“I thought it was the right move to make,” Dixon said. “I went home for the week break and thought about it before making my decision.”

Dixon spent the majority of this off-season recovering from shoulder injuries that kept him sidelined and unable to compete at full strength.

“It was a bad time to get hurt (because) I couldn’t compete,” he said.

Some believed Dixon was next in line to take over the quarterback position when senior Brian Hoyer graduates next season.

However, strong spring performances by redshirt freshmen Nick Foles and Kirk Cousins made that a less likely scenario.

Former coach John L. Smith recruited Dixon from South Park High School in Pennsylvania, where he won two state titles.

Dixon said he’s talked with other universities and is looking for a good fit for next season.

“I’ve got to start over and just work hard again,” he said.