In only a half a year of varsity football, 6-0, 174-pound James Nixon rushed for over 600 yards on offense and made four interceptions at cornerback on defense. Last season was Nixon’s first playing varsity football, but he performed well and figures to be a major part of Hyde Leadership’s (New Haven, CT) plans next season.

“I felt good,” Nixon said of last season. “I was surprised I actually did that well. I thought I would have trouble with it since I was out the first six games or whatever. I had been out since the summer. I didn’t expect my season to go all that well. I expected it to be shaky, but it turned out great for me. I was pretty excited about it.”

Nixon displayed good ability in those six games and helped Hyde to a state championship. Rutgers liked what they saw and became the first to officially offer a scholarship before the Elite combine earlier this month. Nixon says “[Rutgers] told me I was a pretty good running back. They are pretty much the only school recruiting me as a running back.”

But following Nixon’s elite performance in the Elite combine (he posted a 4.34 in the 40), Nixon’s offer total would quadruple.

...