SALT LAKE CITY — Utah football is likely losing one of its more experienced wide receivers.
Junior Jaylen Dixon, who has started nine games over the past two seasons, has entered the transfer portal, Rivals Portal first reported. Within minutes, Dixon confirmed the news with a message on Twitter, saying he “will be looking at opportunities at another University.”
Players who enter the transfer portal may still return to the school they attend. Dixon, though, indicated his time at Utah is likely over, beginning his message by saying, “It is never easy leaving a place that has been such an integral part of my development on and off the field. When understanding where I am right now and where I want to be in this process, sometimes decisions have to be made to continue to grow.”
The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Dixon was on the two-deep the Utes released last week at the start of fall camp, along with listed starters Britain Covey, Solomon Enis and Bryan Thompson, and other veterans like Samon Nacua and Tyrone Young-Smith.
In 28 games played, Dixon has 56 receptions for 932 yards and three touchdowns for Utah. After redshirting in 2017, his best season came as a freshman, when Dixon was second on the team with 32 receptions for 589 yards and two touchdowns in 2018 while starting six games.
Those receiving numbers dipped a bit last year, when he had 24 catches for 343 yards and a touchdown. Dixon became more active in the run game, though, in 2019, adding 18 carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
“I have the utmost respect for the U of U coaching staff, former teammates and faculty who have been a huge part of my life these past 3 years,” Dixon wrote.
This is the second report of a Utah player entering the transfer portal in recent days. Last week, 247 Sports reported linebacker Sione Lund had entered the transfer portal.
Dixon attended the same high school — Lone Star High in Frisco, Texas — as former Utah quarterback Jason Shelley, who transferred this offseason to Utah State.