By DARREN MILLER
hawkeyesports.com
CLEVELAND — University of Iowa junior defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round of Saturday’s NFL Draft. Nixon was the 158th player picked overall.
Nixon, a native of Kenosha, Wisconsin, earned consensus All-America honors after leading the Big Ten Conference in tackles for loss (13) and total tackles among defensive lineman (45). Iowa’s defensive Roy J. Carver Most Valuable Player was also named the Nagurski-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and the Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year. Nixon was one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy and one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award.
With the 6-foot-3, 305-pound Nixon on the defensive line in 2020, the Hawkeyes won six of eight games (including six in a row to conclude the pandemic-shortened season). Iowa allowed an average of 16 points per game (sixth among all FBS programs), 313.8 yards (eighth) and 107.6 yards on the ground (10th).
A play that shows off Nixon’s skills and athleticism occurred during Iowa’s 41-21 win at Penn State on Nov. 21. With two minutes remaining, Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford tossed a screen pass toward Caziah Holmes. Nixon timed his jump, grabbed the ball at Iowa’s 29, and returned it 71 yards for a touchdown. (Click HERE for video).
Iowa has had 15 defensive interior linemen or defensive ends selected during the Kirk Ferentz era. Nixon’s teammate, defensive end Chauncey Golston, was selected in the third round by Dallas with the 84th pick. On Saturday, Iowa wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette was selected by Minnesota in the fifth round with pick 157 — one pick before Nixon was taken by the Panthers.
