Stephen Dix Jr. making quick impact with Hogs

FAYETTEVILLE — Former Florida State and Marshall linebacker Stephen Dix Jr. is making a very early impact with the Hogs.

In four games, Dix has 16 tackles, including nine solo, one sack, a pass breakup and recovered a fumble. Dix is excited to play in AT&T Stadium this Saturday against Texas A&M.

“When I heard about the Southwest Classic history behind that, I thought it was awesome,” Dix said. “It’s kind of like being a NFL player for a day going to play in the Dallas Cowboys stadium, so I’m really excited about that. And just getting to learn about the history, we haven’t won since ’21. I mean, we’ve got this chance, this year, man. Let’s finish it off right, man, for the last time and bring that trophy home.”

While Dix is excited to play in the home of the Dallas Cowboys, several teammates are returning to their home state to play. He is happy for them.

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure they’d be very excited to just go back to that hometown with all their family, friends and people that watched them growing up playing football,” Dix said. “That ought to be something very precious, like a precious memory for them to go down there and finish it off right.”

The Hogs are coming off a big 24-14 win over Auburn to open SEC play. Dix says that game is now behind them.

“One hundred percent, man,” Dix said. “Every opponent is a new opponent, no matter who it is. When we have success from the week before, we like to acknowledge it and then we like to put it aside and move on to the next obstacle. If anything, I think it just gives us motivation knowing that we have everything that we need to really go far in this league. We’ve just got to stay disciplined, stay consistent and keep chopping wood.”

But Dix does admit the locker room feeling after Auburn was a good one.

“I was really excited,” Dix said. “My first SEC play here as a Hog. Just so excited to do it with the team, but as soon as we got that dub, we moved on from it, flushed it and we’re moving onto the next.”

One key Aggie that Dix and others will be focusing on are running back Le’Veon Moss. He has 63 carries for 354 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught three passes for 33 yards.

“Any running back in SEC is going to probably be a good running back,” Dix said. “So obviously, respect him and his abilities. But we’re going to prepare to go out there and stop him like we know we can. But yeah, like you said, man, pretty good vision, good cutter, explosive runner. Obviously, you just got to prepare for another pretty good running back. You know what I’m saying?”

The Aggies also have two quarterbacks the Hogs are preparing for. Marcel Reed has completed 32 of 57 passes for 422 yards and four touchdowns. He also has rushed 32 times for 217 yards and one touchdown. Conner Weighman has completed 23 of 44 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns. He has carried it 11 times for 65 yards.

“Yeah, we’re preparing for both quarterbacks, preparing for a pretty good team,” Dix said. “But I mean, this is the SEC, man. You’re gonna prepare for a good team every week. We take the same approach with everything and respect our opponent, man. But we’re gonna put our best foot forward and put together an elite plan by coaches and just getting ready to execute at a high level come Saturday.”

If it is Reed on the field will the defense prepare for them like they prepared for Auburn’s Hank Brown who coughed up three interceptions in first half.

“Whoever is out there, obviously they have a lot of trust to put them on the field,” Dix said. “So we’re going to prepare for them like we prepare for any opponent.”

Dix was pleased the defense was able to create five turnovers against Auburn to help the offense.

“Just getting the ball back to our offense and giving us that momentum shift and that confidence throughout the game,” Dix said. “Knowing that, you know, we prepared well. We’re starting to see the fruits of our labor come to fruition and come on the field. I think that when we continue to work like that, we continue to play dominant defense like that. That’s what’s going to help us be better as a unit and as a team as well.”

The Auburn game was Dix’s first start with the Hogs. He also chimed in on the play of safety TJ Metcalf.

“I was very excited, obviously, to go out there from my first start here at Arkansas,” Dix said. “Very thankful to the coaching staff just knowing that my hard work was paying off, man. I was showing not only them but my teammates and my fellow defensive teammates that you guys can trust me. I’m here to help. I definitely think it was exciting to go out there. My first game in that stadium that we played in.  I thought it was an awesome stadium.

“Never been to Auburn before. To make a play like that, man thanks to TJ, man, he had a hell of a game. I think it was just awesome, man. You know what I’m saying? Anytime you get a turnover, get your hands on the ball, it means a lot. I think that’s definitely something I’ll cherish as my first start here in the SEC and for many plays to come.”

Metcalf had two interceptions, but he also forced an Auburn fumble after the running back had broke for a long run. Dix was impressed with Metcalf forcing the fumble.

“It was honestly just effort man,” Dix said. “Running to the ball, run to the ball and good things will happen. TJ is the last line of defense. Thank God he did what he did, man, because that definitely could have went their way. His effort helped us get that turnover. I was just there to grab the assist off of it.”

Following Tuesday’s practice, Dix was also asked about quarterback Taylen Green trying to hurdle an Auburn defender.

“100 percent man, a freak athlete,” Dix said. “I thought he was… It looked to me like he cleared him at first, but I guess he got him a little bit, he’s an athletic QB.”

Dix and the Hogs will take on Texas A&M Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and televised on ESPN.