent additions of Worth and Dix Jr.
“Absolutely, coming in, I think I would have the opportunity to impact especially with this group,” Dix Jr. said. “Definitely been looking at them over the course of being here. A talented group without a doubt, I would just add a little more experience. I think what they have is awesome. I would just add a little to it overall.”
Dix Jr., who squats 650 and benches 365, said it didn’t take long to realize where he wanted to be after checking out Northwest Arkansas.
“This is probably one of the best visits I’ve been on in all of the recruiting I’ve ever had,” he said. “Really love the family here. Love the energy I get from the coaches. Just had an awesome time. I’m very excited about here.”
In addition to Dix Jr., the Razorbacks’ official visit so far this week has included former Syracuse offensive lineman Joe More, who committed and signed Monday, Coastal Carolina quarterback Blake Boda, and a fourth official visitor who has yet to go public.
Arkansas’ five spring transfer portal commitments include Dix Jr., More, Worth, plus former Florida State running back Rodney Hill and former Utah State nickel Anthony Switzer. The Razorbacks entered the day with seven scholarship spots remaining following the departure of running back Dominique Johnson on Monday.
