The good news keeps coming from Ohio State’s underclassmen as fourth-year junior receiver Johnnie Dixon became the third Buckeye to announce on Thursday that he would be forgoing the NFL Draft in favor of returning for one more season in the Scarlet and Gray.
Dixon, who joins H-back Parris Campbell and defensive tackle Dre’mont Jones in coming back, announced his return via Twitter with a message of “unfinished business.”
Unfinished business! 1 last ride #Gobucks pic.twitter.com/NB9ehwe2te
— Johnnie L. Dixon III (@YoungKing_JD5) January 12, 2018
The 2017 season was Dixon’s first as a healthy Buckeye, and he responded by leading the team with eight touchdown receptions. He finished with 18 receptions for 422 yards, averaging 23.4 yards per reception.
Having dealt with knee issues for his first three years on campus, Dixon played in every game for the Buckeyes for the first time in his career this past season.
Despite not finishing in the Top 50 in receptions in the Big Ten this past season, his six receptions of 30 or more yards with third-most in the conference.
Due to his history of injuries, Dixon almost stepped away from the game entirely following the 2016 season. He was talked into returning by teammates Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin. It was no surprise, then, that Dixon announced his return on the same day that Campbell announced his.
You know wherever 21 @PCampbell21 at 1 right with em https://t.co/b26ceWVt80
— Johnnie L. Dixon III (@YoungKing_JD5) January 12, 2018
Dixon’s return, along with Campbell’s, and the likely return of McLaurin and K.J. Hill, will give Ohio State’s next starting quarterback an entirely intact receiving corps from the 2017 season.