Collin Dixon

#17 · WR · Sr. · Illinois6′1″ · 215 lb · Tallmadge, OH

Receiving yards77612th of 467 receivers Last gameW 20–17at Maryland · Oct 31

Nextvs NebraskaFri Nov 6 · 8 pm ET

via fightingillini.com ↗

This week

RecordIllinois is 5-3.
Next gamevs Nebraska · Fri Nov 6

What’s being said

4 stories in the last 30 days, from 5 outlets.

Stories per day. W and L: the team’s results.

Aidan Laughery, Collin Dixon score TDs as Illinois beats Oregon 21-10

Ford County Chronicle +1 Oct 25

All 24 stories this season

His most important play this season

Q4, 2:29 · Illinois up 4Michael Clayton II finds Collin Dixon for a 23-yard touchdownOregon at Illinois, week 8Q4, 2:29 · Illinois 21, Oregon 10▲17%Illinois’s chance to win, 76% to 93%▲17%Illinois’s chance to win, 76% to 93%M.Clayton II pass complete deep left to C.Dixon caught at ORE00, for 23 yards to the ORE00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN. The previous play is under automatic review - "Pass completion". CALL UPHELD, kick goodWatch from this play

All 5 of his plays on video

Every catch and target this season

10203040403034

leftmiddlerightno spot

a catch, dashed to the catch point then solid afterthrown to him, incomplete

Seen from behind the quarterback; numbers are yards past the line of scrimmage. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed. Of his catches with a spot in the play text: left 19, middle 4, right 11.

Collin Dixon

WR · Illinois · #17

Filling the Shoesas of Nov 4

Collin Dixon takes over from Hank Beatty at Illinois.

776receiving yards59catches10receiving TD

TEAM RECEIVING YARDS LEADER

776

Team leader in receiving yards (776).

Read the story so far

Collin Dixon arrived as a 3-star prospect. Collin Dixon lines up at WR for Illinois.

On the field, the headline is 776 rec yds, with 59 rec.

Collin Dixon inherited the WR job from Hank Beatty (3-star).

The number to watch: 776 — team receiving yards leader.

WR successionleap of faith

Inherited fromHank Beatty 3★

AI-generated narrative · may contain errors · not journalism · updated 2026-11-04

Style of play

Play style

Wins the 50-50 ball at the goal line.

Similar players

Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.

Austin CarrNorthwestern · 2016 · 82% season match
Korey RobertsonSouthern Miss · 2017 · 77% season match
Dom WilliamsWashington State · 2015 · 76% season match
Nelson SpruceColorado · 2014 · 76% season match
Marlon WilliamsUCF · 2020 · 76% season match

Career stats

Swipe the table sideways for more columns.

Season	Team
2026	Illinois	59	776	13.2	10	45
2025	Illinois	35	548	15.7	5	61
2024	Illinois	18	264	14.7	0	41
Career		112	1,588	14.2	15	61

Season	Team
2026	Illinois	1	15
2025	Illinois	2	5
2024	Illinois	--	--
Career		3	20

Last game (Wk 9): 103 receiving yards, 6 catches.

Game log

Game log · Week-by-week

2026 season · 8 games

Box score · CFBD

Swipe the table sideways for more columns.

Wk	Opp	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG	Note
Wk 1	W 42-23vs UAB	6	70	11.7	2	18	2 TD catches
Wk 2	L 27-31vs Duke	11	166	15.1	3	40	Season-high 166 yds
Wk 3	W 48-10vs Southern Illinois	8	131	16.4	2	45	2 TD catches
Wk 4	L 19-42@ No. 7 Ohio State	5	63	12.6	0	21
Wk 5	L 17-24vs Purdue	10	116	11.6	1	21
Wk 6	W 38-37@ Michigan State	7	62	8.9	1	14
Wk 8	W 21-10vs Oregon	6	65	10.8	1	23
Wk 9	W 20-17@ Maryland	6	103	17.2	0	34
Total		59	776	13.2	10	45

The latest game

Oct. 31 · W 20-17 at Maryland, play by play

6 catches for 103 yards. He was 1 of 5 on third and fourth down.

6 of 11 targets caught
5 moved the chains
1 of 5 on 3rd and 4th down
1 broken up (J. Glasker)
11 of 32 Illinois passes came his way

First quarterbegan tied 0-0
3rd & 5broken up1
2nd & 1034 1st down2
Second quarterbegan down 7-0
3rd & 8incomplete3
3rd & 812 1st down4
Third quarterbegan tied 7-7
1st & 1027 1st down
1st & 10incomplete
1st & 10incomplete
3rd & 8incomplete
2nd & 813 1st down
Fourth quarterbegan down 14-10
3rd & 52
2nd & 615 1st down
FinalW 20-17

a catch, by its yardsa touchdownthrown to him, incomplete

1
Incomplete on 3rd and 5. First quarter, tied 0-0. Broken up by Maryland’s J. Glasker.
2
34-yard catch. First quarter, down 7-0.
3
Incomplete on 3rd and 8. Second quarter, down 7-0.
4
12-yard catch on 3rd and 8. Second quarter, down 7-0. Converted.

The season, game by game

W 20-17 at MarylandOct. 31103 yds6 catchesPlay by play just above · 33rd in FBS that week

W 21-10 vs OregonOct. 2465 yds6 catches, 1 TDtied for 95th in FBS that week

Play by playOn the field

6 catches for 65 yards and a touchdown. He was 2 of 4 on third and fourth down.

6 of 9 targets caught
3 moved the chains
2 of 4 on 3rd and 4th down
1 broken up (I. Obidegwu)
9 of 19 Illinois passes came his way

First quarterbegan tied 0-0
1st & 1018 1st down
3rd & 10incomplete1
Second quarterbegan down 7-0
2nd & 85
Fourth quarterbegan up 14-10
2nd & 75
3rd & 28 1st down2
2nd & 126
2nd & 8incomplete
3rd & 8broken up3
3rd & 723 TD4
FinalW 21-10

a catch, by its yardsa touchdownthrown to him, incomplete

1
Incomplete on 3rd and 10. First quarter, down 7-0.
2
8-yard catch on 3rd and 2. Fourth quarter, up 14-10. Converted.
3
Incomplete on 3rd and 8. Fourth quarter, up 14-10. Broken up by Oregon’s I. Obidegwu.
4
23-yard touchdown on 3rd and 7. Fourth quarter, made it 21-10.

1020304050

leftmiddleright

a catch, dashed to the catch point then solid afterthrown to him, incomplete

Seen from behind the quarterback; numbers are yards past the line of scrimmage. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.

6 more games, with the play by play

W 38-37 at Michigan StateOct. 1062 yds7 catches, 1 TDtied for 107th in FBS that week

7 catches for 62 yards and a touchdown.

Not drawn: the play-by-play has 6 catches for 48 yards, the box score 7 for 62, so no play is placed until they agree.

L 17-24 vs PurdueOct. 3116 yds10 catches, 1 TDBig game · 19th in FBS that week

A big game: 10 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown.

Not drawn: the play-by-play has 10 catches for 132 yards, the box score 10 for 116, so no play is placed until they agree.

L 19-42 at Ohio StateSept. 2663 yds5 catchestied for 129th in FBS that week

Play by playOn the field

5 catches for 63 yards.

5 of 8 targets caught
3 moved the chains
1 of 1 on 3rd and 4th down
3 broken up (J. Mathews Jr., T. Alford)
8 of 38 Illinois passes came his way

First quarterbegan tied 0-0
1st & 10broken up
2nd & 2021 1st down1
Second quarterbegan down 14-7
2nd & 70
Third quarterbegan down 28-10
1st & 10broken up
4th & 1212 1st down2
Fourth quarterbegan down 28-13
2nd & 9broken up
1st & 1017 1st down
2nd & 1913
FinalL 19-42

a catch, by its yardsa touchdownthrown to him, incomplete

1
21-yard catch. First quarter, down 14-0.
2
12-yard catch on 4th and 12. Third quarter, down 28-10. Converted.

1020304050

leftmiddleright

a catch, dashed to the catch point then solid afterthrown to him, incomplete

Seen from behind the quarterback; numbers are yards past the line of scrimmage. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.

W 48-10 vs Southern IllinoisSept. 19131 yds8 catches, 2 TDtied for 13th in FBS that week

8 catches for 131 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Not drawn: the play-by-play has 8 catches for 135 yards, the box score 8 for 131, so no play is placed until they agree.

L 27-31 vs DukeSept. 12166 yds11 catches, 3 TDCareer night · 6th in FBS that week

Play by playOn the field

A career night: 11 catches for 166 yards and 3 touchdowns, 6th-most in FBS that week. Illinois’s last two throws to him, down 31-27 in the fourth quarter, fell incomplete, the last on 4th and 4.

11 of 15 targets caught
8 moved the chains
3 of 5 on 3rd and 4th down
1 broken up (K. Loud)
15 of 36 Illinois passes came his way

First quarterbegan tied 0-0
2nd & 810 1st down
1st & 108
1st & 1013 TD
3rd & 58 1st down1
1st & 10incomplete
Second quarterbegan up 10-7
2nd & 108
4th & 140 TD2
2nd & 430 1st down
3rd & 22 TD3
1st & 1016 1st down
1st & 10incomplete
Third quarterbegan up 24-21
1st & 109
Fourth quarterbegan down 28-27
1st & 1022 1st down
4th & 2incomplete4
4th & 4broken up
FinalL 27-31

a catch, by its yardsa touchdownthrown to him, incomplete

1
8-yard catch on 3rd and 5. First quarter, tied 7-7. Converted.
2
40-yard touchdown on 4th and 1. Second quarter, made it 17-7.
3
2-yard touchdown on 3rd and 2. Second quarter, made it 24-14.
4
Incomplete on 4th and 2. Fourth quarter, down 31-27. Turnover on downs.

10203040504030

leftmiddleright

a catch, dashed to the catch point then solid afterthrown to him, incomplete

Seen from behind the quarterback; numbers are yards past the line of scrimmage. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.

W 42-23 vs UABSept. 370 yds6 catches, 2 TDtied for 117th in FBS that week

Play by playOn the field

6 catches for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns.

6 of 6 targets caught
4 moved the chains
1 of 1 on 3rd and 4th down
6 of 17 Illinois passes came his way

First quarterbegan tied 0-0
1st & 1018 TD1
Second quarterbegan up 14-3
2nd & 107
Third quarterbegan up 21-13
2nd & 1115 1st down
1st & 1014 TD
2nd & 97
3rd & 29 1st down
FinalW 42-23

a catch, by its yardsa touchdownthrown to him, incomplete

1
18-yard touchdown. First quarter, made it 7-0.

1020304050

leftmiddleright

a catch, dashed to the catch point then solid afterthrown to him, incomplete

Seen from behind the quarterback; numbers are yards past the line of scrimmage. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.

Signature game

Week 2 · 2026

L 27-31

vs Duke

11 rec · 166 yds · 3 TD

With K. Houser — 271 yds · 3 TD · 1 INT · QBR 78.1 · 18 rush yds (4 car) · E. Moczulski — 9 points · 51 long · 67 percent on field goals

Signature plays

The plays that mattered most

Week 2 · Duke · 4th and 1 · Q2 · EPA +4.95Houser to Dixon: a 40-yard touchdown pass.
Week 3 · Southern Illinois · 1st and 10 · Q2 · EPA +3.48Houser to Dixon: a 45-yard touchdown pass.
Week 9 · Maryland · 2nd and 10 · Q1 · EPA +3.44Houser to Dixon: a 34-yard pass.
Week 5 · Purdue · 3rd and 9 · Q4 · EPA +3.42Houser to Dixon: a 21-yard pass.
Week 8 · Oregon · 3rd and 7 · Q4 · EPA +3.39Clayton II to Dixon: a 23-yard touchdown pass.
Week 4 · Ohio State · 4th and 12 · Q3 · EPA +3.35Houser to Dixon: a 12-yard pass.

4 more plays

Week 4 · Ohio State · 2nd and 20 · Q1 · EPA +2.86Houser to Dixon: a 21-yard pass.
Week 1 · UAB · 1st and 10 · Q1 · EPA +2.59Houser to Dixon: an 18-yard touchdown pass.
Week 1 · UAB · 1st and 10 · Q3 · EPA +2.55Houser to Dixon: a 14-yard touchdown pass.
Week 6 · Michigan State · 1st and 10 · Q4 · EPA +2.55Clayton II to Dixon: a 14-yard touchdown pass.

Where he ranks

Rec yards77612thAmong 468 receivers with 12 or more catches

Receptions599thAmong 468 receivers with 12 or more catches

Yards / catch13.2tied for 231stAmong 468 receivers with 12 or more catches

Rec TDs104thAmong 468 receivers with 12 or more catches

Long catch45tied for 220thAmong 468 receivers with 12 or more catches

Rush yards15tied for 87thAmong 212 receivers with 12 or more catches

12th in receiving yards, among all 2,086 FBS players with a receiving row this season, any position

Catches592nd in the Big Ten this season.

Receiving yards7763rd in the Big Ten this season.

Receiving touchdowns102nd in the Big Ten this season; tied for 20th among current FBS players over the whole career (15).

Conference ranks count every player in the conference with a row in that stat, any position. Career ranks count current FBS players, from the games in our log.

Opponents faced, by strength

Ratings of the games shown run from -10 to +29 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).

Receiving profile

Receiver profile · Targets, catch rate, and throw depth

How often he's targeted, and how well it works

59 rec · 776 yds · 10 TD

58 of 59 receptions matched to play-by-play

81 of 81 targets charted for true throw depth

Targets

8134% of team targets

Catch rate

72%58 of 81 targets

Behind LOS · Negative air yds

11% of targets (9)

100%catch rate

Air -2.8 · YAC 5.4 avg

Short · 0–9 air yds

37% of targets (30)

77%catch rate

Air 5.8 · YAC 2.6 avg

Middle · 10–19 air yds

33% of targets (27)

67%catch rate

Air 14.3 · YAC 2.1 avg

Deep · 20+ air yds

19% of targets (15)

53%catch rate

Air 29.1 · YAC 2.8 avg

72% catch rate on 81 targets · 34% of the team's targets · 53% catch rate on 15 deep targets (20+ air yds).

Teams and coaches

3 seasons under Bret Bielema — 24-10 over that span.

2024Illinois10-3HC: Bret Bielema · Run-leaning, slow tempo

2025Illinois9-4HC: Bret Bielema · Run-leaning

2026Illinois5-3HC: Bret Bielema · Balanced, slow tempo

Our ratings

CFB Zeitgeist Score 93 (#9 of 465). Show the ratings

Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort

Box-score + play-by-play EPA percentiles

93All-America level #9 of 465?

12 metrics · season cumulative

Elite: td rate (92nd percentile). Strength: epa / target (92nd percentile).

Real play-by-play efficiency

TD rate#45 / 569 · 92nd pct

11.1%

EPA / target#46 / 569 · 92nd pct

0.81

Catch rate#151 / 569 · 73rd pct

71.6%

Explosive rate#189 / 569 · 67th pct

13.6%

Yards / catch#224 / 569 · 61st pct

13.5

Box-score rates (7)

Rec TDs#4 / 468 · 99th pct

Receptions#9 / 468 · 98th pct

Rec yards#12 / 468 · 98th pct

776

Rush yards#87 / 212 · 58th pct

Long catch#220 / 468 · 52nd pct

Yards / catch#231 / 468 · 50th pct

13.2

Rush TDs#32 / 212 · 43rd pct

Season trend

Last seasonThis season

EPA / target

61st → 92nd percentile

Explosive rate

83rd → 67th percentile

Catch rate

27th → 73rd percentile

TD rate

84th → 92nd percentile

Yards / catch

90th → 61st percentile

Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season. Most bars are box-score rates; EPA / success-rate bars are computed from real play-by-play (offense only — no defensive EPA model exists yet).

Splits

Home and road splits, scheme and staff

Splits · Per-game

2026 season · 8 games

Home/Road · Season halves

Home vs Road

	REC/g	YDS/g	YPR	TD/g
Home5g	8.2	110	13.1	1.8
Road3g	6.0	76.0	12.9	0.3

First half vs Second half

	REC/g	YDS/g	YPR	TD/g
Weeks 1-76g	7.8	101	12.7	1.5
Weeks 8+2g	6.0	84.0	14.0	0.5

Supporting cast · Scheme

Staff and system around the player

2026 season

Head Coach

Bret Bielema

Pass share

49.5%

243 pass / 248 run

Plays / game

61.4

8 games

Team sack rate

3.7%

271 dropbacks · PBP

Scheme: Balanced, slow tempo.

Awards

Player standing · 2026

Impact starter

59 catches and 1 carry in 8 games, more catches a game than nearly every FBS receiver who plays every week.

Recognition

Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex

Production · CFB Zeitgeist Score

93 · #9 of 465 WRs

Three-star recruit. Now #9 at the position.

2026 outlook

Outside shot for All-Big Ten

Based on 2025: #29 of 61 Big Ten WRs

How the All-Big Ten base rate is computed

A base rate for the rank, not a forecast of this player: 15% of returning players who ranked #21 or lower at their position in their conference made an all-conference team the next season (95% confidence interval 13–17%).

Collin Dixon

This week

What’s being said

His most important play this season

Every catch and target this season

Style of play

Similar players

In the news in the last 30 days

In the news this season

What they’re talking about

Week by week

What fans said

In the game threads

Where to follow

Career stats

Game log

The latest game

The season, game by game

Signature game

Signature plays

Where he ranks

Receiving profile

Teams and coaches

Our ratings

Splits

Awards

Impact starter

Four seasons at Illinois

2023

Collin Dixon

This week

What’s being said

His most important play this season

37% of the catches, 42% of the yards, 59% of the touchdowns

Share of the team's receiving yards, game by game

Who caught the team's passes

Every catch and target this season

Style of play

Similar players

In the news in the last 30 days

In the news this season

What they’re talking about

Week by week

What fans said

In the game threads

Where to follow

Career stats

Game log

The latest game

The season, game by game

Signature game

Signature plays

Where he ranks

Receiving profile

Teams and coaches

Our ratings

Splits

Awards

Impact starter

Four seasons at Illinois

2023