‘I’m shutting it down:’ Alabama commit Sterling Dixon Jr. locked in with Tide

Published Jun. 19, 2023, 7:33 a.m. By Ben Thomas Despite heavy pushes lately by LSU and Auburn among others, Alabama linebacker commit Sterling Dixon Jr. told AL.com on Sunday night he is shutting down his recruitment. “For me, it’s crazy,” he said. “I had a lot of schools calling me every day, just trying to get closer to me. At that time, it was really too late. I already knew where I wanted to go. Since I was a little kid, I always knew I wanted to go play for Alabama. Now I’m here, and I’m living it.” The 6-foot-3, 211-pound Mobile Christian senior committed to the Crimson Tide in December and now says he is done visiting other campuses and entertaining college coaches. “It got stressful,” he said. “LSU was making a big push and I could honestly see myself playing there as well, but for me I just wanted to make the best decision possible and be around guys who are good people and good football players. In the state of Alabama, it’s different when you are a hometown kid, and you get the opportunity to go play for Alabama. They are pushing every day to get better. It’s their culture. That’s what I want to be a part of.” Dixon announced his decision to end his recruiting process after his official visit to Tuscaloosa over the weekend. He didn’t make the decision lightly. “I was praying before the official visit and just asking for Him to help me make the best decision,” he said. “The visit was pretty cool, and they wound up just letting me know I could play early. That was my biggest question. Where can I get on the field and how fast can I get on the field? I want to get to the NFL in three years, and I want to get my degree in three years, and I feel like Alabama has every tool necessary to get me there. I’m shutting it down and just ready to lock in and get on campus in December.” Dixon said Alabama coaches told him he would be used in a similar role to how they hope to use Jihaad Campbell this fall. “He is going to be playing a lot of inside linebacker this year, but he can come down and rush the passer,” Dixon said. “They have packages just for him, to get him on the edge. … The reason they put me on inside is because that is where they will want me to play in the NFL. They aren’t going to want a 6-2 or 6-3 edge. They are going to want someone a little longer. I can move sideline to sideline so it won’t be that much of an adjustment.” The reigning Class 3A Lineman of the Year, Dixon made 172 tackles for Mobile Christian as a junior and had 18 sacks – both single-season school records. He also had 39 tackles for a loss. He played only briefly as a sophomore before suffering a labrum injury early in the season. “He is such a goal-oriented guy,” Mobile Christian head coach Ronnie Cottrell said recently of Dixon. “I expect him to just keep improving. The way he works in the weight room, he trains at other places, he has a personal coach who helps him – he’s just going to get better and better after an outstanding junior year.” Dixon said he will work on refining any weaknesses in this game this summer before focusing on trying to help his Mobile Christian team win a state title in the fall. The fact that the 2023 AHSAA Super 7 will be played at Bryant-Denny Stadium isn’t lost on him either. “It’s definitely going to be my motivation – to finish my high school career on the same field where I will play in college,” he said. “That would be something special.” Dixon is the No. 12 senior recruit in the state, according to the 247 composite rankings. Four of the top 12 are currently committed to Alabama -- Dixon, No. 2 Jaylen Mbakwe (Clay-Chalkville), No. 5 Perry Thompson (Foley) and No. 6 Jeremiah Beaman (Parker).