The University of Akron Athletics
Hixon Chosen By Denver In NFL Draft
April 30 | Football
AKRON, Ohio - Former University of Akron wide receiver Domenik Hixon was chosen today by the Denver Broncos with the 33rd pick in the fourth round (No. 130 overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft.
Hixon becomes the Zips' fourth-highest drafted player, trailing only Charlie Frye (67th overall in 2005), Jason Taylor (73rd overall in 1997) and Dwight Smith (84th overall in 2000).
The Zips have had a player chosen in four of the last seven drafts. Hixon is the third UA wideout to be drafted by an NFL team, joining Don Williams (1967) and Jake Schifino (2001). He is also the third player from the Mid-American Conference selected in this weekend's draft. WR Greg Jennings and TE Tony Scheffler of Western Michigan were chosen yesterday in the second round. Jennings went to Green Bay (52nd overall) and Scheffler to the Broncos (61st overall).
One of the top all-around players in the conference and one of
the top performers in school history, Hixon moved to wide receiver
in 2004 after spending his first two years as a defensive back. He
earned second-team All-MAC honors in 2005 when he set the UA
single-season receptions record for the second-straight year. He
caught 75 passes last season and ranks No. 2 on the UA career
receptions list (141), as well as third on the career receiving
yards chart (2,092).
"We are absolutely thrilled for him," third-year head coach J.D. Brookhart said. "Domenik deserves everything he gets. He's the right kind of kid and was a pleasure to coach."
A durable player who did not miss a game in his four seasons, Hixon started 44 of 48 career games (20 at free safety/24 at wide receiver). Hixon ranks fourth on Akron's career all-purpose yardage list (3,888) and ranked among the top 20 nationally in all-purpose yardage in each of his final two seasons. He was seventh last season (164.5 ypg) and 17th in 2004 (146.0 ypg).
Hixon averaged 16.1 yards every time he touched the ball during his final two seasons and was one of just five players in the nation to score via punt and kickoff return in 2004.
"From a football standpoint, he's only improving," Brookhart, a former Broncos assistant, said. "He has a great upside because he's played receiver for just two years. He works hard every day and wants to get better."
Hixon was instrumental in the team's success the last two seasons. He had one of the most memorable plays in school history, catching the game-winning pass from Luke Getsy (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley/Pittsburgh) with 10 seconds left in the 2005 MAC Championship game to help the Zips earn their first league championship on record and first-ever Division I-A bowl berth.
Hixon went to Whitehall-Yearling High School in Columbus, Ohio,
but spent his formative years in Germany where he was born.
