UConn has had a history of good running backs, backs who have played professionally, and one of those is Andre Dixon.
But these days Andre doesn’t have a pro team to play for, yet.
Andre Dixon was a very successful running back at UConn, including being named to the All-Big East first team in 2007. He was on the New York Giants practice squad, played in the UFL with the Hartford Colonials and Sacramento, but Andre is without a team and will be trying out with the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League.
The 27-year-old Dixon is going through tough workouts that look like he is getting ready for a combine, including working on his 40-yard dash time.
Helping Andre train at Next Level Fitness in Bloomfield is former UConn basketball guard Doug Wiggins, who is preparing to play overseas.
Despite success in Storrs, Dixon was suspended in 2008 for driving under the influence. He was later reinstated to the team. But Andre believes that incident has hurt him as he tries to get back into the game he loves.
Andre said when his professional football career is over – and he hopes that won’t be for a while – he wants to become a coach. Dixon said he would love to take over a struggling program in the area and turn it around. He mentioned Weaver High School in Hartford, which was winless in 2012.