Daviyon Nixon facts for kids

Daviyon Nixon, born on December 13, 1998, is an American professional football player. He plays as a defensive end, which is a position on the defense that tries to stop the other team. Daviyon played college football for Iowa Western C.C. and then for the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Carolina Panthers picked him in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Early Life and High School Football

Daviyon Nixon grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He went to Indian Trail High School and Academy. While there, he played both basketball and football.

In his senior year, he was a top player. He was named first-team All-Southeast Conference. He also earned first-team All-State honors. Daviyon wanted to play college football at Iowa. However, he couldn't go there right away because he didn't meet the academic requirements.

College Football Journey

Starting at Iowa Western

Daviyon began his college football career at Iowa Western Community College. This is a type of college where students can improve their grades. In his first year, he played very well. He had five sacks and nine tackles for loss. A "tackle for loss" means he stopped the opposing player behind the line of scrimmage. He was named second-team All-Iowa Community College Athletic Conference.

Playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes

After one year at Iowa Western, Daviyon had improved his grades. He was then able to play Division I football. He decided to join the Iowa Hawkeyes.

He spent his first year at Iowa as a redshirt. This means he practiced with the team but didn't play in games. This allowed him to develop his skills. In his second year, he played in all 13 games for the Hawkeyes. He made 29 tackles and had three sacks.

Daviyon had an amazing year in 2020. He was named first-team All-Big Ten Conference. He also won two big awards: the Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year. He was even chosen as a unanimous first-team All-America player. This means all the major selectors agreed he was one of the best players in the country.

Professional Football Career

Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers picked Daviyon Nixon in the 2021 NFL Draft. He was the 158th player chosen overall, in the fifth round. He signed a four-year contract with the Panthers on May 13, 2021. Later that year, on October 28, he was placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury. This meant he couldn't play for a while.

In 2022, the Panthers waived Daviyon on September 5. "Waived" means a team releases a player from their roster. However, he was re-signed to their practice squad. A practice squad allows players to train with the team. He was later moved back to the active roster on September 27. But on December 13, he was waived again.

Seattle Seahawks

On December 21, 2022, Daviyon signed with the Seattle Seahawks. However, he was waived by them just six days later.

Miami Dolphins

Daviyon signed with the Miami Dolphins on March 7, 2024. He was with the team for a few months. On June 13, 2024, the Dolphins waived him.

Arlington Renegades

On February 10, 2025, Daviyon Nixon signed with the Arlington Renegades. This team is part of the United Football League (UFL). He was released by the Renegades on May 20, 2025.