How Pickerington North's RB room is preparing Sam Williams-Dixon for Ohio State football
Sam Williams-Dixon wanted to score.
Trailing Pickerington Central 27-26 early in the fourth quarter on Friday, the Pickerington North running back and Ohio State 2024 commit took the ball at the 14-yard line and bounced off multiple defenders for the first down. And even when the Tigers’ defense caught up to Williams-Dixon, he carried five defenders on his back, falling to the ground just short of the goal line.
But that was all North needed out of Williams-Dixon, who took a back seat on the next play and watched junior running back Michael Taylor secure a lead the Panthers (4-0) would not lose with a 1-yard touchdown run.
“I’m just looking to help my team out any way I can,” Williams-Dixon said after leading the Panthers with 97 rushing yards on 14 carries in a 39-34 win. “Even if I don’t score, I’m happy that we won, and I helped out the team.”
For North offensive coordinator Jarrod Pruiett, that mentality is exactly who Williams-Dixon is: unselfish and inclusive. Williams-Dixon understands that Taylor and senior Dorian Hamilton each bring different attributes and are important to the offense as a whole and cheers on whichever back has the hot hand.
“He’s all about the we, not the me,” Pruiett said. “And that’s the biggest thing. I think he was the best thing for our running back room. He’s going where everybody wants, but he doesn’t show it.”
Williams-Dixon said he, Taylor and Hamilton complement each other on and off the field, texting each other, going out to eat and planning for the upcoming games.
In North’s opener against Cincinnati Elder, it was Williams-Dixon’s time to shine, as he scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns and finished with 171 rushing yards. But he has scored only one touchdown since, the Panthers’ first against Upper Arlington on Sept. 1.
North coach Nate Hillerich believes he has “the most selfless group” of running backs, and to him, that starts with Williams-Dixon.
“He’s the kid that’s probably the high-profile, the Ohio State commit,” Hillerich said. “And he’s OK with only getting 10 or 12 carries. They know you have to make the most out of it, and they have all had their plays.”
How Pickerington North's RB room helps Ohio State commit Sam Williams-Dixon
Williams-Dixon may be in for a similar looking running back room when he transitions from North to Ohio State.
While the Buckeyes have five scholarship running backs on the 2023 roster, four of whom will be NFL draft eligible after the season, three more are on the way in the 2024 class.
Williams-Dixon is set to join Florida four-star prospect Jordan Lyle and Texas four-star recruit James Peoples, both top-15 running backs in the country per 247Sports’ composite rankings. Williams-Dixon is listed as the No. 729 player and No. 70 athlete.
Williams-Dixon transferred from Millersburg West Holmes before his senior season and said he’s still getting used to the level of play North sees on a weekly basis even as he averages 103.7 yards per game and 6.6 yards per carry.
Transferring has not only allowed Williams-Dixon to adapt to faster defenders who hit harder, it has also taught him how to handle different expectations.
“With him sitting in those rooms and him being in a room like ours, it’s kind of preparing him for that, taking less hits on the body,” Pruiett said. “He might have a 12-carry, 95-yard game – compared to last year he might have had a 25-carry, 200-yard game. But we are still winning. We have higher goals trying to go 16 weeks (to the Division I state final). Hopefully the wear and tear won't be as much, and we can put him through the rigor of a harder schedule than he’s used to.
“As you see with the running backs at Ohio State – Miyan (Williams), TreVeyon (Henderson) and Chip (Trayanum) right now – those are three guys getting carries. Same here.”
Pruiett sees a player who is still getting out of his shell, learning how to be more of a vocal leader even in his short time with the program.
“His journey’s different,” Pruiett said. “So I think for him, to be in this town – and the hype of Pickerington football is rarely like any other – for him to bring himself in and to see and embrace it, chill on the sideline a little bit and then start to bring his personality out, it’s a testament to him and his mom.”
As Williams-Dixon continues to learn and adapt before early enrolling at Ohio State in January, what North expects out of him doesn’t change.
“Just be a dude, and do it to the best of my ability,” Williams-Dixon said.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Pickerington North is preparing Sam Williams-Dixon for Ohio State
