Dixon brothers reunite at South Carolina pro day

Gerald Dixon pointed out he and his brother came to Williams-Brice Stadium and South Carolina together, so it’s fitting they wrap things up the same way.

The Dixon brothers share a name. They’ve shared a unit, playing alongside one another on the Gamecocks’ defensive line. On Wednesday, Gerald Dixon and Gerald Dixon Jr. got to share the field probably for a final time as they made their case for an array of NFL scouts.

“When we decided to come here together, I feel like that it was the best decision of our lives,” Gerald Dixon said. “And now this is our last time, it could be, to be together on the same field.”

The brothers actually came to Columbia from different high schools in Rock Hill (Northwestern and South Pointe). Gerald Dixon Jr., started for two seasons, while his brother started as a junior and was in the rotation as a senior.

At 324 pounds, Dixon Jr., ran a 5.08-second 40-yard dash and put up 34 reps on the bench press. Afterward, he said he wanted to show scouts his footwork, among other things.

He compared the afternoon to a gameday, where a few scouts can’t compare to 80,000 screaming fans. It didn’t hurt having family in the stands, or out on the grass.

“It’s very cool to be out here on the field with him again,” Gerald Dixon Jr., said. “Last time we get to be together. You never know, we might be on the same team in the league. But I think that’s real rare.”

The brothers had been apart the past few months, as Gerald Dixon Jr. went south to train, while Gerald Dixon stayed home.

“He just decided to go down to Florida,” Gerald Dixon said.

“I just felt like I didn’t need to go to a big facility or something. I just stayed home and worked with my personal trainer. I feel like he got me in the same shape.”

Gerald Dixon said his main goal was showing the scouts his leg was healthy after undergoing surgery before his senior season. He said he felt he could fit in any scheme on the next level and ran a 5.19 in the 40, while posting an 8-foot, 9-inch broad jump.

His high school teammate and former Gamecocks star Jadeveon Clowney was also in the building during the workout. Both brothers said they had a forthcoming workout with the Carolina Panthers.

The Dixons come from NFL stock as their father played 10 years for Cincinnati, Cleveland, San Diego and Oakland.

The brothers said their father didn’t pass on too much as they headed into their NFL auditions. He told them to treat it like a game, leave their all out on the field and stay calm.

“It was a lot different back then when he played,” Gerald Dixon Jr., said. “He told me, they didn’t even have agents to send them off to train. He did it right here on the field by himself.”

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Dixon brothers reunite at South Carolina pro day."